ARIZONA STATE MEET

Ryan Denhof of Liberty takes Division 1 crown in 15:46.3 for top boys performance, with Millennium standout Landen LeBlond achieving fastest girls effort by capturing Division 2 championship in 18:46.2

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Highland High was expected to win both Division 1 titles last year at the Arizona Interscholastic Association state cross country championships and the Hawks responded with two of the most dominant victories in meet history.

Highland’s pursuit for another sweep at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix was a testament to the Hawks’ patience, composure, will and determination, which has been on display the entire season, despite significant losses to graduation as well as injuries compromising both lineups.

Highland summoned late surges when they mattered most Saturday, becoming the first program in the top division in Arizona prep history to capture boys and girls championships in consecutive seasons.

INTERVIEWS

The Hawks had five athletes in the top 25 in the Division 1 girls final to produce a 53-91 victory against Xavier College Prep, becoming the first team to three-peat since the Gators won six straight from 2007-12.

Basha sophomore Taylor Drewry moved up five spots in the final mile to secure the Division 1 championship on the 5-kilometer layout in 18 minutes, 51 seconds, improving from her third-place performance as a freshman. Natalie Roberts from Mountain View Mesa took third in 18:58.0, with early leader Brooklyn Hanania of Desert Vista placing fifth in 18:59.9.

Stella Hall led Highland by finishing second in 18:52.0, with Camryn Delancey placing fourth in 18:59.6, Kinley Jackson taking ninth in 19:20.7, Charlotte Greer securing 17th in 19:37.9 and Addisyn Frost earning 21st in 19:39.8.

The Hawks triumphed by a 20-65 margin in last year’s final against Desert Vista, but returned only Hall, Jackson and Delancey from that lineup.

Highland overcame a 13-point deficit against Hamilton entering the final mile of the Division 1 boys final to capture back-to-back crowns with an 89-100 triumph, winning the program’s fourth championship overall following a 43-122 win against Liberty last season.

Liberty had senior Ryan Denhof prevail in 15:46.3 and junior teammate Hank Dilworth place second in 15:54.5 to take third overall with 136 points.

Crewe Resendez, who was injured and unable to compete at last year’s state final, returned to earn eighth in 16:12.5 for the Hawks, with Lucas Witcher taking 10th in 16:17.2, Timothy Willford finishing 18th in 16:32.6, Parker Rydel grabbing 26th in 16:47.3 and Sam Davis securing 30th in 16:51.6, overtaking 16 athletes in the final kilometer to help Highland rally for the victory.

Tyler Mathews of Red Mountain, the state record holder in the 800 meters, took third in 16:02.2, Rincon University’s Mateo Pimenta placed fourth in 16:03.6 and Kai Espinosa-Golinski from Westwood was fifth in 16:05.1.

Page continued to add to its Division 3 boys legacy, winning back-to-back championships and improving its total to 19 titles in program history with a 126-153 triumph against American Leadership Academy West Foothills.

Symond Martin rallied in the final 100 meters to place second for Page in 16:17.0, with Seton Catholic senior Zach Albanese securing the individual crown in 16:14.9.

Brayden LeVander led ALA West Foothills by taking third in 16:23.1.

Page trails only the state record 27 titles by Hopi and 21 crowns won by Tuba City among the most successful boys programs in Arizona prep history.

Northland Prep, which halted the national record state championship streak (1990-2016) of Hopi High in the Division 4 in 2017, relied on a sixth-place performance in 16:39.0 from Jack Flugstad and five scorers in the top 35 to capture a fifth boys team title with a 91-120 victory against Valley Christian.

Myles Floyd of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, who was unable to compete in last year’s state final as a result of a clerical error, returned to capture the Division 4 individual title in 16:06.3.

Duwron Tawvaya achieved second for Hopi in 16:15.4 and Northwest Christian’s Glenn Thomas, last year’s winner, took third in 16:18.6.

Northwest Christian benefited from the presence of Maui High transfer Ashley Tarasenko placing second in her debut in the Division 4 girls final in 19:30.3, contributing to five athletes finishing in the top 35 to help the Crusaders secure a second team title in three years by holding off Valley Christian – led by third-place competitor Ellie Phillips running 19:42.9 – by a 60-81 margin.

Kimi Cahoon, a senior at Phoenix Country Day, capped a career journey that included a third-place effort and second-place performance the past two seasons by capturing her first state cross country crown in 19:13.9.

For the first time since 2014, Flagstaff was unable to capture either Division 2 title, as first-time champions were crowned in both team competitions.

Millennium rallied in the final mile of the Division 2 boys race to prevail with 109 points, followed by Flagstaff at 121 points, Casteel with 128 points and 2-mile leader Buena taking fourth with 137 points.

Flagstaff sophomore Alex Bland, who wasn’t part of Flagstaff’s runner-up lineup at last year’s state final, pulled away from Buena’s Nick Hiser (16:40.0) and Williams Field’s Jack Bradley (16:40.6) in the final kilometer to emerge victorious in 16:30.9.

Alex Saldamando secured seventh for Millennium in 16:58.2, with the Tigers relying on significant improvement in the final mile from fellow seniors Quarton McLeese, Benjamin Udall and Ruben Saavedra to take home the title.

Landen LeBlond, a senior at Millennium, also won her first Division 2 girls individual crown in 18:46.2, rebounding after not being able to finish the state championship last year.

Clara Jones of Campo Verde achieved her fourth career top-three performance at the state final, including runner-up the past three years, clocking 19:42.6.

Despite a third-place finish from Olivia Baker in 19:55.9 for Flagstaff, Desert Mountain had five competitors in the top 40, highlighted by seniors Kaia LaHann (20:20.9) and Haley Wilkinson (20:21.9) placing sixth and seventh, respectively, contributing to a 100-117 victory against the 18-time state champion Eagles.

The most thrilling finish of the meet came in the final race, with Gilbert Christian freshman Mila Russo edging Ganado sophomore Damira Allen by a 19:32.3 to 19:32.4 margin after the athletes battled the final 100 meters stride for stride in the Division 3 girls championship.

American Leadership Academy Queen Creek captured its first team title, relying on three athletes in the top 15 and five scorers finishing in the top 60 to hold off Gilbert Christian by a 91-98 margin.

Talya Workman, a senior, took third for the Patriots in 20:01.0, with freshman Tally Call securing sixth in 20:22.2, as ALA Queen Creek extended its advantage over the final mile to cap an incredible turnaround after placing ninth last year.

Team Champions

Division 1: Highland boys 89 points, Highland girls 53 points - RESULTS

Division 2: Millennium boys 109 points, Desert Mountain girls 100 points - RESULTS

Division 3: Page boys 126 points, American Leadership Academy Queen Creek girls 91 points - RESULTS

Division 4: Northland Prep Academy boys 91 points, Northwest Christian girls 60 points - RESULTS