MESA — Hot paces matched the hot temperature, as all four Flagstaff area high schools faced stiff tests Friday night at the kiln-like conditions of the Desert Twilight Invitational at Toka Stick Golf Course.
The night’s premiere race, the Sweepstakes, saw Flagstaff High square off against one of the nation’s best teams, Niwot, from Colorado, as well as quality schools from Utah, New Mexico, California and, of course, Arizona.
Led by senior Olivia Baker, who finished 21st, the Eagles’ girls team placed a respectable ninth in a 29-team field. Baker ran 18:25, more than a 30-second personal best on the 5K course, which is flat and fast and made for swift times. Teammate Taylor Biggambler was the Eagles’ second finisher in 18:45 for 29th place, and freshman Kylyn Taylor was 103rd in 20:14. The other two scorers were Naomi Ketter (126th in 20:42) and Rylan Swain in 20:51.
“It went well, and I felt really strong,” Baker said. “I went out and held my pace. There were a lot of girls and I got trapped in easily. I was mostly just going for time, and I PR’d. I held back a little bitt (early in the race). Maybe I could’ve gone out faster I was happy.”
Flagstaff Coach Trina Painter said Baker made up a lot of ground in the third mile of the race. Overall, Painter said she was pleased by her girls’ effort.
“We’ve had some (runners) with injuries and that was tough,” she said, “but they overall are racing well.”
Niwot easily won the team title with defending NXN champion Addie Ritzenheim — yes, daughter of Dathan — winning in 16:41.
Flagstaff’s boys had a rough outing. The Eagles placed 25th, with top runner Alex Bland finishing in 29th with a time of 15:33. Elijah Talkalai was 120th in 16:33 and Uuts Masayumptewa 161st in 16:53.
“Overhearing the guys talk after the race, it seems they got caught up in a fall, Painter said. “Desert Twilight is always a physical race with lots of runners. Overall, I think the experience they gained tonight will help us.”
Coconino and Northland Prep participated in the “Championship” race, before the sweepstakes, and highlights included the NPA boys finishing 12th with good spacing behind lead runner Delani Hanson (30th in 16:25), and Coconino’s Mary McGinlay earning a medal by finishing in the top 20 (17th in 19:24).
NPA’s girls finished 25th and Coconino 27th, while Coconino’s boys finished 31st, led by Laine Davis’ 28th place finish (16:22).
The top local time of the night, though, was run in the “community race,” as sophomore Yohanes van Meerten won the race in 15:00.7. Had van Meerten run in the sweepstakes, he would have finished seventh overall. Last year, as a freshman, van Meerten ran for NPA, but he transferred to Flagstaff High during the first week of the school year, Thus, he is ineligible until track season.
Earlier in the night, Basis Flagstaff took part in the small school varsity races. Senior Ben Hutchinson led the way in 17:12, followed by Everett Evans in 17:26. For the girls, Sammy Mullaney ran 21:33 and Jasmine Hall 21:53.
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