Springer made his only season of high school cross country a most memorable one. The Bulldogs senior took first in the boys championship races of both the New Balance Ocean State Invitational (15:55.63) and the Brown Invitational, with his time of 15:02.4 at the latter race ranking as the third-fastest time in meet history. Springer -- who was included among “The Harrier” magazine’s “Top 50 Boys in the USA” -- went on to capture the Class B title in 15:56.52, then returned to the Ponaganset course a week later and won the individual state crown in a course-record time of 15:14.05. He also placed second at the New England championships, then became the first Rhode Island boy in 15 years to gain a spot in the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country Championships after placing fourth (15:39.4) at Foot Locker’s Northeast Regional qualifying meet at Van Cortlandt Park in New York. Springer later placed 28th at the Foot Locker Nationals in 16:01.