Daschbach clocks 14:14.26 and Sprout runs 14:16.01 to produce second- and third-fastest 5-kilometer cross country times in prep history; Hutchins elevates to No. 3 all-time sophomore with 16:38.97, second at meet behind only 2015 NXN champion Rainsberger

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

A few minutes before Leo Daschbach and Cole Sprout came into view of spectators lining both sides of the finish chute Friday night during the boys sweepstakes race at the 13th Desert Twilight Festival, by chance, there was a first-time meeting of the mothers of the two standout distance runners.

Erica Daschbach and Beverly Sprout exchanged pleasant conversation, offered praise for each other’s sons and took a photo together to commemorate the occasion at Grande World Sports Complex in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Little did they know at the time how fitting that moment would be, considering a short while later, their sons became forever linked for electrifying the crowd with the fastest 5-kilometer boys cross country showdown in prep history.

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Daschbach, the defending Arizona Division 1 state champion from Highland High, surged ahead of reigning Colorado 5A winner and last year’s Nike Southwest champ Sprout of Valor Christian in the final 100 meters to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

Then the times became official.

Daschbach: 14:14.26.

Sprout: 14:16.01.

Not only did they both smash the previous meet and course records of 14:32.92 established last year by Sprout. But the performances ranked second and third all-time among recorded 5-kilometer high school cross country efforts, trailing only the 14:10.40 run by Rockford High legend Dathan Ritzenhein at the 2000 Michigan Division 1 state championships and moving ahead of St. Benedict’s Prep NJ graduate Edward Cheserek and his 14:18.70 from the Essex County Championships in 2012.

Both Ritzenhein (1999-2000) and Cheserek (2011-12) won a pair of Foot Locker national titles during their prep careers and were the only athletes to run under 14:20 on any 5-kilometer cross country layout before Friday.

“I just sat on him and dug deep. I just tried to stay within striking distance of Cole the whole race because the goal was to really win and compete hard,” said Daschbach, who passed through the first mile in 4:32 and the 2-mile mark at 9:18 on his way to also eclipsing the Arizona prep 5-kilometer cross country record of 14:27.25 set in 2012 by Cibola star Bernie Montoya.

“The time that came out of it, that’s crazy. Especially to have it with Cole right there with me with the four of us (under 14:20), that’s awesome.”

Science Hill TN sophomore standout Jenna Hutchins, who ran the No. 2 time in meet and course history to capture the girls sweepstakes title in 16:38.97, was amazed by what she witnessed.

“It always motivates me to see them doing things like that,” Hutchins said. “It’s a real inspiration to see them going out there and doing that. I love watching them race and they do such an amazing job, so it’s just a really big inspiration for me.”

Even third-place sweepstakes finisher Thomas Boyden of Skyline UT, who set a meet record Sept. 21 at the Bob Firman Invitational by clocking 14:59.5 in the elite 5-kilometer race in Boise, Idaho, had to pause to appreciate the magnitude of what happened in front of him.

“I honestly thought low-14:20s or mid-14:20s was going to win it,” said Boyden, who became fastest Utah performer and No. 3 all-time in course history by clocking 14:39.62.

“Then, when I asked some girl what the winning time was and she said, ‘14:14,’ I was like, ‘What? That’s insane.’”

For all of the remarkable performances in Sprout’s career, including numerous state titles and course records, along with the fastest 3,000-meter time by a high school sophomore when he ran 8:13.85 in 2018, Friday was another tough setback to endure following a race he led the majority of the way.

Two years ago at Desert Twilight, Sprout was edged in the final 50 meters by Kashon Harrison of Kirtland Central NM and came up short by one second. In April at the Arcadia Invitational, Nico Young of Newbury Park rallied in the final 200 meters of the 3,200 to prevail by an 8:40.0 to 8:40.73 margin.

“I wanted to run fast and, in this case, it meant taking it from the gun and it definitely involved a level of risk that I was willing to take,” said Sprout, who led Daschbach and Boyden coming through the 2-mile mark at 9:16, before making an aggressive move in an attempt to pull away.

