Arizona Cross Country championships recap: Highland team sweeps, close finishes

A team sweep for Gilbert Highland for the second consecutive year. A career day for Goodyear Millennium’s Jim Rafferty as the Tigers won an individual and team title. A record 19th win for Page High School. These are some of the highlights from the 2023 Arizona Interscholastic Association Cross Country Championships at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix on Saturday, which wrapped up the season for teams across the state.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what happened, division-by-division.

Division I

Girls

Individual winner: Taylor Drewry, sophomore, Chandler Basha

Team winner: Gilbert Highland, 51 points

How it happened: This race started the day and it turned out to be one of the most enthralling of the afternoon as the super sophomore from Basha climbed back in the last mile to win the state title, just beating out Highland junior Stella Hall at the finish line 18:51 to 18:52. The win is an important moment in Drewry’s career, who is one of the state’s most promising young runners.

In the team battle, Highland — for the second consecutive year — won the title with 53 points. Last year’s squad was a historic one with their low score of 20 points. But it’s still another impressive notch on coach Dave Montogmery’s belt as he enters the twilight of his coaching career. The Hawks beat out Xavier College Preparatory, who scored 91 points.

What they said: “It feels so amazing. I proved to myself what I can do. And after coming back from an injury, in my mind, I know I can do anything I commit to,” said Drewry.

“We kind of figured, but you still gotta do it. We weren’t like last year, last year was the dream team. Camryn (Delancey) was 15th last year, she bumped up to fourth. Stella (Hall) ran incredible. Those two have been 1-2 every day all year, every meet. I’m kind of shock in still because you don’t get there until you get there. This is a tough course,” said Montgomery.

Boys

Individual winner: Ryan Denhof, senior, Peoria Liberty

Team winner: Highland, 89 points

How it happened: They may be getting all the attention on the gridiron with their top-ranked football team, but Liberty produces some pretty good runners too. Point in case: senior Ryan Denhof and junior Henry Dilworth, who pulled off the rare 1-2 finish as teammates. Denhof worked his way up the field, coming in at 19th place after the first mile before taking the lead at two miles and never looking back en route to the win, running 15:46. Dilworth came in second at 15:54.

Just like the girls, and just like last year, Highland swept the team race as the boys edged out Chandler Hamilton for the close win. The Hawks won with 89 points compared to Hamilton at 100 points. Hamilton led at the two-mile mark by 13 points, but senior Crewe Resendez (eighth place, 16:12) put in a great last mile to put himself in the top 10 to help lead his team to the win.

What they said: “I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time since 5th grade when I started cross-country. I said, ‘I want to be a state champ in cross-country.’ This is my chance to do it, all those hours of practice since I was a kid. This is it right here,” Denof said about his thought process coming down the final stretch of the race.

“It’s hard to do. I told them, we have done nothing. Hamilton, Xavier, Mountain View, they’re all after us. We were way behind at two miles and I said the last mile is where it’s made, and you gotta bring it. And they brought it. I’m just so proud of them,” Montgomery said.

Division II

Girls

Individual winner: Landen LeBlond, senior, Goodyear Millennium

Team winner: Scottsdale Desert Mountain, 100 points

How it happened: After last year’s meet in which she had to drop out after two miles due to an illness, Millennium’s Landen LeBlond was able to get redemption as she won easily in a time of 18:46. Second place, Gilbert Campo Verde’s Clara Jones, came in at 19:42. It was one of the largest margins of victory on the day. The race was never in doubt for the Oregon commit as she led wire-to-wire.

The team title fight was one of the tightest of the meet as Desert Mountain, Flagstaff (the defending champions) and Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge all duked it out. But Desert Mountain came out on top with 100 points, spearheaded by senior Kaia LaHann’s sixth-place finish in 20:20. It’s been a long time coming for this group and coach Kevin Kemmerle, capturing the first-ever state title for the school. Flagstaff was second at 117 points.

