Unseating defending XC champs daunting task on Nov. 3

November 2, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


There will be three new individual champs crowned on Saturday Nov. 3 at the Division I through IV state cross country meets at Cave Creek Golf Course.

But the other five will be difficult --and in some cases next to impossible -- to unseat from their defending-champ status from the past year or more. We're speaking here of two-time defending champs Bernie Montoya of Cibola (D-I) and Sarah Fakler of Xavier (D-I). Add Flagstaff's Tatiana Gillick (D-II), Saguaro's Jake Wynn (D-III) and Pusch Ridge's Sarah MacDonald, who also prevailed last year and their competitors have work to do.

Here is a capsule look at each of the eight races for Saturday in chronological order by race time:

9:15 AM -- DIVISION III GIRLS

Race favorite -- Diana Garcia, Tempe. Others to watch -- Jayde Secody, Page, Sierra Jarriel, Fountain Hills, Skyler Storie, Mingus. Team(s) to beat -- Page, Mingus and Tempe. Last year's individual champ -- *Rolonda Jumbo, Chinle. Last year's team champ -- Chinle. Last week's individual section champs -- Diana Garcia, Tempe; Skyler Storie, Mingus and Melissa Williams, Sahuarita. Last week's team section champs -- Tempe, Page and Campo Verde.  

9:45 AM -- DIVISION I BOYS

Race favorite -- Bernie Montoya, Cibola. Others to watch -- Ryan Silva, Rincon, Nate Rodriguez, Corona del Sol and Logan Woolf, Highland. Team(s) to beat -- Highland, Corona del Sol, Desert Vista, Rincon. Last year's individual champ -- Bernie Montoya, Cibola. Last year's team champ -- Highland. Last week's individual section champs -- Bernie Montoya, Cibola; Ryan Silva, Rincon; Ryan Wesson, Sandra Day O'Connor. Last week's team section champs -- Mesa Mtn. View, Highland and Cibola.

10:15 AM -- DIVISION III BOYS

Race favorite -- Jake Wynn, Saguaro. Others to watch --  Searle Tracy, Chinle, Shawn Tsinnijinnie, Tuba City, Robert Contreras, Rio Rico, Ben Noriega, Rio Rico. Team(s) to beat -- Rico Rico, Tuba City, Saguaro.  Last year's individual champ -- Jake Wynn, Saguaro. Last year's team champ -- Chinle. Last week's individual section champs -- Searle Tracy, Chinle, Jake Wynn, Saguaro and Robert Contreras, Rio Rico. Last week's team section champs -- Saguaro, Rio Rico and Tuba City.

10:45 AM -- DIVISION I GIRLS

Race favorite -- Sarah Fakler, Xavier. Others to watch -- Monica Houston, Cibola, Dani Jones, Desert Vista, Kristi Rush, Highland, Shelby Brown, Xavier.  Team to beat -- Xavier. Last year's individual champ -- Sarah Fakler, Xavier. Last year's team champ -- Xavier. Last week's individual section champs -- Dani Jones, Desert Vista, Monica Houston, Cibola and Sydney Mierau, Pinnacle. Last week's team section champs -- Mesa Mtn. View, Cibola and Desert Vista.

11:30 AM -- DIVISION IV GIRLS

Race favorite -- Sarah MacDonald, Pusch Ridge; Others to watch -- Anna Long, Scottsdale Christian, Nikasha Eagleman, Ganado, Mykala Seresun, Sedona Red Rock, Mikaela Martin, Horizon Honors. Team(s) to beat -- Hopi, Pusch Ridge. Last year's individual champ -- Sarah MacDonald, Pusch Ridge. Last year's team champ -- Hopi. Last week's individual section champs -- Anna Long, Scottsdale Christian, Nikasha Eagleman, Ganado and Sarah MacDonald, Pusch Ridge. Last week's team section champs -- Pusch Ridge, Hopi and Scottsdale Prep.

NOON -- DIVISION II BOYS

Race favorite -- Andy Trouard, Salpointe. Others to watch -- Ethan Homan, Cactus Shadows, Andrew Carcia, Canyon del Oro, Adrian Ortega, Vista Grande. Team(s) to beat -- Cactus Shadows, Canyon del Oro. Last year's individual champ --*Eduardo Roa, McClintock. Last year's team champ -- Canyon del Oro. Last week's individual section champs -- Ethan Homan, Cactus Shadows, Andy Trouard, Salpointe and Daniel Fritz, South Mountain. Last week's team section champs -- Liberty, Cactus Shadows and Canyon del Oro.

12:30 PM -- DIVISION IV BOYS

Race favorite -- Josh Hoskinson, Arizona Lutheran. Others to watch --Corey Quigley, Valley Sanders, Kyle Cajero, Pusch Ridge, Cullen Hamblin, Northland Prep, Zach Alderete, St. Augustine. Team to beat -- Hopi. Last year's individual champ -- *Nico Montanez, St. Augustine. Last year's team champ -- Hopi. Last week's individual section champs -- Kyle Cajero, Pusch Ridge, Josh Hoskinson, Arizona Lutheran and Corey Quigley, Valley Sanders. Last week's team section champs -- Hopi, Pusch Ridge and Veritas Prep. 

1 PM -- DIVISION II GIRLS

Race favorite -- Tatiana Gillick. Others to watch -- Kristin Powell, Ironwood Ridge, Carissa Diaz, Vista Grande, Julie Vanderhout, Notre Dame. Team to beat -- Flagstaff. Last year's individual champ -- Tatiana Gillick, Flagstaff. Last year's team champ -- Flagstaff. Last week's individual section champs -- Tatiana Gillick, Flagstaff, Madison Haynes, Gila Ridge and Bridgette Doucet, Canyon del Oro. Last week's team section champs -- Ironwood, Flagstaff and Catalina Foothills.

*-- Denotes athlete was senior in 2011-2012 school year