The 2008 Marshfield freshman soccer team is almost definitely on that list. Thomas and Hubbard were the kids making everyone else on the team look bad during conditioning drills, creating lengthy separation from the pack during long runs.

And you can add soccer coach Scott Sorensen to the group feeling snubbed by Thomas and Hubbard, because the pair quit soccer to join the cross-country team in 2009. But after a 1-2 finish in yesterday’s EMass Division 2 race at Franklin Park, they’re not too disappointed with their decision.

“It was hard on the soccer coach, he was a little angry at us,’’ Thomas said. “I always thought running was stupid. Then I got cut from the basketball team and decided I’d go out for track and I liked it.’’

“They didn’t like us very much,’’ Hubbard said of his old soccer teammates. “We were good at soccer, but we’re really good at running. Running is definitely going to take us somewhere else in life and hopefully get us a good college education.’’

It was Hubbard and Thomas leading the pack again yesterday. With 229 runners well behind them, the two turned for home side-by-side, slowing to a jog and crossing the finish line next to each other.

The scary part for next week’s All-State opponents: Their time of 16 minutes 21 seconds over 5 kilometers was a “controlled effort,’’ said coach Dennis Sheppard.

The two simply know how to get the best out of each other. Training partners for the last three years, words aren’t even necessary.

“That’s the advantage for us,’’ said Hubbard. “Workouts and training every single day, we get to do it together. And then there are other kids like Chris Allen [of King Philip, who won the Division 3 title] who don’t have teammates to run with. He has to be out there by himself killing workouts.’’

Marshfield finished fourth in the team standings, with Lincoln-Sudbury taking the Division 2 crown.

In Division 1, Brookline cruised to victory, though the Warriors had nobody in the top nine individually.

“It wasn’t a good performance,’’ said coach Mike Glennon. “They know it. Just wasn’t solid. Mark Perry [10th place, 16:31] could have done better and Chernet [Sisay, 14th] should have won. Now we need a good workout before next weekend.’’

Sisay had put together top-10 finishes two straight years and was one of the favorites entering the race. The senior, who moved to the United States from Ethiopia six years ago, was disappointed in his pace.

“It’s my job to set the pace, to get out in front and let my teammates follow, and I didn’t do that,’’ he said. “I’ve been sick all week and haven’t really slept well, but I thought I could just power through it. Nobody is tougher than me mentally and I thought I could do it.”