Northwest Christian junior Glenn Thomas in the Division IV Metro race at The AIA Glendale Heroes meet at Glendale Heroes Regional Park in Glendale.
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D1/D4 State AIA Cross Country Championships Preview
Here is the MileSplit Arizona full preview of the AIA State Cross Country Championships, with predictions and analysis from state editor Logan Stanley
- Boys -
Division IV
Individuals
State qualifiers:
- Grantham Smith, Cicero Prep
- Ricardo Torres, Trivium Prep
- Benjamin Benally, Valley Lutheran
- Owen Pegram, Anthem Prep
- Andrew Livaudais, Highland Prep
- Ryan Quirk, Anthem Prep
- Joshua LaFleur, Valley Lutheran
- Ethan Olsen, Leading Edge
- Owen Chipman, Scottsdale Prep
- Josiah Martinez, Madison Highland
- William Marsh, Madison Highland
- Connor Callaway, Scottsdale Christian
- Liam Enos, Rancho Solano
- Noah Robertson, Scottsdale Christian
- Trent Nelson, Morenci
- Anthony Heathman, Morenci
- Anthony Piro, Tombstone
- Landen Pease, Tombstone
- Corbin Fry, St. David
- Johnathan Rodarte, Willcox
- Sawyer Thompson, Willcox
- Bryce Bushman, Joseph City
- Calvin Pitrof, Camp Verde
- Bannon Johnstun, Joseph City
- Preston Myers, Round Valley
- Garrett Fowler, Greyhills Academy
- Jonathon Madrid, Round Valley
- Alias Begay, Rock Point
All season long, two names have been in the top spot -- Northwest Christian junior Glenn Thomas and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy junior Myles Floyd. Right now, Floyd occupies No. 1 with his 15:29.6 at the Eye of Tiger on Oct. 22. Thomas is second at 15:50.0.
Floyd has run under 16 minutes three times this season compared to Thomas, who has done it only once. But the biggest difference comes in the three-mile, where Thomas has the significant advantage.
Thomas ran 14:53.0 to come in second place in the Varsity Gold A race at Woodbridge, which was the third-fastest three-mile in the state for the whole season. Floyd's time of 15:17.1 from the Battle at the Border puts him at No. 11 in the state.
This race is going to be extremely close, and could certainly go either way, but the MileSplit Arizona favorite to win is Thomas.
Valley Christian freshman Jamison Ping (yes, the Ping family tradition of fast athletes continues) is the only runner in the division with a personal best under 16 minutes at 15:56.3.
Wild card: JD Ouellette, Chandler Prep
Teams
State qualifiers:
- Northwest Christian
- North Phoenix Prep
- Arizona Lutheran
- Veritas Prep
- Glendale Prep
- Heritage Laveen
- BASIS Phoenix
- Kingman Academy
- Phoenix Country Day
- Valley Christian
- Chandler Preparatory
- Arete Prep
- Horizon Honors
- Lincoln Prep
- Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
- Benson
- Baboquivari
- Gregory School
- Northland Preparatory
- Hopi
- Pinon
- BASIS Flagstaff
- St. Michaels
- Valley Sanders
- Many Farms
Led by Ping, the Trojans are the No. 1 team with 41 points. Valley Christian sits comfortably ahead of the No. 2 team, Chandler Prep at 81 points.
Both of these teams competed at the City of Chandler XC Championships on the Tumbleweed Park course, which has turned out a swath of very quick times. So, each squad is level in that sense.
| 1 | Valley Christian High School (AZ) | 41 | ||
| 1) Jamison Ping | 15:56.30 | 3 | ||
| 2) Dylan Ellis | 16:26.10 | 5 | ||
| 3) Micah Newkirk | 16:33.40 | 8 | ||
| 4) Jose Garcia | 16:35.70 | 9 | ||
| 5) Thomas White | 16:59.50 | 16 | ||
| Average Time: 16:30.20 Total Time: 1:22:31.00 1-5 Split: 1:03.20 | ||||
| 6) TJ Strubbe | 17:10.30 | 19 | ||
| 7) Chase Brecht | 17:10.80 | 22 | ||
| 2 | Chandler Preparatory Academy (AZ) | 81 | ||
| 1) JD Ouellette | 16:09.40 | 4 | ||
| 2) Parker Stoft | 16:29.20 | 6 | ||
| 3) Kyle Duffek | 16:55.40 | 14 | ||
| 4) Josef Iker | 17:10.40 | 20 | ||
| 5) Ricardo Uscola | 17:39.10 | 37 | ||
| Average Time: 16:52.70 Total Time: 1:24:23.50 1-5 Split: 1:29.70 | ||||
| 6) Peter Chang | 17:49.60 | 44 | ||
| 7) Edward Campbell | 17:55.20 | 46 | ||
With the Trojans' top five all under 17 minutes and featuring a faster 1-5 split, they are the MileSplit Arizona favorite to win.
Those two are well ahead the rest of the field, with the No. 3 and No. 4 teams, Arete Prep and Pusch Christian Ridge Academy sitting at 195 and 200 points, respectively.
Wild card: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy