Strong showing for Gator runners in Mt. SAC event

 Xavier Prep’s cross-country teams represented the school and community in impressive style on Saturday (Oct. 23) in the Mt. SAC Invitational meet that featured top teams from the western U.S. and California.

The event in Walnut, Calif., had Xavier finishing second in the 3-mile Division 1 and 2 JV Sweepstakes Race, and the all-senior varsity lineup was 10^th in the 3-mile Division 1 and 2 Varsity Individual Sweepstakes race.

Xavier had 11 runners in the JV race and seven runners in the Varsity race. Xavier tallied 80 points in the JV race, second behind the top-rated 40 points listing by Great Oak High of Temecula, Caif. In the Varsity race, Xavier totaled 228 points in its 10^th-place finish.

In the JV race, XCP had three runners finish in the top 10. They were sophomore Lily Beaver, fifth at 20:07, junior Reese Brown, seventh at 20:13, and sophomore Summer Goodman, ninth at 20:17. Great Oak had the top two individual runners.

Other finishers in the JV race were junior Holland Carey, 30^th at 21:14; sophomore Bella Gomez, 32^nd at 21:19; junior Reyna Silva, 35^th at 21:23; junior Nora Hinkle, 39^th at 21:25; junior Cassara Ryan, 40^th at 21:27; junior Kylie Graf, 49^th at 21:58; sophomore Sophia Maroufkani, 61^st at 22:34 and junior Sarai Arkeveld, 67^th at 22:35.

The senior group in the Varsity race was Hannah Wheeling, 23^rd at 19:12, Tatum Goforth, 24^th at 19:14; Catherine Alaimo, 42^nd at 19:57; Macarthy Mahoney, 64^th at 20:22; Karime Morales, 80^th at 21:10; Erika Germinario, 92^nd at 21:53, and Melissa Mansour, 96^th at 22:11.

Xavier’s next action comes on Nov. 2, when the Gators run in the Division SW Sectional at Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen. Teams and runners will be attempting to qualify for the state meet, on Nov. 13 at the Cave Creek Golf Course in north Phoenix.