The Division II state meet was dominated by seniors last year with six of the top eight runners graduating. The two juniors who were able to break though were Tyler Beauchamp of Saguaro and Aldo Marquez of Gila Ridge.

Beauchamp finished in fourth place with a time of 16:12 and Marquez took fifth, coming in one second behind (16:13). Salpointe's Nathan Thomas won the race with a time of 15:53. Thomas is now running for the Air Force Academy.

Deer Valley junior Elijah Cox (16:33) and Gila Ridge sophomore Vincent Reyes (16:36) rounded off the top ten.

Let's take a look at the field of boys who have the best shot at winning the state meet this year beginning with Beauchamp.

Beauchamp recorded the fastest time in Division II this year (15:01.7) and he did it during a second place finish at the 8th Annual Desert Twilight. Daniel Bernal of El Paso took first (15:00.08).

He took first place at the Chandler Invitational, first place at the Fountain Hills Invitational, second place at Mt. Carmel Invitational, second at the Desert twilight, first at the Scottsdale City Meet and he won the Division II, Section III championship with a time of 16:13.

His junior teammate Michael Barney came in second at sectionals with a time of 16:18.

Cox has the second best time in D-II (15:48.8) and he has a couple of first place finishes. He won the Peaks Invitational and he took first place at the Division II, Section I meet with a time of 16:01.72.

Casa Grande junior Nick Olivarez came up big at the Division II, Section II championship where he recorded a time of 15:50.3 to win the title. His time pushed him up to third best in the state heading into the state meet. It was the best finish of the season for Olivarez.

Catalina Foothills junior Sam Pershing has won two big meets this year including the Ojo Rojo Invitational and the Desert Twilight. He took third at the Section II meet behind Olivarez and his Catalina Foothills running mate, junior Philippe Mortelliti.

Barney has had four second place finishes including the section race to Beauchamp.

Apollo senior Diego Lopez posted his best time (15:55) at the Division II, Section IV meet where he took first place ahead of Marquez (15:58).

Teams from Greenway, Gila Ridge, Flagstaff, Campo Verde and Saguaro appear to have the best shot to win state. It's an open field with Cibola, Salpointe and South Mountain also threatening. The individual field is just as open but the state meet appears to Beauchamp's race.

Beauchamp's time of 15:01.7 is not only the best time in Arizona, it is also the 27th best in the nation.

Other boys with a shot at a top finish in Division II include senior Richard DeLara of Greenway, sophomore Thomas Cain of Cibola, freshman Rylan Stubbs of Campo Verde and sophomore Blake Chambal of Campo Verde.