Holbrook High School and Hidden Cove Golf Course welcomed 30 teams for the AIA Sectional Cross Country Meet on Friday afternoon. This meet featured four different races to determine which teams and individuals qualified for the state cross country meet, which will be held on Saturday in Phoenix. There were 14 Division 3 teams and 16 Division 4 schools attending.
The first race was for Division 3 boys. This included both Holbrook and Snowflake. The individual title went to Symond Martin of Page, with a time of 16:17. Jadyen Smith of Ganado was a close second in 16:19. Ryan Kee from Window Rock placed third, with a time of 16:46. Ninety-one runners completed the 3.1-mile course around and through the golf course.
Holbrook’s team was paced by Ian Masayesva, who finished fifth overall with a time of 16:59. Right behind him was teammate Leyton Tom, crossing the line in 17:09. Kelton Reidhead finished 10th in 17:34. Kenneth Nez placed 19th with a time of 18:12. Travis Bia was 25th in 18:28. Rylan Bia placed 36th in 18:55. William Nez finished 51st with a time of 19:40.
As a team, Holbrook finished as the runner-up, with 64 team points. They were just eight points behind the top team Page’s 56 points. Chinle was third, with 107, followed by Ganado with 109 and Winslow was fifth, with 150 team points. Page, Holbrook, Chinle, Ganado, Winslow, Tuba City and Window Rock each qualified for the state meet as a team.
Snowflake placed eighth as a team with 197 team points.
The Lobos’ top runner was Trevin Flake, who placed 11th with a time of 17:39. James Prestwich finished 37th in 18:56. Jacob Anson was 38th just three seconds behind in 18:59. Boston Mulder placed 53rd in 19:45. Heston Lewis was 62nd in 20:09, Logan Taylor finished 64th with a time of 20:27, and Michael Taylor crossed the line in 73rd position with a time of 21:20.
Trevin Flake’s finishing position of 11th overall also qualified him for a spot in the state meet as well.
The Division 3 girls’ race was won by Ganado’s Damira Allen, with a time of 19:56, more than 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Janessa Segay from Chinle High School. Jade Reid of Page was third with a time of 20:40. Eighty-one runners completed the race.
Holbrook’s top finisher was freshman Hannah Nez, who crossed the line in 25th position with a time of 23:07. Raelle Nez finished 28th with a time of 23:26. Holbrook’s third and final runner was Isabella Winslow, who crossed the line in 31:09.
Snowflake’s team was led by Addison Craner who placed fourth overall, with a time of 21:03. Evalyn Perez finished seventh in 21:48. Emma Bates was less than a second behind her in 21:49. Claire Williams finished 31st in 23:47. Emree Mowers was 39th in 24:22. Abigail Williams placed 47th with a time of 25:11, and Kaja Brimhall finished 60th with a time of 26:25.
As a team, the Lady Lobos placed third overall, with 78 team points. Ganado took the sectional title with 50 points, followed by Chinle in second with 69 points. Winslow was fourth with 113 and Page took fifth with 156. Ganado, Chinle, Snowflake, Winslow, Page and Tuba City all qualified full teams for next week’s state meet.
The third race of the day was the Division IV boy’s race. Joseph City’s Cory McLaws finished 30th overall, with a time of 19:42. Jimmy McLaws placed 67th with a time of 24:18.
Yohanes Van Meerten from Northland Prep won the race with an impressive time of 16:20. Hopi’s Duwron Tawvaya was second in 16:36. Jack Flugstaf of Northland Prep placed third with a time of 17:11.
Northland Prep easily captured the boys’ team title with 26 points. Pinon was second with 77, followed by Basis Flagstaff in third with 90.
Northland Prep, Pinon, Basis, Hopi and Round Valley each qualified for Saturday’s state meet as a team.
The final race of the day was the Division IV girls’ event. Emily Mullaney from Basis Flagstaff won the individual title, with a time of 20:47. Her teammate Meredith Bauman was second in 21:00. Callie Lathan from Round Valley placed third, with a time of 21:33. Forty-seven runners completed the race.
Joseph City’s Lacy Deets finished 40th, with a time of 29:27.
Only three Division IV girls’ teams qualified for the state meet. Hopi, who won the team title with 38 points. Northland Prep was second with 44, and Basis Flagstaff finished third with 54 points. They will all be headed to the state meet on Saturday.
