The Chandler Prep Boys are ranked 3rd in the preseason for returning Division IV boys cross country teams.
Chandler Preparatory Academy
The Chandler Prep Titans return their whole boys team and six of their girls from last year's cross-country State Meet. Both Evan Balizado (Sr.) and Olivia Mountain (Jr.) finished 4th in the D4 boys' and D4 girls' 3200 meter races, respectively. Balizado is the 5th best returning boy for 3200 in Division 4 with a time of 10:18.38, and Olivia is ranked 4th among D4 girl returners for both 1600m and 3200m with times of 5:22.63 and 11:38.31. Last year, the Chandler Prep boys took 1st at their home invitational and their top 5 averaged 17:37.44 for 5k. As a whole their boys have made tremendous improvements on the track, with 5 of their guys running under 4:55 for 1600m and under 10:42 for 3200m, across their top 5 in both events. The Titan girls return four under 6:30 for 1600m. The Titans have the depth to make some big jumps in the Division 4 rankings and could pose a threat to both the D4 boys and girls team titles.
Coach Ouellette Says...
Who are your top returners?
Boys Side we return our top 7 boys which included Evan Balizado who made the podium in the 3200 in track this spring. Girls side we return 6 of our 7 from State last year including Olivia Mountain who made four podiums at State in track.
Do you have any impact freshman or incoming transfers?
No impact incoming boys, but James Cochran is a Sophomore boy who did not join us until track and he could have a shot at becoming a top runner for us. On the girls side we have several freshman girls who could push for a position on our varsity 7 who ran for our program in middle school and they are lead by Deia Davis and Sophia Hackett.
What meets are you keying in on this year?
We race every meet we enter, but of course Twilight is a big meet because you run the same course on the same day as the other top teams you are competing against and Sectionals and State are always the important ones.
How has your preseason training been going?
Summer is always hard because of traveling and other commitments the kids have, but we had a decent turnout this summer and we will find out shortly how well it went.
Have you set any goals as a team?
I don't set goals for the team, the team sets the goals themselves. Coaches can't want it for the athletes. We met before school got out and the boys set a goal of winning sectionals and a top 5 at State and the girls set a goal of top 10 at State.