Page girls, boys return strong teams

After two challenging meets this season, the Page Sand Devils cross-country teams have shown that they can compete against Arizona's top high school programs.

At the Peaks Invitational in Flagstaff last Saturday and at the prior Hopi Invitational, both the girls' and boys' teams finished in the top three in team standings. The girls' team won both events while the boys' team finished third at Peaks and first at Hopi.

"Both the boys and girls team will be strong. We are returning six, seven varsity runners from both squads," said Page head coach Theodore Martin.

With Page in Arizona's 4A-Division II in other sports, the cross-country team is in the newly formed Division III. To compete for a state title, Martin has prepared a tough schedule for his team, especially now that schools from the 3A North are also in Division III.

Besides the Peaks and Hopi meets, Page will also compete at Queen Creek, the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise, Idaho, and the Doug Conley Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., before the state meet.

Even with 3A North schools in Division III, Martin said 4A-Division II schools that should do well in Division III include Rio Rico, Flagstaff, Mingus and Catalina Magnet. The Mingus boys won last year's 4A-II state championship.

"Our new division is definitely the best overall division in Arizona," Martin said, "meaning total quality. So all runners need to remain healthy and injury free to have consistent training.

"Teams like Rio Rico, Flagstaff, and Catalina are always running strong, along with the rez schools," he said.

Girls

Page is loaded with sophomores and each runner has placed in the top 25 so far this season with Mikayla Hudgins leading the way.

The sophomore placed second at Hopi and third at Peaks and has already seen two of her toughest competitors from Division
III - Rolonda Jumbo of Chinle and Kimmi Allen of Flagstaff.

"Mikayla Hudgins is running well right now. She put in some summer miles and jumped a level or two this year," Martin said. "She should be trying to win every race she's in. She loves to run hard and pushes herself every day. "

Jumbo, a junior, is a two-time 3A state champion and won at Peaks.

Allen, a senior, finished 8th overall at state last year and was runner-up at Peaks.

Hudgins finished 17th at state last year.

As for the rest of the team, sophomore Jayde Secody placed 9th at state last year as a freshman. So far this season, she placed 16th at Peaks and 9th at Hopi.

Also running for the Sand Devils are Neva Hurley, Nicole Douglas, Celese Claw, Tomeka Church and Nicolette Coleman. All have placed in the top 25 at the two races held so far.

"My other girls are rounding into shape. Celeste Claw and Jayde Secody have made big improvements since the start of August," Martin said.

"Neva Hurley and Nicole Douglas came into the season solid and ready to race," he said. "Nicolette Coleman should be back to
2009 shape shortly. Our freshman, Tomeka Church, is making a bid for top freshman around. Bronte' Curley and Schaivon Bitter are also trying to cement a spot on our varsity roster."

Boys

The boys won at Hopi and placed third at Peaks, which has convinced Martin that they can compete against a much-improved Chinle team.

"Our boys have good days and bad days, just like everyone else," Martin said. "Hopi was good and Peaks not so. I was happy our boys stuck it out Saturday and finished a respectable third.

"Their goals are higher, so they will work harder to catch those teams that beat us," he added. "Chinle ran well as usual, so we look forward to racing them each week."

Last year, Page finished fourth at state.

At the Hopi Invitational, all six of Page's runners finished in the top 16 to take home the team title, but struggled at Peaks.

Senior Ronald Hicks has been stepping up to lead the pack. After sitting out last year, Hicks placed third at Hopi and was 14th at Peaks.

"Ron Hicks has performed well this year. Our other (runners) are rounding into shape," Martin said.

Consistent for Page are juniors Chavis Curley, Kyron Brown, Zachary James, Marcus Begay and Shawn Secody.

Also making his first appearance this year is junior Mike Russell who finished 21st at Peaks.

In his fourth year at Page, Martin says that pack running is important for both of his teams to have a chance of a state title in Division III come November.

"Like I said early, our pack running is good. We have kids willing to do extra to improve themselves and the team. We also have a bunch of veteran runners," Martin said.

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