Inspired efforts by Highland seniors produce a pair of Division 1 podium finishes; Flagstaff sweeps both Division 2 titles for fifth straight year, Page boys make it six in a row in Division 3

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

PHOENIX – One of the main traditions of the Highland High cross country program to conclude meets is having both male and female athletes gather arm-in-arm in a large circle and sing along with the 1972 Bill Withers classic anthem “Lean On Me.”

INTERVIEWS

The sentiment was never more powerful than Saturday at the Arizona Interscholastic Association state championship meet, when the Highland boys leaned on senior leader Leo Daschbach, competing with an injured left knee, and a veteran supporting cast to not only capture the team’s first Division 1 title since 2011, but run the second-fastest time in the history of the 5-kilometer layout at Cave Creek Golf Course.

And the theme was never more appropriate than when it came to recognizing the courage and determination demonstrated by senior Caroline McLeskey, who fell with less than 150 meters left in the Division 1 girls final, only to crawl the remaining distance in order to place 13th and secure a runner-up performance for the Hawks, their best finish in program history at the state meet.

With Daschbach competing for the first time since Oct. 26 at the Mount San Antonio College Invitational in California after straining ligaments behind his left kneecap during a Nov. 6 workout, Highland was able to halt the five-year reign in Division 1 by Desert Vista with a 39-65 victory.

The Hawks rebounded from a 31-41 setback to Desert Vista at last year’s final with Daschbach (15:27.7) elevating to the No. 9 performer in course history, followed by fellow seniors Caden Resendez (15:51.1) in fifth, Ernest Green (15:57.9) taking seventh and Sam Green (16:00.7) placing ninth.

Highland endured a few anxious moments when junior Jagger Zlotoff fell down in the final 100 meters, only to recover in time to finish 17th in 16:22.8.

Zlotoff’s effort as the fifth scorer helped Highland clock 80:05, second only to the 79:50 achieved by 2013 Division 1 champion Corona del Sol.

Although Desert Vista won its first Division 1 girls title since 2016 and sixth state crown in program history with a 49-99 victory over Highland, the Hawks produced their best finish at the championship meet, thanks to Emma Finchum placing 10th (18:57) and McLeskey taking 13th (19:09.2).

McLeskey remained within striking distance of Desert Vista freshman Lauren Ping and junior Grace Ping through the 2-mile mark, but she began to slow down with 200 meters left, before collapsing to the ground.

Although McLeskey attempted to get back on her feet, she knew the only way she could get to the finish line to score for her teammates was by crawling the remaining 100 meters.

It was enough for Highland to place second ahead of defending champion Xavier Prep (106 points) after six consecutive third-place finishes, including last season.

The Ping sisters, with Lauren elevating to the No. 6 performer in course history at 17:36.9 and Grace becoming the 11th female athlete to run under 18 minutes on the layout by placing second in 17:57.8, helped Desert Vista overcome the absence of senior Katy Clausen, who was sidelined with pneumonia.

Freshman Emily Littlefield came through with a significant ninth-place finish in 18:55.8 for Desert Vista, which secured a fourth championship in seven seasons.

There was no such drama for both Flagstaff teams in Division 2, the Page boys squad in Division 3 and St. Michael Indian girls lineup in Division 4, all securing championship repeats.

Flagstaff senior Hana Hall secured back-to-back Division 2 girls individual championships by clocking 18:15.2, with freshman sister Mia Hall placing third in 18:44.6 for the Eagles, who equaled their longest run in program history by matching the five straight Class 4A titles from 2000-04 with a 53-98 victory over Catalina Foothills.

Junior Max Davis (16:08.6) and senior Riley Human (16:13) were third and fourth for Flagstaff in the Division 2 boys final, leading the Eagles to a 77-143 victory over Casteel and a fifth consecutive championship, which accounts for all the titles in program history.

Page became only the third boys program in state history, joining Tuba City (1978-84) and Hopi (1990-2016), to win at least six straight state titles in any division. Trent Holiday took third in the Division 3 championship in 16:13 for Page, which prevailed against Prescott by a 62-140 margin.

St. Michael Indian, led by two-time Division 4 girls champion Ali Upshaw setting a division-record by clocking 17:49.5 to elevate to the No. 8 all-time performer in course history, won for the second year in a row with a 37-103 victory over Glendale Prep.

The remaining team winners made history of their own, with North Phoenix Prep relying on two-time Division 4 individual champion Jordan Black running the fastest time of the meet at 15:26.7 to capture the first team title in program history with a 55-95 victory over Hopi.

Prescott, led by runner-up Emily McMahon (19:02.7),  earned its first Division 3 girls title since winning three straight in 4A in 1985-87 by edging reigning champion Salpointe Catholic by a 75-79 margin. Salpointe Catholic was stronger through its top three finishers, but Prescott had its fourth and fifth scorers place in the top 30, compared to the final two scorers for the Lancers finishing in the top 40.

Senior Zoey Delgado captured the first Division 3 girls state cross country crown for Salpointe Catholic in 18:40.9, with Campo Verde senior Kenny Edwards winning the Division 2 boys title for the first time in 15:58.8 and Rio Rico junior Roshan Tinoco-Miranda capturing his first Division 3 championship in 15:53.4.

Edwards was the second Campo Verde athlete in three years to capture a title, following Rylan Stubbs in 2017. Tinoco-Miranda became the first Rio Rico boys champion since Carlos Villarreal in 2014.

Team champions

Division 1: Highland boys 39 points; Desert Vista girls 49 points  RESULTS

Division 2: Flagstaff boys 77 points; Flagstaff girls 53 points  RESULTS

Division 3: Page boys 62 points; Prescott girls 75 points  RESULTS

Division 4: North Phoenix Prep boys 55 points; St. Michael Indian girls 37 points  RESULTS