HIGH SCHOOL

Cross country: Young Desert Vista girls team looking strong

Richard Obert
azcentral sports
azcentral sports' high school cross country coverage

One sister has graduated and another steps up.

Phoenix Desert Vista junior Baylee Jones, trying to carve her own path from underneath older sister Dani's shadow, is leading a Thunder cross country team that is loaded with underclassmen.

Jones, Emily Crall and Amanda Davis, all juniors, were among the top 11 earlier this month at the premier girls race in the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival in Casa Grande. Colorado's Katie Raisberger returned to defend her title in the Girls Sweepstakes 5,000 meters at 16 minutes, 23.40 seconds.

Jones, who is ranked third in the state, was fifth overall at 17:41. Crall (17.59.70) was 10th and Davis (17.59.90) 11th.

Rio Rico junior Allie Schadler was second with an impressive 16:54.10, followed by Phoenix Xavier Prep junior Sarah Carter (17.26.50) and Phoenix Horizon senior Megan Mooney (17:33.70). Schadler and Carter are ranked the top two girl runners in Arizona.

"Baylee is her own person," Desert Vista coach Jeff Messer said. "There is going to be some pressure, but she just needs to have fun, be herself."

Sister Dani Jones, now at Colorado, captured the girls individual state championship last season when she was the cross country and track and field Girl Athlete of the Year.

Sunnyslope senior successfully playing two sports

Desert Vista, the defending Division I state champion, also won the freshman race and the open race.

There were 24 races with 5,000 athletes competing in what has become the biggest, most prestigious cross country meet of the season in Arizona. It has taken off and surpassed the Doug Conley Meet under the direction of Ellie Hardt.

Desert Vista's Holly Soroya won the freshman individual title and sophomore Kelly Harris took the large open individual title for Desert Vista.

Schools from Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah also competed.

Scottsdale Saguaro senior Tyler Beauchamp was second in the Sweepstakes Boys at 15:01.70, just behind champion Daniel Bernal of El Paso Eastwood (15:00.80). Beauchamp's time is the 22nd fastest high school time in the nation for any class. Bernal's time ranks him 17th nationally.

Among the top eight individuals, seven were from outside of Arizona.

Mountain View cross country pushes past heat for victory

Camelback girls

Phoenix Camelback girls are emerging as the premier cross country program in the Phoenix Union High School District. At the 57th Thunderbird Invitational last week, Camelback had four girls among the top 35 places with Jacqueline Tavizon leading the way as sixth overall.

Camelback has taken first in two PUHSD meets this season.

"We look to have a competitive showing at the PUHSD championship trails on Oct. 22 and then close out the season with a trip to San Diego to run the Foam Glow 5K," coach Patrick Bass said.

Dani Ahern's 'new normal'

Fast freshmen

Gilbert Campo Verde's Rylan Stubbs is the fastest freshman in the state for 5K and is ranked 22nd nationally for freshmen with a time of 16:05.

At the Twilight meet, Alaina Kautz broke the school girls record by nearly a minute at 18:15.

Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert, Listen to the Which Wich High School Football Preview Show every Friday from 6-7 p.m., on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 with Dan Manucci and Richard Obert.