Ram runners take fifth at state, Lessard second

 

The Maricopa High School cross country team placed fifth in the Arizona Division II state cross country championships Saturday at the Cave Creek Golf Course, while senior Chris Lessard took second place as an individual.

Maricopa totaled 228 points. Tucson Canyon Del Oro won with 95 points, followed by Tucson Ironwood Ridge (143), Cave Creek Cactus Shadows (183) and Phoenix Greenway (186).

“We did very well,” boys’ head coach said Duane Anderson. “Chris Lessard was boxed in early in the race and when he broke out of the pack he was behind Eduardo Roa of McClintock. He was unable to close the distance, but was able finish strong in second place. The rest of the team finished well and we were able to place fifth in Division II.”

***ADVERTISEMENT***Lessard was timed in 16:17.2, a total of 14 seconds behind Roa. Rams’ junior Matt Taylor finished 27^th in 17:13, while senior Gibran Aguilar was 39^th in 17:20 among the 190 runners in the race. A year ago MHS placed 14^th in the state title meet, but that was without Lessard, who was injured, and in Division III. It moved up one class this season.

Maricopa sophomore Jessica Beach, who qualified as an individual, placed 40^th in the girls’ race among 156 runners, with a time of 20:51.

 

MHS Boys individual results:

2.   senior       Chris Lessard           16:13
27.  junior        Matt Taylor              17:13
39.  senior       Gibran Aguilar          17:20
93.  senior       John Newman          17:59
101.senior       Jonathon Dean        18:18
187. sophmore  Eli Reynolds             20:33

 

Top 10 boys’ teams:

1st   Canyon de Oro            95
2nd  Ironwood Ridge         143
3rd   Cactus Shadows        183
4th   Greenway                 186
5th   Maricopa                  228
6th   Bradshaw Mt             250
7th   McClintock                251
8th   Camelback                271
9th   Flagstaff                   273
10th  Vista Grande            295