What they said: “It means a lot. I’ve been really healthy this season, so that’s really rewarding. And then to be here, especially with the boys team, it’s a big moment for us,” said LeBlond.

“It’s a little surreal. Head-to-head, I knew it was going to be close. Our fifth runner was a senior, she ran a tough race and hung on just enough to get us those points we needed. That’s why you like seniors on the course because they have experience,” said Kemmerle.

Boys

Individual winner: Alex Bland, sophomore, Flagstaff

Team winner: Millennium, 109 points

How it happened: While he won the AIA sectional race last week at Glendale Heroes Regional Park, Flagstaff sophomore Alex Bland wasn’t sure what to expect heading into the state meet. He’s a sophomore after all, he didn’t even make state last year and his division featured the fastest individual in the state this season with Scottsdale Horizon’s Donovan Bitticks. But Bland proved to himself, and the rest of Arizona, that’s he is a name to watch for moving forward as he won the title in a time of 16:30.

In similar fashion to the girls team battle for this division, the boys came down to the wire as well. Millennium was able to gut out the win with 109 points to win it for the first time in school history. The Tigers did it without their top runner all season long, sophomore Armando Vega, who did race but was not at 100 percent due to an injury. It was a banner day for coach Jim Rafferty, who was part of an individual title with LeBlond and a team title with the boys. Flagstaff was a close second at 121 points.

What they said: “No matter what happens, you can always do a lot better. Just because you have one bad year doesn’t mean (it’s) over. You can become much better,” Bland said about what the win means to him.

“Both the individual state title and the team state title are the first for me since I started coaching back in 1991. The kids have huge hearts. We were down our top guy today, we had no business winning. They overcame the odds. They just wanted it more today,” said Rafferty.

Division III

Girls

Individual winner: Mila Russo, freshman, Gilbert Christian

Team winner: ALA Queen Creek, 91 points

How it happened: It’s only fitting that after the exciting race that started the day, the meet ended with a race that was even more exciting. In arguably the best performance of the state meet, Gilbert Christian freshman Mila Russo chased down Ganado sophomore Damira Allen and beat her at the last second, winning 19:32.3 to 19:32.4. If today was an indication of things to come with these underclassmen, then the public is in for a treat these next couple years.

This team title battle too was a fight to the bitter end, with announcer Ron Smith waiting quite awhile to make it official. But ALA Queen Creek, coached by Duerk Brewer, were able to secure the win with 91 points. It’s the first-ever title in school history. The Patriots were buoyed by senior Talya Workman, who came in third place at 20:01. Gilbert Christian was second with 98 points.

What they said: “I’m definitely happy. I’m excited how I can keep getting better for the rest of my years,” said Russo.

“It means a lot. I’m proud of these kids. I’ve known them for a long time. I coached most of these kids in junior high. Excited to have the opportunity to work with them again this year. They’ve worked hard since June and it was awesome to see it pay off for them,” said Brewer.

Boys

Individual winner: Zach Albanese, senior, Seton Catholic Preparatory

Team winner: Page, 126 points

How it happened: As Seton Catholic Prep senior Zach Albanese came down the final stretch with the lead, his legs began to feel heavy. One thought came into his head: Don’t be like Michael. He’s referring to his close friend Michael Urbanski, who starred at Tucson Salpointe Catholic and is now at the University of Arizona. Last year, Urbanski had the lead until the last 10 meters when he was clipped at the line by Ganado’s Micah Slivers. That didn’t happen this year as Albanese won in 16:14 — although it almost did as Page sophomore Symond Martin closed hard to come in second at 16:17.

It’s hard to argue against the Page boys cross-country team as one of the premier high school sports programs in Arizona. The Sand Devils, coached by former star runner Tim Martin, claimed their 19th state championship as they won with a score of 126 points and successfully defended their title from last year. It’s a Martin family affair at Page as dad is the coach, son Symond is the lead runner and there’s another son in the pipeline in eighth grade. The dynasty will continue.

