Rams ready to run in state cross country meet

After strong performances in sectional competition last weekend, the Maricopa High School boys and girls cross country teams are looking forward to running in the Division III state meet Saturday morning at Cave Creek Golf Course.

“It’s awesome that the team qualified,” said Maricopa boys senior captain Travis Moore, who led the Rams to a fourth-place finish at the Marana Division III Sectional. “It should be pretty exciting.”

Moore placed seventh individually at the sectional with a time of 17:23.7. His teammates Gibran Aguilar (11th in 17:51.5), John Newman (27th in 18:49.6), Jonah Skousen (28th in 18:51.0), Matt Taylor (31st in 19:00.1), Juan Acero (33rd in 19:09.6) and Sky Murcek (60th in 20:35.7) also ran well in helping the Rams to advance to state competition for the third consecutive season.

Meanwhile, the Maricopa girls qualified for the state meet by finishing sixth in the sectional. The Rams were led at Marana by Sandiin Mitchell (10th individually in 22:24.3), Beth Beach (22nd in 23:15.4), Jessica Beach (30th in 24:24.1), Rachel Beach (43rd in 25:23.9), Cara O’Neal (53rd in 26:23.4) and Rachel Hall (61st in 28:03.7).

“We were really happy,” Mitchell said about the Rams’ top-six finish in the sectional. “We worked really hard.”

Maricopa girls cross country coach Ronnie Buchanan is equally proud of the team’s achievements.

“This is icing on the cake,” Buchanan said about the opportunity to compete at the state meet. “I want the girls to enjoy this experience and, of course, do their best.”

The Maricopa girls last qualified for state competition in 2008, when the Rams finished 14th in Class 3A. Mitchell, who ran in the 2008 state meet as a sophomore, is now the Rams’ senior team captain.

“I’m really ecstatic and excited to run,” Mitchell said.

The Maricopa boys are seeking their third straight top-15 team finish in state competition after placing eighth in Class 4A-II in 2009 and 14th in Class 3A in 2008.

“I think top six, top eight would be great,” Moore said.

After finishing 63rd individually in the 2008 Class 3A state meet, Moore placed 28th in Class 4A-II last season. His goal for Saturday is to finish among the top 14 runners.

“I need to medal,” Moore said, adding that he is shooting for a time of 16:30. “I know that course. I’ve run it twice. I feel it plays into my strengths.”

Aguilar, who placed 74th in Class 4A-II last season, is aiming for a top-20 finish.

“I started cross country my freshman year,” said Aguilar, who is now a junior. “I just meant to do it to get in shape. But then I got into it. This year, I’m looking forward to improving my time a lot.”

The Rams will be competing in the state meet without top runner Chris Lessard, a junior who has missed the last several weeks with a foot injury. Moore said that while the Rams would be contending for the top five if Lessard were able to run, he believes they still can finish between sixth and 10th.

“It’s going to be a good day,” Moore said. “I can feel it. I think everybody has the capability of stepping it up this Saturday. It’s a good course. It’s the state meet.”

The Division III boys state championship race will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cave Creek Golf Course. The Division III girls race will start at 10:30.