The Bulldogs have won several state titles in recent years, so they’re a household name in cross country circles these days.

Chieftain runner David Powell said he and his teammates have had discussions and decided, as is usually the case with successful teams, that there must be something special in the water in Baldwin, a southern Douglas County town.

Tonganoxie runners decided to drink some of that so-called magic potion.

While passing the Bulldog team’s campsite at the state meet Saturday in Wamego, the Chieftain runners noticed the Bulldogs had bottled water that was labeled “Baldwin water.”

THS runners opted to grab one of those bottles. Each of the Tonganoxie runners took a swig from the bottle of water.

The team’s results were hard to argue against.

Tonganoxie placed fifth at Saturday’s cross country meet, the program’s best finish since 2002, when the squad placed third at state.

“It definitely had an effect on us,” Powell said, joking about the team’s superstition about Baldwin water.

Ironically, the Bulldogs might not have consumed enough of that water.

BHS finished second in team standings to El Dorado. The last time Baldwin was not the state champion was 1997, so El Dorado’s team title snapped an eight-year winning streak for Baldwin.

In the girls race, De Soto won the team title, blocking Baldwin from a second consecutive team title. The Bulldogs also had won three of the last four girls team crowns heading into Saturday’s meet.