MHS runners competes in Desert Twilight Festival

The Maricopa High School boys and girls cross country teams ran in the Desert Twilight Festival Saturday at the Toka Sticks Golf Course in Mesa.

In the event, which drew 101 schools of all sizes from all over Arizona and neighboring states, the girls took ninth place in the varsity large school division, while the boys were 24^th in the Sweepstakes Race.

Jessica Beach was a medalist for Maricopa, placing 14^th with a time of 21:31, while her sister Beth was 26^th in 22:22.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The boys, meanwhile were led by an under-the-weather Chris Lessard who was 36^th in 16:13.

“Chris had a bad chest infection and was not able to run up to his usual ability,” said MHS coach Duane Anderson. “Every other boy had personal bests for his career.”

Matt Taylor placed second among the Rams, finishing 87^th in 16:45.

The two teams run at Arcadia on Wednesday and in the Marana Rattler Invitational on Saturday.

Individual girls’ results:

14 Jessica Beach            21:31
26  Beth Beach                22:22
56  Andrea Iberra           24:13
61  Rachel Beach            24:48
62  Laura Hernandez       24:57
70  Shiori Iro                  26:30

Individual boys’ results:

36   Chris Lessard             16:13
87   Matt Taylor                16:45    
91   Gibran Aguilar            16:58    
123  John Newman           17:18    
190  Reed Pace                 18:53   
191  Cory Rieckon             19:03