Early mornings. Hitting the canals and trails before most people have even hit the snooze button on their alarm clocks. This is the life of high school cross-country runners in Arizona as they prepare for the 2024 season in a region that recently saw 80 consecutive days of at least 100 degrees , breaking a 34-year-old record.
This season has the potential to be one of the best ever in state history as there are four athletes who could seriously challenge running under 15 minutes in the 5,000 meters with Mesa Eastmark’s Bryson Nielsen, Flagstaff Northland Prep’s Yohanes Van Meerten, Chandler Hamilton’s Zarian Rodriguez and Page’s Symond Martin all legitimate candidates to do so. With the competitive level cranked up, the number could be even more.
With the 2024 high school cross-country season arriving, The Arizona Republic is previewing the top cross-country athletes in the state ahead of the season, regardless of division. The rankings are based on performances from the 2023 cross-country season as well as the 2024 track and field season. The Republic also reached out to coaches throughout the state. Here we list the boys' runners:
Top 25 boys cross-country athletes in Arizona
1. Bryson Nielsen, Sr., Mesa Eastmark
The state’s top distance runner. Coming off a remarkable track season where he ran 1:51.30 for the 800 meters, 4:10.49 for the 1,600 meters and 9:03.49 for the 3,200 meters. He’s even run a half-marathon, competing in one last winter, where he ran 1:11.52 to finish ninth overall. Coach Fred Behrmann said Nielsen has been “consistently hitting his training targets" and "has shown great improvement in his endurance and speed” during the summer.
2. Yohanes Van Meerten, So., Flagstaff Northland Prep Academy
Simply put, he had one of the best freshman seasons ever. Ran 15:18.4 for the 5,000 meters last season, which is the fastest time in state history by a freshman since 2000 according to MileSplit. He opted to focus mostly on basketball, but still impressed in his one track race in the spring: a 4:28.75 1,600 meters at the Texas Distance Festival. One of his coaches said he recently ran 9:32 for a full two miles (dirt track) and just ran 4:19 for the 1,600, solo at 7,000 feet of elevation.
3. Zarian Rodriguez, Jr., Chandler Hamilton
One of the athletes who saw the greatest drops in his times with coach Mike Scannell — who just helped lead Grant Fisher to bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics — taking over the program at Hamilton. Rodriguez went from 9:40 in the 3,200 down to 9:12. Looks set for another big jump this fall as the Huskies have national aspirations as a team.
4. Symond Martin, Jr., Page
He’s worked his way up the ranks and now is one of the best athletes in the state, helping contribute to the rich legacy of distance running at Page. Ran 15:44.4 for the 5,000 last cross-country season and hit 4:15.30 for the 1,600 and 9:12.09 for the 3,200 in track. His coach and father, Tim, a former star runner at the school, said Symond has been training injury-free, went to two cross-country camps and built mileage up throughout the summer. The Sand Devils are aiming for their third straight state title and 20th overall.
5. Kai Espinosa-Golinski, Sr., Mesa Westwood
Put together a great spring, running 4:10.98 in the 1,600 and 9:17.47 in the 3,200. That has motivated Espinosa-Golinski to train even harder, according to his coach, Nate Beaty. He’s been training in Flagstaff “with mileage ranging from 85-93 (per week) at altitude and finishing up the last week of summer leading into school with a 100-mile week. He has also been doing double threshold workouts every Monday all summer long in preparation for the season,” Beaty said.
6. Henry Dilworth, Sr., Peoria Liberty
Dilworth had a great season last year, as he was the runner-up at the state meet and ran a personal best of 15:30.1. Followed up with a 4:22.07 in the 1,600 and 9:10.99 in the 3,200 on the track. Coach David Ostrus said Dilworth “has been between 50 and 65 miles per week most of the summer, hoping to peak at 70." Dilworth recently did a time trial, running in the low 15 minutes on a course that was almost a full 5,000 meters.
7. Theo McDaid, Sr., Chandler Hamilton
Like his teammates, he also saw a big jump once Scannell took over as he shaved off nearly 45 seconds in the 3,200 meters in the spring to get down to 9:14.28. His mom was one of the assistants who helped out in the spring while his coach split time with Olympian Grant Fisher. Has run 4:22.60 for the 1,600 as well.
8. Chase Markunas, Sr., Chandler Hamilton
He’s been in the program since he was a freshman, working his way up, and now looks set to assume a top role within a team that is projected to be the best in the state. Ran 15:48 at Desert Twilight last fall. Hit 4:22.17 in the 1,600 and 9:29.10 in the 3,200 in the spring.
9. Alex Bland, Jr., Flagstaff
After not even running at the state championships as a freshman, Bland came out and won the whole thing in his first appearance at the Division II meet last year. Ran a personal best of 16:01.5 in the 5,000. He's coming off a strong track season, where he ran 4:18.46 in the 1,600 and 9:22.85 in the 3,200. His backyard is where professional runners move to train.
