Desert Vista's girls cross country team was dominant in winning last year's Division I state meet. The Thunder boys had a much tighter day notching their title.

Those roles may be reversed this year with the boys a heavy favorite and the girls in for a battle on Saturday Nov. 4 at Cave Creek Golf Course. Cave Creek Golf Course is the sight for all four division state meets.

Desert Vista's girls were tough on opponents last year finishing 2-3-4-5-6 (20 points) and outdistancing runner-up Chandler by 85 points. The Thunder graduated three of its five placers, but do return experience in the race. They are led by senior Haley Wolf, who is one of the favorites to take the individual title. Wolf finished second last year to Sandra Day O'Connor's Jesselyn Bries. Bries is expected to miss the meet with an injury. Bries won last year by 27 seconds over Wolf.

Hard to know exactly who will lineup with Wolf for Desert Vista as the Thunder interchange lineups frequently. Wolf won the sectional meet last week, the Thunder was third) at Crossroads Park in Gilbert. Senior Kelly Harris and sophomore Brooklyn Christofis competed at state with Wolf last year. No other seniors other than Wolf have competed at big meets this year for Desert Vista (Desert Twilight and last week's regional). Desert Vista's roster is light on seniors.

The challengers to Desert Vista are Chandler, the 2015 state champs, Xavier Prep and Highland. Chandler will be without its top runner, Morgan Foster, due to an avulsion fracture. Foster has been sidelined for a month. Chandler won its sectional last week and still poses a threat led by juniors Mihajla Milovanovic and Becca Taylor and senior twins Kerri and Kylie Welch. 

Xavier swaps out its lineup much like Desert Vista from meet to meet. Xavier captured its regional using one or two of its probable state-meet participants. Four runners who competed at state last year are likely to run again this year -- seniors Caroline Liddy, Caroline McClelland, Kate Straneva and sophomore Mia Olsen.

Highland was runner-up to Chandler in is sectional. The Hawks are led by sophomore Caroline McCleskey and junior Rachel McCleve. McCleskey and McCleve were top-25 finishers last year at state. 

A list of runners to watch in the battle for individual honors and medals, many of whom placed in the top 25 last year: Wolf (2nd); Christofis (5th); McCleskey (7th); Kailey Welch, Mtn View (8th); Olsen (11th); Milovanovic (14th); McClelland (15th); Hannah Leitner, Rincon (16th); Grace Driskill, Rincon (17th); Taylor (18th); Niki Hemmerlin, Red Mountain (20th); Olivia Grieve, Mtn. Pointe (23rd) and McCleve (25th); Taylor Mullenhour, Mtn Ridge (32nd) and sectional champ this year.

Desert Vista's boys are currently ranked No. 12 in the nation by DyeStats. They are heavy favorites to claim a fourth successive crown and fifth in the last six years. It's likely at least five of the seven runners who competed at state last year for the Thunder will be compete again -- seniors Reece Donihi, Habtamu Cheney, D'Angelo Piasecki, Aksel Laudon and Nick Thatcher. Desert Vista won its sectional with 52 points with only Thatcher in its lineup.Highland was runner-up to Desert Vista in the sectional.

Cheney finished fourth last year, Donihi 11th, Thatcher 16th, Laudon 20th and Piasecki 38th. Cheney, Donihi, Laudon and Thatcher scored last year helping the Thunder tally 57 points. That was enough to top runner-up Brophy Prep (70). Brophy returns at least four of its runners from state. Brophy and Cibola were the other D-I sectional champs. 

A list of runners to watch among the boys in the medals race, again many of whom placed in the top 25 last year: Caden Hercules, Desert Mountain (6th); Thomas Cain, Cibola (7th); David Nelson, Hamilton (8th); Jacob Lewis, Boulder Creek (10th); Drew Burns, Brophy (13th); Carson Klepinger, Mtn View (15th); Anthony Haren, Perry (19th); Will Daschbach, Highland (21st); Grant Kennedy, Skyline (22nd); Braden Rasmussen, Mtn. View (23rd); Michael Jaso, Kofa (25th) and Jared Pace, Mtn. View (26th).