Rams aim to finish among top eight in cross country sectional

The focal point of the season has arrived for the Maricopa boys and girls cross country teams.

The Rams are preparing to run in Saturday’s Division III sectional at Marana High School, with the goal of qualifying for the state meet, which takes place Nov. 6 at Cave Creek Golf Course.Eight boys teams and eight girls teams will advance to the state meet from the 15-school Marana Division III Sectional.

The Maricopa boys are aiming for a return trip to the state meet after placing eighth in Class 4A-II last year. Under this season’s Arizona Interscholastic Association cross country realignment, the Rams are in the same sectional as Rio Rico (which finished second in the state in 4A-II in 2009), Tucson Catalina (seventh in the state in 4A-II last year) and Douglas (10th in 4A-II in 2009).

If the Rams qualify for the boys state meet, they likely will face Rio Rico, Catalina and Douglas again, as well as additional top contenders from the other two Division III sectionals. Defending 4A-II state champion Cottonwood Mingus is aiming to advance from the Flagstaff Sectional, as are Flagstaff (third in the state last year) and Page (fourth in the state in 2009). Phoenix Greenway (fifth in 4A-II last season) is among the teams competing in the Division III sectional hosted by Goodyear Estrella Foothills.

“Page and Rio Rico are probably the two top contenders,” Maricopa coach Duane Anderson said about the statewide boys cross country field. “There are five or six really good teams.”

The Rams are aspiring to be among those top six. In order to get there, Maricopa will need strong performances in Marana and Cave Creek by team leaders Chris Lessard (the Rams’ No. 1 runner, who is recovering from a foot injury that caused him to miss the last two meets), Travis Moore and Gibran Aguilar.

Moore placed second (with a time of 17:05) and Aguilar finished third (17:57) to lead Maricopa to a first-place team finish at last week’s Florence Invitational. Jonah Skousen (18:49), John Newman (18:56) and Matt Taylor (18:57) placed 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, for the Rams, who finished ahead of runner-up Florence and third-place Tucson Empire for the top spot in the team standings.

The Maricopa girls also won the Florence Invitational. Sandiin Mitchell (second in 22:02), Beth Beach (seventh in 23:19), Jessica Beach (eighth in 23:34) and Rachael Beach (17th in 25:47) led the Rams, who edged runner-up Empire for the girls team championship.

“This is a big momentum-builder going into the championship season with sectionals and state,” said Maricopa girls cross country coach Ronnie Buchanan, who also serves as an assistant coach for the MHS boys team. “Coach Anderson and I are very excited about the upcoming two meets.”

The Marana Division III Sectional begins at 9:45 a.m. Saturday at Marana High School.