SUNRISE REGION: Gators, Cougars claim crowns

Each teams’ top runner also claimed the spotlight, with Green Valley senior Julius Kim winning the boys race in 16 minutes, 46 seconds and Coronado senior Lauren Lucas shining in the girls race with a time of 20:26.

The Green Valley boys scored 40 points, breezing past Foothill (92), Basic (103), Coronado (129) and Tech (143).

Kim claimed the title in a field of 94 runners, and teammates D.J. Padilla-Montello (fourth), Matt Campa-Moreno (fifth), Jason Ferraro (13th) and Christian Fortner (17th) also managed strong showings.

“I am happy and proud of how our boys ran today, but I know that they can run even better and stronger than today,” Green Valley coach Blaine Thompson said. “And our boys themselves know that they can succeed on a much higher level compared to how they ran today at the state championships next week in Reno.”

Green Valley and Foothill qualified for next week’s state meet in Reno.

Liberty’s Al Galan (second in 16:55), Del Sol’s Colin Smith (third in 17:00), Eldorado’s Fernando Duran-Price (sixth in 17:41), and

Basic’s Kaleb Stumbaugh (seventh in 17:44) and Kyler Campbell (ninth in 17:50) also qualified for state as individuals.

“I gave it my best today and tried to stay focused,” Kim said. “Al Galan definitely pushed me and made me work really hard for the first half of the race, and then I got a surge of energy and power, and I didn’t look back until I crossed the finish line.”

In the girls race, Lucas helped lead the Cougars (50 points) to a team victory over Green Valley (61), Foothill (77), Tech (115) and Valley (142). Coronado and Green Valley qualified for state.

Runner-up Cheyanne Jones of Foothill gave Lucas a tough race but was outrun in the last half mile.

Jones finished five seconds behind Lucas in 20:31 and became the first individual qualifier for state. The other four were Liberty junior Joslyn Evans (fifth in 21:00), Tech freshman Taylor Coss (sixth in 21:05), Desert Pines junior Marisa Denton (sixth in 21:05) and Valley senior Genesis Cerrato (eighth in 21:21).

Coronado got help from junior Kristal Hosaka (fourth in 20:52), junior Erin Smith (seventh in 21:20), junior Shannon Donohue (18th in 21:59) and junior Emily Burch (20th in 22:06).

“Our girls ran well today, but they, as well as our coaching staff, all know that they have higher potential and possess more talent and motivation than they showed today,” Coronado coach Mark Tondryk said.

Green Valley junior Alyssa Rapovy finished third in 20:36, followed by teammates Marley Delgado (11th in 21:39), Alison Leedham (14th in 21:50), Denisse Vallejo (16th in 21:55) and Morgan Oswald (17th in 21:57).

The state meet is scheduled for Nov. 7 at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.