Peak sunflower season in Flagstaff must mean The Peaks Invitational, the official start of the local high school cross country season. And if first impressions Saturday are any indication, Flagstaff High girls and boys seem in prime position for a championship.
The girls dominated the elite “Summit” race, winning with 32 points top second place’s Xavier’s 69. It was an impressive performance by the girls, with the one-two punch of Taylor Biggambler (20:04) and Olivia Baker (20:39) leading the way. Coconino High senior Mary McGinlay finished third overall (20:50) to make it an all-Flagstaff podium.
Where the Eagle girls showed their real strength was in its depth. Freshman Kylyn Taylor finished seventh overall in 21:34, followed in eighth by another freshman, Rylan Swain. Flagstaff’s fifth and final scorer, Mile McQuivey, placed 14th overall in 22:26.
Biggambler’s race plan was to go out conservatively, then come on in the final mile of the 3.1-mile course, and she executed it to perfection. She didn’t panic when Ganado’s Damira Allen (who ended up fourth) took the early lead, waiting for the first of the two hills to make her moves.
“I just wanted to watch the people and see what they do (early in the race),” Biggambler said. “Coming up the straightaway, Ii was planning to pass people, because that’s when they start to slow down a little after the hill. That went good and I just tried to hold it through the whole race.
“I feel I can run faster. I held on strong. It was pretty hot today, but we all did great. We’ve got the two freshmen, so it’s looking good for state.”
Baker ran a solid race behind Biggambler the entire way, and she said afterward that the Eagle girls are already coming together even though the season has just started.
“We’re pretty good at being close together and as leaders,” Baker said. “We both try to encourage everyone. It’s pretty exciting. It’s nice to have some new blood on the team with these freshman, and everyone (else) is improving, too.”
Coach Trina Painter said the outcome did not surprise her, but she weas pleased nonetheless.
“We had a couple people with some aches and pains, but everyone did great,” she said. “We’re so excited with our girls squad. We’ve got some great returners, and our freshmen are still learning and adjusting to a three-mile race as opposed to a two-mile race, but they showed tremendous potential. We’re coachable, just great kids.”
McGinlay, who skipped track last year, said she was pleased by how she fared in the first race of her senior year.
“This was a good opener for me,” McGinley said. “I wanted to stay right up with Olivia and I did and got third place and PR’d from my time last year by about 15 seconds.”
Coconino’s girls finished eighth with 177 points, as McGinley was joined in the top 20 finishers by teammate Savanna McKerracher. Coconino’s other scorers: Alexis Ortiz (60th), Scarlett Hargan (68th) and Emma Date (84th).
Northland Prep girls were led by did not field a full scoring team, but were led by senior Sarah Drexler (44th), followed by sister Laura Drexler (58th).
In the boys’ “Summit” race, the Flagstaff High team emerged victorious, but the Eagles had to work a little harder than the girls team did.
Defending D2 state champion Alex Bland finished third overall in 17:02, behind only defending champ Symond Martin of Page (16:35) and Window Rock’s Bearren Kee (16:58). NPA’s Delani Hanson was the next highest local finisher, 11th in 17:46.
Behind Bland for Flag High were Elijah Talkalai (16th), Cole Troxler (19th), Uuts Masayumptewa (23rd), Miles Borling (35th) Ethan Yellowhair (54th).
Coconino’s top boys were Laine Davis (32nd) and Clayton Rhoton (48th).
NPA Coach Pam White-Hanson was pleased with her team’s effort, despite the news that top runner Yohanes Van Meerten, who left school and transferred to Flagstaff High, though he’ll be ineligble this cross country season. NAP also was without Emilio Haubert and Aaron Nichol, both injured.
“Our kids ran 30 seconds to a minute faster than they did last year, so that’s good,” White-Hanson said.
“We didn’t have our full team today because of some injuries,” Delani Hanson said. “We just have to train a little harder without Yohanas, but I have a lot of faith in my team that we’ll repeat.”
Earlier in the day, in the “Ascend” races, Basis High’s Ben Hutchinson finished 26th to lead the Yeti boys, and Sammy Mullaney was ninth in the girls race.
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