Flagstaff High School senior Olivia Baker had just outkicked teammate Taylor Biggambler to capture the victory Wednesday at the Flagstaff City Meet, a showdown between the town’s four prep schools, and she fell right into her father’s arms — then crumpled onto the ground.
Only temporary, of course. Baker had put together a fantastic showing in her final race at Buffalo Park, covering the three-mile course in 17:58, a second ahead of Biggambler, a junior. She popped back up and accepted congratulations from teammates and onlookers alike.
The duo of Baker and Biggambler are a big, but not the only, reason why the Eagle girls are favored this season to win the AIA Division 2 title. Wednesday, on an unusually warm afternoon, Flagstaff won going away with 22 points, with Northland Prep second with 63.
Same hold for the Flagstaff boys, who appear to be the favorite to win the Division 2 crown next month. The Eagles went first through fourth Wednesday, with junior Alex Bland the winner, followed by teammates Elijah Talkalai, senior Cole Troxler and Uuts Masayumptewa. As with the girls, Flagsstaff won the boys title with 23 points, with Northland Prep a strong second without top runner Delani Hanson.
Baker’s rise in her final cross country season should not surprise, given that she performed well last season when the Eagles finished second in the state. But coach Trina Painter said Baker’s evolution has been steady and impressive.
“Olivia has found herself as a runner over these last four years,” Painter said. “She was very timid in the beginning, self-conscious. But she’s gained confidence. She also had some foot issues that were genetic and she had to deal with all the time. She’s got different shoe and we’ve done some things to work with her, but I think she’s just gained confidence and is on fire now. She’s fun to watch.”
Baker, for her part, said she wants to put the best foot forward in her senior year. She said winning the city title Wednesday was special.
“It felt nice to win this race for the first time,” she said. “Since it’s my last year, I felt, I might as well go for it.”
Baker said her jump in performance is due to several factors.
“I don’t know, but I’m training more and doing more mileage,” she said. “I’m eating more and having a better diet, too.”
Biggambler went out hard and led after two miles before Baker made her surge. Afterward, Biggambler had an ice bag attached to the inside of her right shin.
“It’s the posterior tibia (tendinitis) thing again,” Biggambler said. “It’s on the right side now. It just started hurting yesterday. I’m hoping it’s just a temporary thing that comes off and on.”
Third place went to Coconino High senior Mary McGinlay, who was greeted in the pre-race ceremony for seniors with two three-feet tall giant cutouts of her head. McGinlay finished in 19:04, holding off a late charge from Flagstaff freshman Kylyn Taylor (fourth in 19:08).
Afterward, McGinlay was asked if she was embarrassed by the bigger-than-life cutouts, and she laughed and said, “very very.” But she was happy with her performance.
“It’s bittersweet,” McGinlay said. “It’s the last time running at Buffalo. I’m proud and happy. Everyone’s finding their place (on the Panthers team), for sure, and I think we’re getting stronger.”
NPA’s girls had a strong showing with a second-place finish, led by freshman McKenna Marino, who finished fifth in 20:17, with second Spartan runner Jaelyn Weiss 11th. Flagstaff, though, had five runners in the top nine. Basis finished fourth as a team, 12 points behind Coconino, but juniors Sammy Mullaney (sixth) and Jasmine Hall (10th) had good showings.
For the boys, Bland was in control the whole way and was never challenged, crossing the finish line in 15:59. Last year, Bland, in the city meet, Bland finished second behind Yohanes van Meerten, then running for NPA but now at Flag High, in 15:53.
Wednesday, the Eagles showed their depth once more, with Talkalai, Troxler and promising freshman Uuts Masayumptewa going 2-3-4. NPA’s duo of David Hayes and Aaron Nichol finished fifth and sixth, respectively, with Harrison Kessenich eighth. Adding the absent Hanson, who is expected to run again soon, the Spartans seem in good position to do well at the state meet.
Senior Laine Davis was Coconino’s top finisher in seventh, and senior Ben Hutchinson was Basis’ top runner in ninth.
Painter said the Eagles boys are coming together and getting stronger.
“A couple of (the runners) got piled up at the start of Desert Twilight (last week), so this was a big confidence boost,” she said. “It’s fun in a race like this, where you have room to run and can run together and see your teammates.”
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