10. Santiago Sanchez, Sr., Phoenix Brophy Prep
It’s been four years since the school last saw someone take the individual state crown when Xander Black won it in 2020, and that could end this year with Sanchez as a dark horse candidate – although competition will be tough with Hamilton’s team. Sanchez ran 15:57.5 last cross-country season. Coach Oscar Borboa said Sanchez’s “training has been very productive all summer" and "his commitment and attention to detail is unrivaled in my time as a coach at Brophy.''
11. Ryan Estrada, Sr., Chandler Hamilton
Transfer from Gilbert. Ran 15:47.3 last fall, the No. 5 time among returning athletes. This team already was going to be deep, and Estrada’s addition makes it feel like something special is coming for the Huskies. Hit 9:26.34 in the 3,200 on the track.
12. Cole Troxler, Sr., Flagstaff
He’s been a major player on the team the past three seasons, finishing ninth at the state meet as a freshman, 41st as a sophomore and 11th as a junior. Troxler will try to improve on those finishes as he comes in with a personal best of 16:00.1 in the 5,000.
13. Daniel Judd, Sr., Mesa Mountain View
Takes after his big brother Tyler, who graduated in 2023 and was a top runner for the Toros. Daniel ran 9:25.36 in the 3,200. His coach, Ronnie Buchanan, said he “was able to be with the team for the month of June to start establishing his season foundation. The month of July he was up in Utah with family and running with a few local high schoolers there for accountability.”
14. Andrew Fastrup, Jr., Peoria Sunrise Mountain
His coach, Torin Lattie, said Andrew “ran a total of just over 600 miles this summer, often morning and evening.” Personal best of 16:02.2 in the 5,000.
15. Sam Davis, Jr., Gilbert Highland
He was the No. 5 runner for the title-winning Hawks last year, the second consecutive championship for the school. With all of the runners ahead of him now graduated, Davis has a path cleared to be the lead athlete for a team that will be eager to prove itself. He’s got one of the state’s best coaches, Dave Montgomery, guiding him.
16. Ryland LeVander, Sr., American Leadership Academy West Foothills
Another sibling following in the footsteps of their brother, Braydon. Ryland ran 15:57.8 last cross-country season.
17. Brady Moar, Sr., Gilbert Highland
There are holes to fill on Highland’s roster after the 2024 class graduated, and Moar is one of those runners who will be filling in. He was the sixth runner on last year’s team at the Division I championships. Wasn’t able to compete much during track, but coach Dave Montgomery said Moar is “very fit” and “ready to go.”
18. Dominick Muller, Sr., Chandler Hamilton
One of those “seven powerhouses” that Scannell referred to when previewing the team. Ran right behind his teammate, Theo McDaid, at last year’s Division I cross-country championships, finishing one second off (16:42 to 16:43). Hit 4:29.90 in the 1,600 and 9:40.25 in the 3,200 during the track season.
19. Micah Newkirk, Jr., Chandler Valley Christian
Had a personal breakthrough season on the track, running 4:25.12 for the 1,600 and 9:24.05 for the 3,200. While he did suffer an ankle sprain in June, coach Jenny Brecht said Newkirk is fully healthy and looking strong in workouts heading into the fall.
20. Boston Walseth, Sr., Chandler Basha
Put together a good spring with his 4:24.18 in the 1,600 and 9:27.78 in the 3,200. Will look to improve on his 16th-place finish from last season at the Division I championships.
21. Killian Grimm, Sr., Phoenix North Canyon
He broke the North Canyon record for the 3,200 (9:33.36) and after an uninterrupted stretch of running, coach Scott Stoll said Grimm is on a “good trajectory to continue that success for his final year of high school.”
22. David Williams, Sr., Chandler Seton Catholic
Williams looks set to take the baton as the school’s No. 1 from Zach Albanese, who graduated and is now at ASU. He ran 4:28.05 for the 1,600 and 9:44.83 for the 3,200. Was fifth at last year’s Division III championships.
23. David Soria, Sr., American Leadership Academy Queen Creek
Had a strong summer, where he won the USATF Arizona Junior Olympic title in the 2,000-meter steeplechase for the 17-18 age group. Trained at elevation for most of the summer ahead of the season. Coach Duerk Brewer expects him to challenge for an individual title this fall.
24. Alexavier Martinez, Sr., Phoenix Greenway
Even in sporadic action on the track, still managed to run 9:28.56 in the 3,200.
25. Andrew Smith, Sr., Tucson Tanque Verde
He was the Rio Rico sectional champion last season. Ran 4:26.94 for the 1,600 and 9:28.90 for the 3,200 in track.
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, ASU and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@gannett.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe .
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Republic's Elite 25: Top 2024 boys cross-country athletes
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