The Corona del Sol boys and girls took home the grand prize at the Chandler Invitational today with the boys earning 11 points over 2nd place Mesa Mountain View's 32 points and Highlands 33 points.
"I think the last time Corona won at this race (Chandler Invitational) was when I was running for Corona," said Coach Rodriguez after the meet.
The races were divided by class with the team points being earned by the top runner from each team in each race. The Corona boys had a first place runner in the freshman (Slade Summers), junior (Marcus Wheeler) and Senior races (Nate Rodriguez), and an 8th place runner (Lukas Ykema) in the sophomore race for 11 points.
For the Corona girls Renee Clary finished 12th in the freshman race, Mackenzie Harder placed 8th in the sophomore race, Kelly Naumann took 5th in the junior race and Sammie Moore finished 4th in the senior race for 29 points. Highland finished 2nd with 35 points and Perry took 3rd with 47 points.
Corona seniors Nate Rodriguez (photo left, on left) and Ryan Normand (photo left, on right) had the fastest times of the day finishing 1 -2 respectively. The pair came into the final 800 in lock step running as strong as their start pace with no signs of strain on their faces. The speed and power the duo displayed, throughout the race, showed they are the two to beat this season. Rodriguez crossed the line with a time of 15:28 followed by Normand in 15:30 over the 5K course. Ben Noriega from Rio Rico finished in 16:09 followed by Jack Hovland (Notre Dame Prep) in 16:24 and Brennen Barfuss (Higley) in 16:31.
Marcus Wheeler (Corona del Sol) won the junior race in 15:59 followed closely by Rio Rico's Oscar Amaya in 16:00 and Carlos Villarreal (Rio Rico) in 16:08. Emmanuel Hidalgo (McClintock) placed 3rd with a time of 16:10 with Seamus White (Hamilton) rounding out the top 5 in 16:15.
In the sophomore race Cade Burks (Perry) crossed the finish in 16:33 edging Mesa Mountain View's Jacob Toller by a second (16:34). Carlin Resendez (Highland) finished 3rd in 17:07 followed by Brett Willman (Ironwood Rdige) in 17:18 and Eric Simoneau (Mesa Mountain View) 17:20.
Slade Summers (Corona del Sol) ran a time of 17:27 to win the freshman race over Ethan Burton (Perry, 18:00), Liam Kovatch (Corona del Sol, 18:07), Luis Oviedo (Rio Rico, 18:09) and Carlos Bugdud (Alhambra, 18:20). Soloman Hanson (Desert Vista) finished 6th in 18:21.
On the girls side Huston Jones (Mesa Mountain View, photo right) had the fastest time of the day winning the senior race in 19:20. Teammates Madey Brook (19:44) and Cherokee Davis (20:02) finished 2nd and 3rd followed by Samie Moore (Corona del Sol, 20:13) and Summer Stapley (Mesa Mountain View, 20:15).
Carissa Diaz from Vista Grande had the 2nd fastest time of the day winning the junior race in 19:31. Lucy Hilarides (Queen Creek) earned a 2nd place spot with a 19:40 followed by Kristin Powell (Ironwood Ridge) in 19:58. Gabby Ybarra (Perry) finished 4th in 20:08 and Kelly Naumann (Corona del Sol) took 5th in 20:12.
The sophomore race was won by Chandler's Alexis Nichols in 20:08. Madelyn Gherkins (Mesa Mountain View) finished 2nd in 20:38 followed by Kaeli Otto (Ironwood Ridge, 20:50), Mckenna Ebiner (Hamilton, 21:27) and Abby Greenleaf (Payson, 21:35).
In the freshman race Alexandra Schadler from Rio Rico was one of 6 girls who broke 20 minutes, finishing in 19:50. Isabel Huish (Mesa Mountain View) ran a time of 20:26 for 2nd place followed by Sierra Coleman (Williams Field, 20:38), Marisa Kennedy (Highland, 20:48) and Yatzira Ramirez (Desert View, 21:12).