Miller Holds Off Sane While Casteel Seals The Deal At Tumbleweed Park
Wednesday concluded the week of District and City Championships around the valley. While many districts host championships for just those athletes within their district, Chandler was able to assemble teams from eight schools, two of which are not part of the school district, for some fast races on a cool afternoon at Tumbleweed Park.
In the Girls' Varsity race, Kylie Miller (Perry, Jr.), Taylor Lovell (Perry, So.), and Rujuta Sane (Hamilton, So.) quickly positioned themselves at the head of the pack. Through the first half of the race, Miller pressed the pace while Sane stuck right on her shoulder, to shadow her step for step along the course.
In the end, Kylie Miller held off Sane to secure the victory over the Hamilton newcomer. Super-sophomores Taylor Lovell (Perry) and Ava Potts (Chandler, So.) both finished under 19-minutes and earned new lifetime bests.
Over the next minute, Kate Miller (Perry, Jr.), Sydney Stevens (Perry, So.), Kennedy Nolde (Perry, Jr.) all finished within 20-seconds of each other to establish the Perry Pumas as the dominant team at Tumbleweed Park. Chandler and Hamilton both earned 60 points across their scoring five runners, prompting them to go to tie breakers which gave Chandler the edge.
Meyson Tyler (Casteel, Sr.) led his fellow Colt Dayton Carlson (Casteel, Jr.) around the outer perimeter of the course but with a little over a half mile to go, Carlson overtook his teammate around the ranch and kicked like a madman.
Gabe Garcia (Chandler, Sr.) finished third place with Michael Sexson (Hamilton, Sr.) right on his heels to interrupt the stampede of neon yellow Colts. Derek Baca (Casteel, Jr.) finished soon after, while Nathan Mann (Casteel, Sr.), Joey Bosi (Perry, Sr.), Gunner Garcia (Chandler, Sr.) all came through within a second of each other.
James Cardon (Perry, Sr.) held on for a ninth-place finish, and Joseph Meagher (Casteel, Jr.) delivered the knockout punch for Casteel to earn just 26 points, and clinch the team title once again at Tumbleweed Park.