Flagstaff High sweeps team, individual titles at home meet

By Derek Tippeconnie
Special to the Times

FLAGSTAFF – Sunflowers and cross country runners were celebrated at the Four Corners Invitational on Saturday at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff.

“Buffalo Park is famous this time of year for the sunflowers,” Flagstaff cross country coach Trina Painter said.

The bright yellow flowers were used as a hair accessory for a lot of the Flagstaff High athletes competing.

“One of the moms made all these hairbands for the girls on the team,” Painter said.

Flagstaff High’s Taylor Biggambler donned her sunflower headband as she crossed the finish line with a commanding lead, capturing first-place with a time of 18:25.5.

Another Lady Eagle, Olivia Baker, took second with a time of 18:54.4. Flagstaff ended up winning the team title in the girls three-mile run at their hometown meet as the Eagles placed five runners in the top 9 for a team score of 23 points. “I think our team ran awesome today,” Painter said. “The weather was perfect, the course was fast, and I think they’re race ready now.”

Crosstown rival Coconinio finished in second with 93 points, followed by Chinle’s 100 markers.

The Lady Wildcats of Chinle was paced by senior Janessa Segay, who clocked in at 18:54.8. Chinle Coach Shaniya Smith spoke about her team’s performance, “They did really great.”

Coach Smith is looking to build towards an upcoming race, the Desert Twilight held at Toka Sticks Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona on Sept. 27.

“We’ve increased our volume and training in anticipation for Twilight, so their bodies and times kind of reflected what we’ve been training towards,” Smith said. “That’s where we’re hoping to toe the line with, the best in the state.”

In the boys’ varsity race, Chinle ended up in fourth-place with a team score of 149 points. The Wildcats finished behind meet winner Flagstaff High (44), second-place finisher Arizona College Preparatory (82) and third-place Desert Mountain (125).

Just like the girls’ race, Flagstaff ended up with the top two individual finishers.

Defending state champion, junior Alex Bland covered the three-mile course with an impressive time of 15:50.5 for first place. His teammate, Cole Troxler, finished six second back at 15:56.5.

Chinle’s top finisher was senior Emerson Begay, who placed 12th with a respectable time of 17:12.8.

The Chinle coach spoke highly of her two seniors, who are looking to compete at the collegiate level next year. “They have all the support and ability to do that,” Smith said.

Results from all 37 teams that competed in the Four Corners Invitational can be found at results.wingfootfinish.com/meets/38815/events.

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