By Greg Perkins Joseph City High School cross country athletes Talon Smith, Jacob Bushman and Kaylie Gardner have all qualified for the Division IV State Cross Country meet, which will be held on Saturday at Cave Creek Golf Course. Running in the sectional qualifying meet held at Hidden Cove in Holbrook on Friday, Smith’s time of 16:48 was good enough to place third overall in the boys’ race. Bushman snagged the 25th and final qualifying position with a time of 18:22. Kaden Moss finished in 76th place with a time of 22:26, but did not qualify for the state meet. Eighty-nine runners competed in the race. Micah Stanton from Northland Prep won the individual race title with a time of 16:26. Jihad Nodman from Hopi was second and Wildcat Talon Smith was third. Northland Prep took the boys’ team crown with 25 points, Hopi was second with 55, and Greyhills placed third with 131. Kaylie Gardner finished just inside the qualifying standard placing 24th with a time of 23:26. Katrina Heaton placed 39th in 25:17, and Kimberly Johnstun finished in 45th position with a time of 26:14. Aliandrea Upshaw from St. Michael took first place honors with a time of 18:34. Precious Robinson of Pinon was second and Jaeda Honani from Hopi finished third. Sixty-six runners competed in the race. The Division IV girls team crown was claimed by St. Michael with 35 points. Hopi followed with 75, and Alchesay was third with 85.