The trip east to Winslow proved productive for the Coconino High School cross country teams, but both the girls and boys teams had to work for the victories at the Dave Conatser Invitational.
Seniors Laine Davis and Mary McGinlay won the individual titles for boys and girls, respectively, as the Panthers’ boys pulled out a three-point victory over Blue Ridge and the girls beat second-place Hopi by four points.
McGinlay mostly went unchallenged in the girls race, posting a time of 22:22 on the 5K course at McHood Park Clear Creek Reservoir. Coconino’s other top 10 girls finisher was sophomore Savanna McKerracher in 24:01. The Panthers’ third to fifth scorers were crucial, with senior Shaylynn Billy placing 11th, freshman Alexis Ortiz 18th adn sophomore Scarlett Hargan 27th.
The girls held off Hopi, which had 59 points to Coconino’s 55, in large part because their top three runners, McGinlay, McKerracher and Billy outscore Hopi’s top three by four points.
The boys race was even closer, as Coconino edged Blue Ridge, 66 to 69.
Davis, who has been the Panthers’ top runner all season, came up big again Friday by beating second place Tyethan Barney of Valley by 14 seconds. Though Davis was Coconino’s only top 10 finisher, the second through fifth runners were bunched closely enough (a 49-second gap) was enough to pull out the win.
Behind Davis was junior Robert Moore in 12th, sophomore Michael Phelps in 16th, senior Clayton Rhoton in 21st and freshman James Broadbent in 23rd. Broadbent beat Blue Ridge’s fifth runner, Dylan Nez by seven places to seal the Panthers’ victory.
Coconino — and the other three Flagstaff High Schools, Flagstaff, Northland Prep and Basis — will compete Wednesday in the annual Flagstaff City Meet at Buffalo Park. Before that, Flagstaff races Saturday at the Glendale Showcase and NPA on Saturday at the Lake Powell Meet in Page.
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