Like our Division I Boys race, the Division III boys matchup should be very competitive with four teams that have a legitimate shot at taking home the gold. If we base it off times at Twilight back in early October, we would lean towards calling Salpointe Catholic the favorite. After last week's sectional meets, one may argue well for Snowflake to hoist the trophy by the end of the day tomorrow. But how can you count out Page (who almost didn't have a season and has won State every year since 2014) and Prescott? Whatever team wins tomorrow, it's going to be exciting and well earned for sure!
Salpointe Catholic
This group of young men runs only about 30-seconds apart between runners one thru five. While they may not have anyone in the top-10 individually tomorrow, we may see a slew of Lancers coming across the line between 11th and 20th places. They had all seven of their runners in the top-11 last week at the Rio Rico Sectional meet and so they definitely know how to work off each other. Diego Veliz and Michael Urbanski (both sophomores) will most likely be leading the Lancer pack tomorrow, with the hopes of guiding them to a team victory.
Prescott
With Aiden McCarter having not run since Desert Twilight, we are making the assumption he will be out for State this year. If he does run, it will give Prescott a much better chance to capture the team title. But, even without Aiden, Prescott is without a doubt a formidable group of boys to beat. Aiden's younger brother, Lisandro McCarter (junior) has been the Badgers number one most of the season and will most likely be in the hunt for a top-five individual finish. Runners two thru five have less than a 30-second gap but will need a little more speed than last week's effort at Rose Mofford Sectionals, where the team placed third to Page and Snowflake.
Page
Due to Covid-19, Page originally had canceled their season like many schools in Northern Arizona. But they have put in a few races in the last month and are looking to be a tough out tomorrow. Page has won every state championship since 2014 in Division III; and so it would be negligent to dismiss them from being in the running for another state title in 2020, especially when Trent Holiday will be heading the squad and has a great chance of being in the top-three individual finishers. Their gap two thru four is about 60-seconds, and they most likely need to cut that down a smidge if they want to wear the crown again in 2020.
Snowflake
Snowflake is very similar to Salpointe, in that they may not have anyone in the top-10 individually, but were may see an amoeba-like approach to crossing the finish line tomorrow out at Crossroads Park. They have roughly a 30+ second gap one thru five, which bodes well in larger races where every place is critical. Senior, Kaden Clark, and junior, Caleb Anson, are the one-two punch for the Lobos. They did edge out Page at Sectionals by 1-point, which will give them confidence that they have what it takes to win this whole thing tomorrow.