Facing stiff competition at the huge and popular Woodbridge Invitational Friday night in Irvine, Calif., the Coconino High Boys and Girls teams made a good showing against larger schools mostly from Southern California.
Woodbridge is known for its flat, fast course at near-sea level that also includes some pavement — not your typical cross country venue — and Coconino’s Laine Davis and Mary McGinlay posted their fastest times of the season.
Davis finished 28th in 15:38, in a race won by an Arizonan, Queen Creek American Leadership’s David Soria in 14:49. The Panthers’ Clayton Rhoton and Robert Moore also cracked the top 100, with Rhoton placing 84th in 16:25 and Moore 87th in 16:29. Coconino placed 21st as a team.
For the girls, McGinlay had a strong showing, placing 21st in 18:26, in a race won by Riverbank (Calif.)’s Giselle Fernandez in 17:27. Sophomore Savanna McKerracher finished 77th in 20:13, and Shaylynn Billy and Scarlett Hargan 88th and 89th in 20:26 and 20:29, respectively.
Earlier Friday, Basis Flagstaff traveled to Prescott for the Ray Wherley Invitational, which has the unusual configuration of holding races according to the placement of runners. Thus, all sixth and seventh runners are in a separate race, followed by fourth and fifth and so on until the final race consists of each team’s top runners.
Team scores were not available, but individually Basis had some highlights with their girls and boys No. 1 runners.
Sammy Mullaney finished third in the top race and, overall, was third after all the race were combined. Mullaney, a junior, placed third in 21:31 behind winner Kodi Bell of Gilbert Christian and runner-up Mica Altringer of Mingus Union. Bell won in 20:58.
Other Basis girls finishers (combined races): Arribella Gunderson 16th, 24:28) and Abigail Papez (76th, 31:04).
For the boys No. 1 Yeti runner Ben Hutchinson had the eighth fastest combined time in 18:34. Sunrise Mountain’s Andrew Fastrup was the winner in 16:55. Other Basis boys finishers (combined races): Miguel Rodriguez-Rosero (16th, 19:13), Josh Nelson (35th, 20:38), Mason Takeuchi (45th, 20:59), Tyler Montoya (64th, 21:50) and Sam McDowell (92nd, 23:59).
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