Oree Foster
Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Cross Country Sectionals: St. Michael, Northland Prep, Prescott, Page garner titles

November 9, 2019 by Oree Foster, AZPreps365


St. Michael, Northland Prep, Prescott and Page all garnered titles at today's Arizona Interscholastic Association Cross Country Sectional meet at Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook.

STATE MEET QUALIFYING

According to the Arizona Interscholastic Association, each sectional race will qualify the top 50 per cent of full teams entered on athletic.net and from the respective section. If a section has an odd number of entered teams, the number of qualifying teams will be rounded up. If 11 teams in a section are entered on athletic.net, six teams will qualify for the state meet.

In addition, each sectional race will qualify the top 25 finishers, regardless of their team's placement. Example: if all of the top 25 finishers are members of an already qualified team, then no additional finishers will qualify.

GIRLS 5K RACE, DIVISION IV, SECTION III

St.Michael dominated the girl's 5K race, Division IV, Section III, enroute to earning the team title with 23 points.

St. Michael placed its five scoring runners in the top nine positions. St. Michaels' sixth runner crossed the finish line in 10th place.

St. Michael senior Ali Upshaw nailed down the individual championship, touring the 5K course in 18:32.

In fact, St. Michael swept the top three positions. Freshman Amber Woody claimed runner-up, turning in a 20:33. Junior Chiara Holgate posted a 20:47 for third place.

St. Michael junior Ashley Phillips was clocked in 21:58 for eighth place. Freshman Nizhoniibaa Phillips followed in ninth place with a 22:04 showing. Junior Auri Quintana was St. Michaels' sixth runner, clocking a 22:12 for 10th place. Lynelle Smith finished 12th place with a 22:20 time.

Valley Sanders senior Nizhoni James crossed the finish line in fourth place, posting a 20:54.

Northland Prep sophomore Abby Sperl copped fifth place with a 21:29 time.

Alchesay senior Naomi Rustin followed in sixth place with a 21:48.

Many Farms sophomore Latifah Curley completed the race in 21:56 for seventh place.

There was 10 schools who had a full team of five scoring runners.

In addition to St. Michael, schools who qualified from Division IV, Section III are Northland Prep (72 points), Many Farms (90 points), Alchesay (111 points) and Hopi (126 points).

BOYS 5K RACE, DIVISION IV, SECTION III

Northland Prep tallied 44 points to claim the boy's Division IV, Section III title.

Northland Prep had four scoring runners finishing in the top nine positions.

Northland Prep junior Dana Leib-Perry garnered the individual championship. Leib-Perry negotiated the terrain in 16:46.

Other Northland Prep runners finishing in the top nine were senior Brandon Bounds (3rd, 17:06), sophomore Malakai Hanson (5th, 17:18), and senior Credence Jones (9th, 17:37).

Northland Prep's fifth scoring runner was Kobe Yazzie (29th, 18:30). Other Northland Prep finishers were Nevan Watson (36th, 19:18), and Isaak Ulm (44th, 19:43).

Hopi freshman Wayland Namingha was the runner-up, finishing the race with a 16:52. Hopi junior Tyrall Roland completed the race sixth place, touring the course in 17:25.

St. Michael sophomore Trey Holgate was timed in 17:15 for fourth place.

Red Mesa sophomore Anton Woody posted a 17:29 for seventh place.

Many Farms senior Quintyler settled for eighth place, clocking a 17:32.

Pinon sophomore Daniel Biakeddy rounded out the top 10 position with a 17:39.

There was 13 schools who had a full team of five scoring runners.

In adidition to boy's team champion Northland Prep, schools earning a state meet berth are Hopi (47 points), Many Farms (94 points), Alchesay (109 points), BASIS Flagstaff (126 points), St. Michael (150 points) and Pinon (178 points).

GIRLS 5K RACE, DIVISION III, SECTION IV

Prescott won the girl's Division III, Section IV team championship with 49 points.

Prescott placed three scoring runners in the top five. Prescott runners finished first, second and fifth place.

Prescott senior Makenna Bray claimed the individual title. Bray covered the course in 19:38.

Prescott senior Emily McMahon was two seconds behind Bray. McMahon was timed in 19:40 for runner-up. Freshman Briar Williams finished fifth place with a 20:06 clocking.

Chinle freshman Temyra Bia claimed third place, posting a 19:46.

Coconino placed two runners in the top nine. Coconino freshman Wheaton Smith was clocked in 20:00 for fourth place. Coconino teammate, senior Kaelynn Ashley turned in a 20:24 time for ninth place.

Mingus Union freshman Makena Bliss crossed the finish line with a 20:09 for sixth place.

Snowflake sophomore Hallie Nichols settled for seventh place, clocking a 20:15.

Ganado freshman Marissa Shorty was timed in 20:20 for eighth place.

Tuba City junior Shaelyn Honahni rounded out the top 10 finishers with a 20:26.

There was 15 schools who had a full team of five scoring runners.

Eight schools qualified for the cross country state meet. In addition to Prescott, Ganado (84 points), Snowflake (91 points), Coconino (116 points), Chinle (129 points), Mingus Union (143 points), Tuba City (144 points) and Window Rock (210 points).

BOYS 5K RACE, DIVISION III, SECTION IV

Page and Prescott both had three runners finishing in the top 10.

Page nailed down the boy's Division III, Section IV team title with 52 points. Meanwhile, Prescott posted 58 for team runner-up.

A first place victory by junior Trent Holiday (16:27), a third place by junior Rex Martin (16:46) and nnth place by senior Skyler Sandoval (16:58.6) helped Page secure the team title. Other Page runners were Colton Yazzie (15th, 17:16), Gavyn Yazzie (24th, 17:41), Shayden Begay (33rd, 17:55) and Quentin Davis (34th, 17:55).

Ganado freshman Micah Slivers claimed runner-up with a 16:42 showing.

Winslow senior Nolan Begaye garnered fourth place, posting a 16:50.

Prescott senior Alec Almendarez (5th, 16:51), sophomore Lisandro MxCarter (7th, 16:56) and junior Aiden McCarter (8th, 16:58.0) were top 8 finishers.

Tuba City senior Demetrius Daw garnered sixth place, posting a 16:55.

Window Rock junior Burlander Kee rounded out the top 10 finihers with a 17:00 time.

There was 15 schools who had a full team of five scoring runners.

In addition to Page and Prescott, other schools who qualified for the state meet next week are Kayenta Monument Valley (116 points), Chinle (153), Winslow (160 points), Show Low (173 points), Snowflake (194 points), and Tuba City (207 points).

The cross country state championships for all classifications are scheduled for Saturday, November 16 at Cave Creek Golf Course.