AZRunning.com – David Daer's Photo Journal

On Saturday, November 17, the highest ranked high school cross country teams from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada gathered in Tempe, Arizona for the 2007 Nike Team Nationals Southwest Championships. The top two teams in the Girls and Boys Championship races earned the right to compete in the Nike Team Nationals Championship meet in Portland, Oregon on December 1.

>>> Click here to view photos from the 2007 Nike Team Nationals Southwest Championships < << Course records fell for both the girls and boys, in the wake of dominant individual performances by Nadya Bishton from Arizona Mountain Ridge High School and Luke Puskedra from Utah. Click here to view a recap of the meet, from dyestat.com

Click here for 2007 NTN Southwest Championships results (on Arizonatrack.com)

On a warm Saturday morning and afternoon, hundreds of Arizona high school harriers descended upon the Cave Creek Golf Course for the 2007 AIA State Cross Country Tournament. Jim Walmsley from Horizon High School established a new course record, en route to winning the 5A Division II boys individual title. Walmsley’s individual win was not enough to propel Horizon to the team title past Marana Mountain View. After the five scoring runners for both teams had finished, the score was tied at 70 points. Thus, the finishing positions for each team’s sixth runner were used to break the tie.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2007 AIA State Cross Country Tournament ***

In the Girls 5A Division I race, Nadya Bishton from Mountain Ridge High School broke her own course record, leading her sister Nastia and Jessica Tonn from Xavier College Preparatory under the old mark. Xavier College Preparatory won the team title over Mountain Ridge, by placing five runners in the top 30.

Click here for 2007 AIA State Cross Country Tournament results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Jacob Kirwa from Diné College established a new course record at the Canyon West Cross Country Classic in Tempe, AZ. Tyson David from Central Arizona College was also under 24 minutes for the 8K, as the two runners waged a spirited battle on the challenging Kiwanis Park course.

Daniele Riendeau, formerly of the University of Memphis, was the first runner across the line in the women’s race.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2007 Canyon West Cross Country Classic ***

The Doug Conley Invitational features the top-20 ranked boys and girls Arizona high school cross country teams, regardless of class level, as well as top individuals from non-invited teams. Not surprisingly, the meet produces excellent performances, that sometimes surpass the state meet…

*** Click here to view photos from the 2007 Doug Conley Invitational ***

Jim Walmsley from Horizon High School tied Foot Locker Champion Kenny Cormier’s winning time from 2004, en route to winning the Boys Varsity race. In the Girls Varsity race, Jessica Tonn from Xavier College Preparatory defeated defending champion Lindsay Prescott.

Doug Conley Invitational Girls Varsity individual results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Girls Varsity team results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Boys Varsity individual results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Boys Varsity team results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Boys Non-Varsity individual results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Boys Non-Varsity team results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Girls Non-Varsity individual results (on Arizonatrack.com)

Doug Conley Invitational Girls Non-Varsity team results (on Arizonatrack.com)