Arizona's top cross country runners collide with quality competition from several other states on Friday evening (Sept. 27) at the annual Desert Twilight Invite at the Grande Sports Complex in Casa Grande.

The menu for the day has 24 races beginning at 4 p.m. and launching in 15 minute intervals up to the final two races. Those are the top races of the meet - the girls sweepstakes at 9 p.m. and boys sweepstakes at 9:25.

Three of the top 10 finishers in last year's 5,000 meters boys sweepstakes race are set to compete, including defending champ Cole Sprout from Valor Christian CO. The others are El Paso Hanks Michael Abeyta and Highland's Leo Daschbach. Last year's team champ was El Paso Eastwood with four Arizona schools placing in the top 10 of the 30-team field - Page, Desert Vista, Highland and Brophy Prep.

Other Arizona boys runners to watch for in this year's sweepstakes race are Sunrise Mountain's Braedon Palmer, Mountain Ridge's Hunter Kras, Desert Vista's Sammy Van Alstine, Highland's Caden Resendez, North Phoenix Prep's Jordan Black and Brophy's Jose Acuna. 

The girls sweepstakes race has five top-10 finishers returning, but no defending champ. Top returning finisher from last year is sophomore Cameron McConnell from Cherokee Trail CO, who placed third. Highland senior Caroline McLeskey finished fourth last year. McLeskey won the Doug Conley last week .The other top 10 finishers at Desert Twilight last year were Samrawit Dishon (Niwot CO), Joslin Blair (Eagle Valley CO) and Tatum Miller (Air Academy CO). 

The top Arizona runner in the field this year is Desert Vista freshman Lauren Ping. Ping won the Desert Solstice three weeks ago and was second at Woodbridge (CA). Other Arizona runners of note possibly competing in the sweepstakes race are Desert Vista's Katy Clausen, Chaparral's Tiaree Towler, Vista Grande's Brynna McQuillen, Xavier Prep's Mia Olsen, Red Mountain's Niki Hemmerlin, Perry's Kylie Smith and Rincon-University's Grace Driskill.