It's true, Jon Barney of Veritas Prep had the fastest time in Arizona last week.
Kylie Wild had Mia Hall in her rear-view mirror at the Fountain Hills finish line.
Matthew Edwards did look back at the next-to-last turn, but there was no pursuit to be found.
Wheaten Smith snared her second meet title in as many attempts on Saturday.
North Phoenix Prep's Samuel Johnston crosses the finish line in tandem with Javier Garcia. But, it was Johnston's time that set the standard for Division 4.
The last we saw of Micah Slivers (right), he was finishing eighth at the 2019 state meet. He finished a little higher on Tuesday.
Emma Baugh last year provided the example of an athlete whose personal improvement lifted her team to greater things.
Nadhia Campos had no peers on the course today, neither in Division 1 nor Division 2.
Mia Hall ran to a comfortable margin of victory for the individual state title last fall.
Jon Barney is the top boys returner from 2020 and a threat to win it all this year.
Kayla Case helped keep Highland very close last fall. Can she and her Highland teammates do more this year?
Salpointe Catholic's boys figure to have a leg up on the competition this fall.
After 5000 meters, a permanent finish line welcomes competitors at the Lubbock Christian University cross country course.
Braycen Buxman and Devyn Lauer, together, hold several keys to this weekend's state title derby.
Probably more than any other single individual, Coal Ridge’s Peyton Garrison holds the key to the 3A state meet.
Brooke Naughton clears 5-9 with room to spare, marking the best girls high jump of the season to date.
For Valley Christian and Logan Kelley, winning begins at the pole vault.
Trinity Henderson and Jocelyn Johnson--they're both back next year.
If Gilbert is to make a serious title run next spring, much will fall on the shoulders of Terrence Keyes.
Eva Bruce and Lydia Szabo should be back for another stirring 200 next year.
Mikayla Hutchison is one big reason Banning Lewis Prep is no longer flying under the radar.
Desert Vista's Luke Stalus projects to win the 200 and finish 5th in the 400. Those points could be huge for Desert Vista.
Ella Escobar is among the many reasons North Canyon's girls figure to prevail in Division 2.
If the Snowflake girls are to win a state title, Lydia Szabo figures as a key piece in the puzzle.
Valley Christian's Jose Garcia figures in both the 400 and 800 as a key to the outcome of the state meet.
Kaylin Lacher figures as one piece of a very tight battle in the Division 2 800.
Mesa Mountain View's Connor Wilson is one of the principles in the Division 1 pole vault race.
John Ruvo of Notre Dame Prep is one of a trio of Division 3 athletes with legitimate hopes at big prizes next month.
Rahni Turner's blazing 13.77 at Chandler Rotary has set the standard for the season thus far.
Sterling Brassfield had the finish line all to himself in the 200.