Pusch Ridge junior Sarah Macdonald won the Division IV state championship by almost a full minute. That’s an eternity in a foot race.

Only 21 girls broke the 19-minute mark this year and only three of them were from Southern Arizona so you might say it was a down year for our area. Of the top three, only Sahuaro’s Chloe Newell recorded a time below 18:30.

Newell’s best time of 18:27.00 was the seventh best time in the state regardless of Division. She earned a sectional championship and went on to finish in second place in Division II.

Macdonald, as mentioned, was a state champion and she also won her sectional. Macdonald and Marley Henson of Rio Rico were the only runners from D-III and D-IV to break the decisive 20-minute mark, earning a spot on the All-Southern Arizona first team.

Emily Page was like an island in D-I competition. Rincon/University failed to qualify as a team for the state competition but Page represented her school well throughout the whole season and was the third girl behind Newell and Macdonald to come in under 19 minutes this fall.

As far as teams go, Sahuaro and Pusch Ridge earned runner-up finishes and Catalina Foothills took third place in D-II behind Sahuaro.

CHAMPION: Division IV: Sarah Macdonald: Pusch Ridge

Co-Runners of the Year
Sarah Macdonald, Pusch Ridge
(State Champion/Sectional Champion/Second Best Time Division)
Chloe Newell, Sahuaro
(State Runner-up/Sectional Champion/Division Best Time)

Coaches of the Year
Andrew Christian, Sahuaro: D-II State Runner-up
Elmer Yazzie, Pusch Ridge: D-IV State Runner-up

ALL-SOUTHERN ARIZONA

First Team
Chloe Newell, Sahuaro
Sarah Macdonald, Pusch Ridge
Emily Page, Rincon/University
Kelsey Larson, Sahuaro
Katelyn Jenkins, Sahuaro
Marley Henson, Rio Rico
Frida Cota, Pueblo

Second Team
Karina Kelly, Mountain View
Sarrah Boughan, CDO
Autumn Brown, Foothills
Zoe Urcadez, Salpointe
Hannah Whetzel, Foothills
Melanie Zibrat, Ironwood Ridge
April Steward, CDO

DIVISION I

Runner of the Year: Emily Page, Rincon/University
Coach: Shuryl Magargee, Buena

First Team
Emily Page, Rincon/University: 18:58.8
Nikki Regalado, Cienega: 20:16.00
Aleiha Nelson, Buena: 20:19.4
Kaylin Anderson, Buena: 20:41.7
Jazzmine Yarbrough, Tucson: 20:50.00
Breana Laird, Buena: 20:51.98
Shelbi Davidson, Cienega: 20:59.72

Second Team
Margie Moyer, Rincon/University: 21:08.10
Vicki Tozer, Cienega: 21:13.86
Rainey Kogan, Buena: 21:17.00
Elizabeth Deaton, Cienega: 21:21.81
Andrea Haller, Buena: 21:24.0
Brianna McCloskey, Buena: 21:29.20
Jocelynn Sampson, Rincon/University: 21:35.00

Top Returners
Aleiha Nelson, Buena, Junior
Kaylin Anderson, Buena, Sophomore
Jazzmine Yarbrough, Tucson, Freshman
Breana Laird, Buena, Sophomore
Shelbi Davidson, Cienega, Junior
Margie Moyer, Rincon/University, Freshman
Rainey Kogan, Buena, Sophomore

DIVISION II

Runner of the Year: Chloe Newell, Sahuaro: 18:27
Coach: Andrew Christian, Sahuaro

First Team
Chloe Newell, Sahuaro: 18:27
Kelsey Larson, Sahuaro: 19:02
Katelyn Jenkins, Sahuaro: 19:03
Frida Cota, Pueblo: 19:37.2
Karina Kelly, Mountain View: 19:40.21
Sarrah Boughan, CDO: 19:48.40 (Third Place Sectional)
Autumn Brown, Foothills: 19:49.37

Second Team
Zoe Urcadez, Salpointe: 19:54.40 (Sectional Runner-up)
Hannah Whetzel, Foothills:19:57.59
Melanie Zibrat, Ironwood Ridge: 19:57.69
April Steward, CDO: 19:59.08
Molly Latin, Ironwood Ridge: 20:00.87
Alex Salazar, Sahuaro: 20:01.00
Rachel Clarke, Mountain View: 20:02.20

Top Returners
Katelyn Jenkins, Sahuaro, Sophomore
Frida Cota, Pueblo, Junior
Karina Kelly, Mountain View, Sophomore
Sarrah Boughan, CDO, Junior
Autumn Brown, Foothills, Sophomore
Hannah Whetzel, Foothills, Freshman
Melanie Zibrat, Ironwood Ridge, Junior

DIVISION III

Runner of the Year: Marley Henson, Rio Rico
Coach: Roger Bristow, Rio Rico

First Team
Marley Henson, Rio Rico: 19:34.93 (Sectional Champion)
Jocelyne Munoz, Rio Rico: 20:14.20
Jackie Giron, Rio Rico: 20:15.00 (Third Place Sectional)
Melissa Williams, Sahuarita: 20:18.40 (Sectional Runner-up)
Daniela Alvarez, Rio Rico: 21:22.13
Lauren Herd, Sahuarita: 21:27.88
Mikala Burge, Safford: 21:33.55

Second Team
Sydney Giddings, Sahuarita: 21:33.90
Danielle Sevilla, Sahuarita: 21:35.40
Trina Fox, Safford: 21:46.30
Mariah Zavala, Amphi: 21:50.04
Molly Beaver, Sabino: 21:58.12
Marielena Valencia, Rio Rico: 22:15.40
Hailey Saw, Empire: 22:30.49

Top Returners
Marley Henson, Rio Rico, Junior
Jocelyne Munoz, Rio Rico, Junior
Jackie Giron, Rio Rico, Freshman
Melissa Williams, Sahuarita, Junior
Daniela Alvarez, Rio Rico, Junior
Mikala Burge, Safford, Junior
Trina Fox, Safford, Sophomore

DIVISION IV

Runner of the Year: Sarah Macdonald, Pusch Ridge
Coach: Elmer Yazzie, Pusch Ridge

First Team
Sarah Macdonald, Pusch Ridge: 18:55.28
Grace Johnson, Pusch Ridge: 20:10.74 (Sectional Runner-up)
Marae Mattice, Benson: 21:23.69
Kaylee Bowers, Pusch Ridge: 21:48.91
Amanda McGinnis, Bisbee: 21:52.00 (Third Place Sectional)
Courtney Dockery, Tanque Verde: 21:58.76
Mali Smith, Pusch Ridge: 22:05.61

Second Team
Sydney Harding, St. Augustine: 22:06.85
Elle Uldrich, Pusch Ridge: 22:07.76
Lexi Kalastro, Bisbee: 22:32.44
Marie Froehlke, Tanque Verde: 22:40.60
Victoria Dukes, Benson: 22:42.67
Maria Chavez, Bisbee: 23:18.70
Sara Clifford, Thatcher: 23:19.68

Top Returners
Sarah Macdonald, Pusch Ridge, Junior
Grace Johnson, Pusch Ridge, Freshman
Marae Mattice, Benson, Freshman
Kaylee Bowers, Pusch Ridge, Sophomore
Courtney Dockery, Tanque Verde, Freshman
Mali Smith, Pusch Ridge, Sophomore
Sydney Harding, St. Augustine, Junior

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