Division 3 Girls and Boys
Rio Rico came close to having a perfect day of 4 State Championships but was 24 points short. The team won 2 individual and 1 team title as well as a 2nd place team finish. Rio Rico's Oscar Amaya (photo left) and Carlos Villarreal, both juniors, started the winning day with a 1-2 finish in the race 5K race. Amaya crossed the line first with a time of 15:47.57 followed by Villarreal in 15:55.18. Rio Rico finished 2nd with 71 points to Tuba City's 48 points.
Tuba City placed 5 runners in the top 18 and all 7 runners in the top 25.
Scoring for Tuba City were Brian Masayesva (Sr) in 4th place with a time of 16:02.96 with twin brother Anthony in 6th in 16:20.30. Sophomore Albert Fuller placed a tight 7th behind Anthony with a time of 16:20.46 followed by a 13th place finish by Eddie Loughran (Sr) in 16:36.71 and an 18th place finish by Jaiden Malendrez (Fr) 16:47.82. Junior Kyle Sumatzhuhu and freshman Vaughn Jackson finished 24th and 25th.
Rio Rico also had senior Ben Noriega in the 11th spot with a time of 16:33.89 followed by 14th place finisher Max Bojorquez (Sr) in 16:38.45 and Jose Gutierrez (Sr) in 43rd with a time of 17:41.49.
Freshman Alexandra Schadler (photo right) of Rio Rico took home the top prize finishing in 18:38.18 and leading the team to a State Championship with 89 points over Mingus Union's 132 points.
Following Schadler through the shute were senior Marley Henson (8th - 19:54.25), senior Edith Arvizu (17th - 20:40.03), freshman Halle Dewitt (29th - 21:07.68) and junior Marielena Valencia (34th - 21:17.86).
Mingus Union had scoring runners in 5th (Sr., Justine Taylor), 9th (Sr., Monica Soliz), 28th (So., Kelli Balensky), 37th (Sr., Sienna Gehl) and 53rd (Fr., Cassia Gehl).
Ganado High placed 2 sophomores in the top 5 with Daangoiina Haven in 2nd place with a time of 18:58.15 and Nikesha Eagleman in 3rd in 18:58.19. Sierra Jarriel (So., Fountain Hills) finished 4th in 19:17.01
Division 4 Boys and Girls
Although Josh Hoskinson (Sr., Arizona Lutheran, photo left) has several track and field State Titles, Saturday was his first Cross Country State Championship. Hoskinson has been a tough consistent competitor in Arizona for a few years but his fierce competitive nature is not often seen unless he is competing against the best, as he did in the twilight meet finishing 9th overall - just seconds behind Nick Dale (5th), Lucky Schreinder (66h) and Harvey Nelson (7th).
Hoskinson finished the 5K race in a time of 16:14.24 followed by Hopi junior Anfernee Howard (16:32.60) who led his Hopi team to their 24th consecutive AZ State Title with 69 points over Pinon high school with 124 points.
Also scoring for Hopi were senior Terry Honventewa (5th - 16:50.32), junior Keilan Poleahla (15th) 17:27.18, freshman Jason Laban (21st - 17:48.52) and senior Aaron Swimmer (26th - 17:57.93).
Pinon had runners at 7th (Fr., Adriano Joe - 16:57.74), 8th (Jr., Spencer Terrence - 17:01.27), 9th (Sr., Leslie Begay - 17:08.39), 49th (So., Milton Tso - 18:39.17) and 51st (Fr., Tyrin Begay - 18:45.53).
Jonathan Hall (Sr., Northland Prep) finished the race in 3rd with a time of 16:40.52 followed by Brandon Cork (Sr., Veritas Prep) in 4th in 16:43.71.
Freshman Valentina Nyhart (photo right) of Northland Prep won the girls Division 4 race with a time of 19:39.72 - 11 seconds faster than Hopi senior Christen Ben (19:50.748). Ben was the top runner for Hopi - leading the team to a 38 point victory over Pusch Ridge Christian Academy with 56 points and Scottsdale Prep with 69 points.
Following Ben and scoring for Hopi were senior Claryn Josytewa (7th - 20:10.06), freshman Janaya Day (8th - 20:14.70), senior Randi Lomayestewa (10th - 20:21.38) and senior Kaitlin Billy (11th - 20:25.70).
Pusch Ridge runners finished in 3rd (So., Cayley Hensley - 19:51.13), 5th (Jr., Grace Johnson - 20:02.23), 12th (Sr., Mali Smith - 20:31.26), 14th (Sr., Kaylee Bowers - 20:48.12) and 22nd (Jr., Catherine Stypa - 21:44.43).