Flagstaff, Northland Prep secure championship sweeps, Page boys capture fourth in a row

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was survival of the fittest Saturday for the Chandler girls team and a showcase of one of the strongest boys teams in state history by Desert Vista at the Arizona AIA Cross Country Championships in Phoenix.

Despite season-ending injuries to junior standout Morgan Foster (avulsion fracture) and sophomore Brooke Eversden (stress fracture), in addition to junior Mihajla Milovanovic pulling double duty by also competing at the state swim finals, a short-handed Chandler lineup delivered an inspiring performance to capture its second Division I girls title in three years with a 55-77 victory over Xavier Prep.

Desert Vista faced no such obstacles on its way to a fourth consecutive Division I boys crown, placing five scorers in the top 13 in a 34-130 triumph over Brophy Prep. Senior Habtamu Cheney was second on the 5-kilometer Cave Creek course in 15 minutes, 56 seconds for Desert Vista, which had a 25-second spread among its scoring runners to combine for a team time of 80:45, the second-lowest mark in state history. Corona del Sol set the record at 79:50 in 2013.

The 34-point effort was also the second-lowest total for a large school in state history, trailing only the 32-point performance by Trevor Browne High of Phoenix in the 5A final in 1986.

Reece Donihi was fifth (16:06), Sammy Van Alstine took sixth (16:08), Bryce Schmisseur finished ninth (16:14) and Nick Thatcher placed 13th (16:21) for Desert Vista, which captured its fifth championship in six seasons and ninth in program history.

Highland sophomore Leo Daschbach posted the fastest time of the day to secure the Division I crown in 15:53. Daschbach finished 51st last year in his state debut in 17:18.

Desert Vista senior Haley Wolf captured the Division I girls championship in 18:38, with Milovanovic taking third (19:17), Kylie Welch finishing fifth (19:24), Becca Taylor securing eighth (19:50), Kerri Welch capturing ninth (19:57) and sophomore Daniela Montufar clinching the title for Chandler with a 34th-place effort in 20:57.

Flagstaff swept the Division II titles for the third straight year, with Page capturing its fourth consecutive Division III boys championship and the Northland Prep girls winning the Division IV crown for the third time in four seasons.

Chaparral junior Abi Archer had the fastest girls time at 17:58 to move up to No. 8 all-time on the Cave Creek course and repeat as Division II champion, but Flagstaff prevailed by a 49-80 margin for its sixth championship in seven years and 13th overall.

Campo Verde junior Rylan Stubbs won the Division II boys crown in 15:54, with Flagstaff rallying in the final mile for a three-peat of its own with a 127-146 victory.

Northland Prep senior Maya Smith captured her fourth straight Division IV girls title, elevating to No. 9 in course history by clocking 18:01, helping the Spartans produce a 70-134 victory over Hopi.

Rio Rico junior Samantha Schadler won the Division III girls title in 18:06 following four straight wins from older sister Allie, including the course record 17:03 last year. Ganado won its first girls team title since 2005 and sixth overall with a 101-108 triumph over Coconino.

Page placed Bowen Martin, Dorian Daw and Morgan Fowler in the top five to cruise to a 45-100 victory over Tuba City in the Division III boys final, celebrating the Sand Devils' 15th overall championship. Prescott senior Matthew Bradley won in 16:04, improving from 15th in 16:50 last season.

Joseph City junior Talon Smith won the Division IV boys title in 16:39 after not competing at the state meet last year.

Team Championships

Boys D1 - Desert Vista 34 points

Girls D1 - Chandler 55 points

Boys D2 - Flagstaff 49 points

Girls D2 - Flagstaff 127 points

Boys D3 - Page 45 points

Girls D3 - Ganado 101 points

Boys D4 - Northland Prep 57 points

Girls D4 - Northland Prep 70 points