Desert Mtn.'s Caden Hercules (center) a contender at this week's Desert Twilight XC Invite (AzPreps365)

 

The most prestigious meet in the state nowadays at season's midpoint takes place Friday afternoon and evening for a bevy of schools and runners at the 9th annual Desert Twilight Cross Country Meet in Casa Grande.

The meet takes place at Arizona Grande Sports World. Races (24) begin at 4 p.m. and continue to the final four marquee races (boys championship and sweepstakes and girls championship and sweepstakes). The girls championship race is at 8:25 followed by boys championship at 8:40. The elite girls (sweepstakes) is set for 9 p.m. and elite boys (sweepstakes) at 9:25. The course is a fast, 5,000-meter jaunt. 

The defending boys sweepstakes team champ is El Paso Eastwood and defending girls sweepstakes champ is Desert Vista. New individual champs will be crowned in each race with seniors winning both races last year (El Paso Eastwood's Daniel Bernal and Rio Rico's Allie Schadler). Several underclassmen from Arizona last year  figure to be in the medalist chase, led by Rio Rico junior Samantha Schadler, Chandler junior Morgan Foster and Chaparral junior Abbi Archer. The top 10 finishers in last year's boys sweepstakes race were seniors. Runners trying to make their mark in the race this year are Hamilton senior David Nelson, Desert Mountain senior Caden Hercules, Desert Vista senior Habtamu Cheney, Cibola senior Thomas Cain, Mesa Mtn. View senior Carson Klepinger and Perry senior Anthony Haren to name a few.

Boys sweepstakes entries: Air Academy, Basha, Brophy Prep, Campo Verde, Chandler, Chinle, Corona del Sol, Deer Valley, Desert Mountain, Desert Vista, Discovery Canyon, Durango, El Paso Cathedral, El Paso Eastwood, El Paso Hanks, Gila Ridge, Hamilton, Highland, Iolani, Kirtland Central, Lake Braddock Secondary, Mesa Mtn. View, Mira Costa, Niwot, North Canyon, Rincon, Saguaro, Sandra Day O'Connor, Silver Creek, Skyline, Snohomish and Tuba City. 

Girls sweepstakes entries: Air Academy, Campo Verde, Catalina Foothills, Chandler, Chaparral, Cherokee Trail, Chinle, Desert Vista, Discovery Canyon, Durango, El Paso Eastwood, Hamilton, Highland, Lake Braddock, Mesa Mtn. View, Mira Costa, Mountain Ridge. Mountain Pointe, Niwot, North Canyon, Red Mountain, Salpointe, Sandra Day O'Connor, Shadow Mountain, Skyline, Snohomish, Valor Christian and Xavier Prep.

Boys championship entries: Boulder Creek, Buena, Casa Grande, Casteel, Catalina Foothills, Cesar Chavez, Chandler Prep, Chaparral, Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek, Cienega, El Paso Dorado, Faith Lutheran, Flowing Wells, Ganado, Hopi, Ironwood Ridge, Kofa, Marana, Mountain Pointe, Mountain Ridge, Niwot, Piedra Vista, Pinnacle, Prescott, Queen Creek, Red Mountain, Sabino, Salpointe, Seton, Shiprock, St. Michael Indian, St. Michaels, Window Rock, Winslow.

Girls championship entries: Bishop Gorman, Boulder Creek, Casa Grande, Chandler Prep, Cherry Creek, Cibola, Cienega, Coconino, Corona del Sol, Deer Valley, El Paso El Dorado, El Paso Hanks, Ganado, Glendale Prep, Hopi, Kirtland Central, Northland Prep, Perry, Piedra Vista, Prescott, Queen Creek, Rincon, Shiprock, St. Michael Indian, Trivium Prep, Tuba City, Window Rock, Winslow.

For more information about the meet, schedule, course, click on https://sites.google.com/site/deserttwilightllc/home.