By Don Ketchum

Asked what the conditions were like on the state cross-country championship course on Saturday (Nov. 6), Phoenix Xavier Prep’s Sarah Fakler said, “A little hot and lonely.’’

Yes, it indeed is lonely at the top, as Fakler, a sophomore, cruised to a 28-second victory in the Division I race, helping her team earn another championship at the Cave Creek Golf Course in north Phoenix.

Fakler finished second as a freshman to star Jessica Tonn in last year’s Class 5A Division I race, but Tonn graduated and now Fakler is basking in her own glow.

She admitted her time of 18:26.97 “was a little slower than I would have liked,’’ it still was more than good enough to outdistance No. 2 finisher Monica Houston of Yuma Cibola (19:04.06).

“I just go out and try to help the team win,’’ Fakler said. “Xavier has run so well for so long that you just want to be a part of it.’’

Said Xavier coach Vito Perrone: “She has shown that she is more than capable of filling (Tonn’s) shoes.’’

Xavier assistant coach Haley Paul said she has been impressed watching her change and become a more mature, calculating runner.

Other highlights of the girls’ competition: Chinle’s Rolonda Jumbo (Class 3A) and Sanders Valley’s Chena Betoney (Class 1A/2A) successfully defended their titles, Jumbo now in Division III and Betoney in Division IV.

Jumbo was coming off an impressive victory in the Doug Conley Invitational.

Betoney struggled in last week’s sectional qualifying meet for state because she was sick, but came back strong when it counted.

“It feels great to win again,’’ the sophomore said. “The course out there was pretty fast. I was able to pull away with about a quarter-mile left.’’

Keams Canyon Hopi’s girls won the Division IV team title, continuing a lengthy streak of success.

Girls’ state championship meet

Saturday, Nov. 6

at Cave Creek Golf Course, Phoenix

Division I team standings

Phoenix Xavier Prep 37, Phoenix Desert Vista 94, Mesa Mountain View 106, Gilbert Highland 123, Tempe Corona del Sol 172, Gilbert Mesquite 249, Phoenix Mountain Pointe 271, Scottsdale Desert Mountain 285, Sierra Vista Buena 294, Scottsdale Chaparral 302, Yuma Cibola 309, Phoenix Pinnacle 318, Chandler Hamilton 352, Mesa Red Mountain 359, Anthem Boulder Creek 368, Glendale Mountain Ridge 374, Tucson Salpointe Catholic 422, Phoenix Horizon 429, Gilbert 456, Tucson Rincon 543, Laveen Cesar Chavez 567, Lake Havasu 584, Yuma Kofa 670, Phoenix Trevor Browne 688.

Division I top 10 individuals

Sarah Fakler, Phoenix Xavier Prep, 18:26.97; Monica Houston, Yuma Cibola, 19:04.06; Brittany Tretbar, Phoenix Desert Vista, 19:05.30; Brianna Decker, Mesa Mountain View, 19:06.93; Marissa Opatz, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, 19:11.18; Breanna Perrone, Xavier Prep, 19:12.15; Tory Haberman, Gilbert Highland, 19:15.29; Katie Penney, Xavier Prep, 19:17.04; Billie Dytrt, Mesa Mountain View, 19:25.62; Daylee Burr, Xavier Prep, 19:36.74.

Division II team standings

Nogales 77, Tempe Marcos de Niza 97, Tucson Sahuaro 128, Vail Cienega 143, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows 150, Tucson Ironwood Ridge 157, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep 186, Tucson Canyon del Oro 228, Phoenix Sunnyslope 232, Tucson Catalina Foothills 256, Marana Mountain View 311, Phoenix Arcadia 342, Gilbert Perry 356, Peoria Sunrise Mountain 362, Phoenix Shadow Mountain 373, Buckeye Verrado 430, Yuma Gila Ridge 433, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain 434, Kingman 442, Goodyear Millennium 537, Phoenix Camelback 544, El Mirage Dysart 604.

Division II top 10 individuals

Kylee Kieser, Tempe Marcos de Niza, 18:53.01; Konnie Zuniga, Nogales, 19:26.40; Chloe Newell, Tucson Sahuaro, 19:27.84; Zahira Jimenez, Nogales, 19:30.27; Kerri Lenihan, Marana Mountain View, 19:41.48; Taylor Stewart, Tucson Canyon del Oro, 19:45.70; Lauren Cooper, Tucson Ironwood Ridge, 19:48.50; Kirsten Linnartz, Phoenix Sunnyslope, 19:51.46; Taylor Delavega, Gilbert Perry, 20:06.31; Kristina Vanderhout, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, 20:28.32.

Division III team standings

Page 94, Chinle 98, Flagstaff 108, Tucson Sabino 153, Rio Rico 167, Tuba City 172, Phoenix Greenway 200, Sahuarita 246, Tucson Saguaro 256, Cottonwood Mingus 260, Lakeside Blue Ridge 333, Tempe 353, Peoria Liberty 360, Gilbert Higley 369, Window Rock 374, Safford 391, Holbrook 428, Buckeye Youngker 443, Maricopa 451, Goodyear Estrella Foothills 486.

Division III top 10 individuals

Rolonda Jumbo, Chinle, 18:34.55; Aeoleone Bristow, Rio Rico, 18:48.69; Haley Stenquist, Tucson Sabino, 18:59.71; Kayla Freeman, Phoenix Greenway, 19:03.58; Tatiana Gillick, Flagstaff, 19:17.03; Danielle Jones, Rio Rico, 19:25.88; Shayla Freeman, Greenway, 19:28.75; Viviana Ruiz, Wickenburg, 19:36.78; Kim Allan, Flagstaff, 19:39.00; Emma Schraner, Cottonwood Mingus, 19:43.83.

Division IV team standings

Keams Canyon Hopi 31, Sedona Red Rock 66, Flagstaff Northland Prep 92, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian 106, Pinon 139, St. Michael 182, Gilbert Classical Academy 198, Chandler Valley Christian 203, Phoenix Veritas Prep 228, Tempe Prep 237, Tucson St. Gregory 260, Thatcher 273.

Division IV top 10 individuals

Chelena Betoney, Sanders Valley, 19:52.44; Keven Griffen, Flagstaff Northland Prep, 20:03.02; Ashley Onsae, Keams Canyon Hopi, 20:05.34; Brittany Little, Hopi, 20:13.68; Hope Goimarac, Sedona Red Rock, 20:14.87; Sarah MacDonald, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian, 20:15.87; Brennan Smith, Pusch Ridge Christian, 20:19.45; Lorne Snyder, Phoenix Scottsdale Christian, 20:26.45; Claryn Josytewa, Hopi, 20:36.58; Kaitlin Billy, Hopi, 20:43.71.