PHOENIX, AZ -- Heading into The 2022 AIA State Cross Country Championships at Cave Creek Golf Course, Flagstaff senior Mia Hall was just happy to had made it to the meet.
After dealing with an injury the previous three weeks and missing the Sectional meet last week, Hall was unsure if she would be able to run. With the guidance of coach Trina Painter, Hall was able to get in racing shape and on the line ready to defend her state title for a third time.
Right away, it seemed like Hall's missed time from running was impacting her performance as she came through the first mile in ninth place at 6:14.6, seven seconds off first place. But, that was by design as the senior was getting a feeling out for herself and the race.
"She wanted to go out a little bit cautious just to make sure she would be okay throughout," Painter said. "And then if she felt good, she would go and pick it up at some point in the race."
Hall was feeling good by the second mile as she had already worked her way up until to the lead runners, coming in at 12:14.9 to Millennium junior Landen LeBlond's 12:14.3. From there on out, Hall displayed her signature endurance as she extended a gap of 34 seconds in the last mile.
She won the race in a time of 18:50.7, winning her third consecutive state title in cross country.
"It means a lot," Hall said. "I'm just so happy to be able to finish and win another title cause I was injured for three weeks. This was my actual first time racing and running. I'm just so happy to my injury didn't hold me back."
Painter was just hoping for a finish from Hall. With the injury and missed time, expectations were lowered a bit.
Instead, another championship from Hall.
"Three titles, essentially, is impossible," Painter said. "But that's who Mia is. She takes on whatever and everything. For her to win three titles, dealing with a small injury on top of it, that was just incredible and impressive.
LeBlond, who was in the front pack for the first two miles, did not finish the race. Campo Verde junior Clara Jones ran one of her best races of the whole season, coming in second place at 19:24.2.
The rest of the all-state team:
In total, five of the seven runners for Flagstaff at the state meet were sophomores or younger.
