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Isaiah Guevara (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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Boy’s Cross Country (Arthur Pack 5K Course) Salpointe 32, Vista Grande 76, Canyon del Oro 84, Pusch Ridge 89, Mountain View 121, Sabino 125
The top eight and the top 15 of 20 runners from Southern Arizona have all graduated, leaving the field wide open. Canyon del Oro freshman Isaiah Guevara may just be one of those runners who will take advantage of the void.
Guevara was running with his teammate Michael Madigan Wednesday at the final turn that transitions from the desert to the grass at the Marana Arthur Pack 5K course but Madigan took a wide turn and Guevara was able to cut the turn to win down the stretch with a time of 17:07.00. Madigan finished second with a time of 17:14.00.
“It was crazy. Just crazy,” Guevara said.
“When I got here I looked around and told myself there was no way. This was not going to happen. There were big dudes everywhere and I thought I was going to get stomped on.”
Part of that graduating class included former Dorados Timothy Ronan, Jacob Rischar and Jacob Bruno. Lots of leadership lost but Salpointe also lost a lot with the graduation of Division II state champion Nathan Thomas.
STORY ON SALPOINTE’S ANA ALVAREZ
Like Guevara and Madigan, Salpointe junior Joseph McCloskey appears to be ready to step up. McCloskey took third place with a time of 17:40.00 to help Salpointe win the boy’s team race. Casa Grande Vista Grande took second and Canyon del Oro came in third as a team.
“I was running with Mike (Madigan) in the last mile or so but there’s a pole at the last turn,” Guevara explained. He took what I thought was a wide turn but I hit it just right.”
There are plenty of meets and invites this fall leading up to sectionals and state. Let’s hope all the runners “hit it just right” down the stretch.
Alex Ramirez was the top runner for Mountain View (4th, 17:42.00). Jimmy Tapia was best for Vista Grande (6th, 17:55.00). Kaleb Bowers was the best for Pusch Ridge (12th, 18:33). Myles Miller was tops for Sabino (13th, 18:36.00).
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here, on AZPreps365.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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