What they said: “Don’t do what Urbanski did last year. I was worried about that. I was fighting that last 100 meters,” Alabense said about what was going through his head. “I’m so grateful for my team, I got people supporting me. I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything and I love this,” he added.

“If you join the Sand Devils running team, it’s almost an expectation that you’re going to win a state championship. Our fifth man (Jadien Jordan) had never run — he was a football player and a freshman, and he picked up 14 guys in the last mile and that’s why we won. So the expectation is that you give it your all if you’re a running Devil,” said Martin.

Division IV

Girls

Individual winner: Kimi Cahoon, senior, Phoenix Country Day School

Team winner: Phoenix Northwest Christian, 60 points

How it happened: Kimi Cahoon’s place is solidified in state history is solidified as one of the most prolific runners Arizona has ever seen from a championship standpoint as she has seven titles in track and field. The only thing missing from her resumé was a cross-country title. She can check that off the list as she won in dominant fashion, with her time of 19:13 beating second place by 17 seconds. This was a long time coming — Cahoon would have won last year if Lauren Ping, who is the state-record holder in the 5,000-meters and is now at Oklahoma State University, hadn’t transferred in from Division I Phoenix Desert Vista. After finishing fourth as a freshman, third as a sophomore and second as a junior, she’s finally on top at last.

Northwest Christian Ashley Tarasenko has only been a member of the cross-country team since the summer when she moved from Maui, but she’ll leave a lasting legacy at the school as her second-place finish propelled the Crusaders to the team title. Northwest Christian scored 60 points to beat out Chandler Valley Christian, who was second with 81 points. It is coach Brandon Southall’s second team title with the girls.

What they said: “It shows the hard work I have put in. Cross is definitely a lot harder (than track) for me personally, I don’t know why. Knowing that I put in the work, it’s really rewarding. I’m a person who goes for goals and dreams. This was a goal and dream my freshman year. To build up each year, it’s exciting to see,” said Cahoon.

“It’s awesome to get it back again. They don’t come often, so it’s fun to get it,” said Southall.

Boys

Individual winner: Myles Floyd, senior, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Academy

Team winner: Flagstaff Northland Preparatory Academy, 91 points

How it happened: He was one of the heavy pre-race favorites heading into last year’s state meet, but a mishap with registration caused Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Academy senior Myles Floyd to miss the state meet. This year there was no registration mistake as he won the title in a time of 16:06. Floyd went through the first mile pretty conservative, coming in at second at 5:15 and five seconds off the leader. But Floyd made up that deficit by the two-mile mark and was neck-and-neck heading into the final stretch of the race, before pulling away from Hopi senior Duwron Tawvaya and Northwest Christian senior Glenn Thomas to win it.

There were many impressive performances at the state meet, but the performance of the Northland Prep boys probably tops the list. Northland Prep was without their star runner, freshman Yohanes Van Meerten. He came down with a stomach bug and was unable to race. They didn’t find out until yesterday they’d be without Van Meertern, who earlier this season set the freshman state record in the 5,000-meters at Desert Twilight. Northland Prep was able to piece together a phenomenal team effort to win with 91 points, led by senior Jack Flugstad’s sixth-place finish (16:39). Valley Christian was second with 120 points.

What they said: “There was a mixup with state entries. We went to register again and the deadline was up. It was very disappointing. But you gotta move on from that. Now to be back here today, and to win, it’s unbelievable To represent Tucson, it’s awesome,” said Floyd.

“We knew Yohanes wasn’t going to run and everyone was crestfallen. What I told the boys today was that we’re going to turn ‘What-ifs’ into ‘Remember whens.’ That pumped everybody else up and got them ready to go. And when they crossed the finish line, the boys all came up and said, ‘Coach, Remember when?’ It was a really big day. I was tearing up afterwards. I’m so happy to see all their hard work pay off,” said coach Xavier Rodriguez.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AIA State Cross Country Championships Recap: Highland team sweeps, close finishes