• Ava Wadhwa, Arizona Lutheran 
• Jasmine Perez, Heritage Laveen
• Sara Bredenkamp, Kingman Academy
• Maddie Klei, St. John Paul II
• Reagan Ellison, Heritage Laveen
• Rosy Pina, Highland Prep
• Olivia Overson, Kingman Academy
• Alexis Ortiz, Lincoln Prep
• Maya Wells, Horizon Honors
• Anna Sandoval, Madison Highland
• Hannah Lopez, Scottsdale Christian Academy
• Gillian Krebs, Lincoln Prep
• Karli Crandall, Scottsdale Prep
• Kara Sistak, Arete Prep
• Ainsley Hepworth, Willcox
• Maylee Thompson, Willcox
• Chloe Wiley, San Carlos
• Lilly Dobbins, Desert Christian
• Alicia Alhumada, Morenci 
• Trinity Vasquez, Santa Rita
• Valeria Zegarra, Morenci
• Amber Woody, St. Michael
• Tayleen Woody, Rock Point
• Leonna Slim, St. Michaels
• Rylee Koopee, Hopi, 
• Neveah Barlow, Valley Sanders
• Valencia Timms, Hopi
• Kellee Lomayestewa, Hopi

After transferring from Desert Vista to Valley Christian, it's been clear that Lauren Ping is the division leader. Ping, the state record-holder in the 5k, has raced sparingly in her senior season. She raced twice in September, at the Fountain Hills Invitational and Desert Twilight. Ping went under 18 minutes in both of those meets.

The 17:47 Desert Twilight performance, albeit on a hillier course than previous years, was a minute and seven seconds slower than her record-breaking performance in 2021. Ninety-nine percent of athletes would be elated with a time like that, but the standards are different for Ping. 

In October, she raced twice as well. At the City of Chandler XC Championships, Ping put together her best cross-country race in a over year with her 17:16.10. It was the first time since November 2021 that she had run under 17:20.

After a calendar year in which she has only competed in 10 races total, her league championship performance showed that it doesn't matter how much Ping runs. She's one of the best to ever do it. With Ping's pedigree, she is the MileSplit Arizona favorite to win.

The real battle is between the rest of field. Phoenix Country Day School junior Kimi Cahoon, the Division IV Metro section champion, is No. 2 in the division. Lincoln Prep junior Alexis Ortiz is 11 seconds behind Cahoon. Glendale Prep sophomore Taryn Janssen, one of the state's top underclassmen, is the only other runner in the division with a personal best under 19 minutes.

Wild card: Taryn Janssen, Glendale Prep

Teams

State qualifiers:

• Phoenix Country Day
• Glendale Prep
• Northwest Christian
• Veritas Prep
• North Phoenix
• BASIS Phoenix
• Valley Christian
• Chandler Prep
• Gilbert Classic
• Tempe Preparatory
• Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
• Tombstone
• Benson
• Northland Prep
• BASIS Flagstaff
• Many Farms

The top two teams in the division, Phoenix Country Day and Glendale Prep, have been the cream of the crop for the season. At the moment, they are separated by 20 points. The Eagles have the lower stick with Cahoon atop the division, but the Griffins have a stronger 1-2 overall.

But the Eagles have all five of their runners under 22 minutes while the Griffins do not. It looks like the state title will come down to runners 3-5 for each team.

With Cahoon leading the way, the MileSplit Arizona favorite to win is Phoenix Country Day. 

Wild card: Northwest Christian