EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated from a previous version.

PHOENIX — With four runners finishing in the Top 50, ALA-Queen Creek claimed the first Division III girls state cross-country championship in program history with a 1:46:16 time this past weekend.

The Patriots scored 91 points at Cave Creek Golf Course on Nov. 4, finishing just seconds ahead of Gilbert Christian’s 98 points and 1:46:41 time.

Senior Talya Workman led the way for ALA-Queen Creek, finishing third overall with a 20:01 time. Freshman teammates Tally Call (20:22.2) and Jada Oleary (21:00.3) took sixth and 14th place, respectively.

“Tayla had a special senior season and as a team captain, really set the tone for the rest of the team,” ALA-Queen Creek coach Duerk Brewer said in an email to AzPreps365.com on Monday, Nov. 6.

Brewer, who took over the Patriots’ program this fall, said both Call and Oleary ran for him at the junior high level.

“They had some prior success, and I believe that experience helped prepare them to hit the ground running as freshman,” Brewer said. “They both have very bright futures.”

Sarah Larson, a senior, took 45th overall with a 22:17.6 time, and London Sanders was 59th with a 22:34.3. time to wrap up the top five for ALA-Queen Creek.  

BOYS TEAM CHAMPION

Outscoring the next closest competitor by 27 points, Page claimed the Division III state championship with 126 points and a team time of 1:26:17 on Saturday afternoon.

Page had five runners place in the Top 50, the only program to do so in the 31-team field.

"The success of the 'Runnin Devils' is their mission and promise to each other, they give their best regardless of the conditions, situation or race, they believe in team. We are only as strong as our weakest link, so they basically run their hearts out for each other," Page coach Tim Martin said via email Monday.

Symond Martin led the way for the Sand Devils, taking second overall with a 16:17 time as a sophomore. Sophomore Max Reid finished 15th overall with a 16:58.9 time, while freshman Nyall Prather was 26th with a 17:23.3.

Elijah Reed, a senior, came in 41st overall with a 17:41.1 time and Jaiden Jordan, another standout freshman for Page, wrapped up the top five for the Dust Devils with a 17:56.8 time, good enough for 50th.

It was the 19th state championship in the program’s storied history, and eighth in the past decade for the Dust Devils, which won six straight titles from 2014 to 2019, and won again in 2022.

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION

Freshman Mila Russo of Gilbert Christian claimed her first individual state championship, squeaking past front runner Damira Allen at the last second with a 19:32.3 time to win the title.

"The group of girls I raced against are so talented. I was honored to run with them and thrilled to have crossed the finish line first," Russo said via text to AzPreps365.com Monday. "Of course I was thrilled to win as a freshman, and I hope the next three years bring the same level of excitement. I know it won’t be easy, but my hope is to continue competing and pushing myself."

Mila Russo of Gilbert Christian. (Amy Ford/Courtesy)

Allen, a sophomore from Ganado, finished with a 19:32.4 time, quite an improvement from her freshman year’s 12th place finish and 20:30.8 time a season ago.

The aforementioned Workman was third overall, while Evangeline Dunckley of Saguaro took fourth with a 20:07.6 and Salpointe Catholic’s Alex Montano wrapped up the top five with a 20:10.4 time.

BOYS INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION

Seton Catholic senior Zach Albanese held off a charging Martin (Page) to claim the individual state championship with a 16:14.9 time.

Martin took second with a 16:17, while Brayden LeVander of ALA-West Foothills was third at 16:23.1. Eastmark’s Bryson Nielsen took fourth with a 16:28 and Albanese’s teammate David Williams, a sophomore, wrapped up the top five with a 16:28.6.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.