Joseph City’s cross country team was in Page on Thursday, competing in the Division IV sectional meet. The boys team needed to finish in the top 50% of scoring teams, meaning they had to finish fifth or higher as a team to extend their season to the state meet this weekend.
This year’s Wildcats placed eighth with 217 points, so their season has come to a close. Northland Prep won the team crown with 39 points. Round Valley was second with 78, Hopi was third with 89, Many Farms was fourth with 101, and Basis Flagstaff took the fifth and final team qualifying spot with 113 points.
Evans Tracy from St. Michael won the Division IV sectional race with a time of 17:13. Preston Myers from Round Valley was second in 17:19, and Tyethan Barner from Valley Sanders placed third at 17:34.
Joseph City’s top runner was Cory McLaws, who placed 29th with a time of 19:41. Pharrell Poselt was 48th in 21:00, William Grant was 54th in 21:22, Noah Edwards placed 58th in 21:52, Jimmy McLaws was 71st in 24:26, and Brayden Bushman placed 77th with a time of 26:05.
Individual runners have to place at least seventh in unattached runners, meaning teams that didn’t automatically qualify. Lacy Deets had a 31st-place finish with a time of 26:21, placing her just outside that qualifying position also bringing her season to an end.
Northland Prep, Round Valley, Hopi, Many Farms, and Basis Flagstaff advanced to the Boy’s Division IV state meet. Northland Prep, Hopi, and Basis Flagstaff advanced to the girls’ state meet. All state races will be held at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix on Saturday.
