SFIS looks to end nearly 20 Year Title Drought
We have a pretty good idea of the three teams that could be landing on the podium come Saturday. Our best indication was at Academy Extravaganza where it was Santa Fe Indian School pulling away from Santa Fe Prep and defending champs Cottonwood Classical. For a team looking to get to where they were nearly twenty years ago, they will have to rely on Destiny or perhaps a pair of Destiny's as they have relied on a dynamic duo in Destiny Chino and Destiny Marquez to rack up their points this season. In 2021 it was Cottonwood classical secured its 4th blue trophy in the past five years with Sophia Lopez leading the way. Lopez returns along with their top four scorers but will that be enough to fend off SFIS and Santa Fe Prep? Yes, the other team once again likely to return to the podium will be Santa Fe Prep with a trio of possible all-state performers including Sophie Bair, Pippa Barrett, and Nya Griego. Each team has solid top ten finishers but the championship will be decided by the fourth and fifth runners landing in the top 20. At the moment it appears to be SFIS with the edge but with everything on the line, it's difficult to count the 3-time defending champions of 3A Cottonwood Classical. The only guarantee is that this should be one of the closest races of the championships. Also, look for defending 3A champ, Raylee Hunt of St. Mikes to once again lead the way as she finished a minute ahead of the competition in 2021 and nearly a minute and thirty seconds ahead of the pack at Academy Extravaganza a few weeks ago.
Check out each boy and girl's race preview before the kick-off of the championship.
Check out our individual athlete previews below