“Just like Arcadia, it didn’t end in a win, but it ended really fast. I’m happy with it, really, but now I’m looking toward NXR and the future, and just working on my speed. That kind of workout and speed, it’s coming. We haven’t been doing a whole lot of that kind of stuff yet, but once we do, I think that will definitely help with that finishing speed.”

North Phoenix Prep senior Jordan Black, the reigning Arizona Division 4 state champion, placed fourth in 14:55.61, improving from his 32nd-place finish last year in 15:50.1. Luke Sundberg, Sprout’s teammate at Valor Christian, placed sixth in 15:07.60.

Spencer Cardinal of The Woodlands TX finished fifth in 15:03.18, helping the Highlanders capture the boys sweepstakes team title by a 130-161 margin over Niwot CO, with Fort Collins CO placing third at 163 and Air Academy CO taking fourth at 167.

The Woodlands had all five scorers in the top 50 to become the second Texas boys team to secure the sweepstakes title in meet history, joining 2016 and 2018 winner El Paso Eastwood, which struggled to a seventh-place finish with 243 points.

Hutchins, who lived in Texas before moving to Tennessee, became the first female athlete from outside Arizona or Colorado to win the individual sweepstakes crown. She also achieved the No. 2 5-kilometer performance in Tennessee cross country history – only Kathy Kroeger of Independence with her 16:23 from the 2006 Foot Locker South Regionals has run faster – and elevated to the No. 3 all-time sophomore performer at the distance.

Only two-time Desert Twilight winner and 2015 Nike Cross Nationals champion Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy has run faster on the course than Hutchins with her 16:23.40 effort from four years ago.

“I was so excited to come out here and run (Friday) because I’ve never run a night cross country race before and it just had such an exciting atmosphere. I also knew the field was really deep and had a lot of talent, so I was really excited to get to race against some great competitors,” said Hutchins, who became the first sophomore to secure the sweepstakes title since Sarah Fakler of Xavier Prep AZ in 2010.

“It gives me a lot of motivation and confidence for the rest of the season, knowing that maybe I’ll be able to compete with some really high-level athletes and hopefully do well and qualify for nationals and just continue to reach other goals that I have for this season.”

Lauren Ping of Desert Vista AZ, second in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race Sept. 21 at the Woodbridge Classic in Norco, Calif., was runner-up again in 16:49.13, the fastest time by a freshman in meet and course history, in addition to elevating her to the No. 4 all-time performer. Only Dani Jones has run faster among Desert Vista athletes, clocking 16:42.99 in 2014.

Senior Samrawit Dishon took third in 17:08.02 for Niwot, which prevailed over state rival Cherokee Trail by an 80-97 margin to become the first Colorado girls team to capture the sweepstakes championship after Boise Senior ID ended an 11-year run by Arizona girls programs with its victory last season.

Downers Grove South IL took third with 123 points, Desert Vista – competing without junior Grace Ping – was fourth at 177, with Air Academy fifth at 183.

Niwot had five scorers in the top 26, in addition to junior Lucca Fulkerson – unable to compete at the varsity level during the regular season following her transfer from Alexander Dawson CO – placing second behind Valor Christian’s Lanie Szuch (17:34.90) in the large school open race in 17:40.82, which would have had her finishing 15th in the sweepstakes, right in front of junior teammate Taylor James in 17:45.51.

Cameron McConnell took fifth in 17:13.77 for Cherokee Trail, which had five scorers finish in the top 40. Sisters Samantha Blair (17:12.32) and Joslin Blair (17:17.20) were fourth and sixth, respectively, for Eagle Valley CO, which placed 15th overall.

Brenna Cohoon took ninth in 17:33.16 for Downers Grove South, as she and Hutchins were the only athletes outside Arizona or Colorado to finish in the top 10.

Catalina Foothills AZ junior Lauren Jorgensen won the girls championship race in 18:19.84, with Standley Lake edging Silver Creek by a 163-165 margin in a clash of Colorado programs.

Deer Valley AZ junior Randy Espinoza won the boys championship race in 15:36.63, with Cherokee Trail capturing the team title with 128 points.