Voluntary Summer Training in the 100-degree days of early June signaled the beginning of the 2009 Cross Country Season for the Desert Vista Thunder Boys Cross Country runners. Over the course of the summer, Seniors Albert Kombe, Ben Ten Eyck, and Tucker Kidd, along with Juniors Trey Kennedy and Ryan Maack distinguished themselves and were enshrined in the elite Sons of Thunder brotherhood. Summer Training culminated with a trip up the hill to CHAMPS Camp, where Albert and Tucker, along with fellow Senior Sean Gormley, were elected Team Captains by their teammates for the 2009 season.
The Thunder proudly competed in what turned out to be a banner year for Cross Country in the State of Arizona; the competition was top-notch right from the gun. During the season, the team ran in a number of prestigious meets within Arizona, including the Scottsdale Running Company Festival, the 15th Annual Chandler Invitational, the 21st Annual Ojo Rojo Lions Invitational, and the inaugural Desert Twilight Festival. The future looks bright as the freshman squad went undefeated in these meets.
The Thunder also travelled to California (Orange County) to attend the massive 29th Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic. Thanks to the generous support of our Boosters, the team was able to take full seven-man squads for each of the four class-level races, as well as full Varsity squad (35 boys in all). The boys competed admirably against some of the best teams from across the West Region. The Freshmen took 2nd place in their race, narrowly missing 1st, and the Sophomores placed 12th in their race.
When Trophy Season rolled around, the team was ready. The Thunder swept the Tempe City Meet, winning the Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity races for the eighth straight year. At the Fiesta Regional Meet, the Varsity took second place, narrowly missing an eighth straight regional title. At the Arizona State Meet, the Varsity (the defending 2008 State Champions and winners of 3 of the past 4 State Meets) posted a school record aggregate time for the state course but were unable to successfully defend their title and instead finished in fourth place.
Please visit our Stats page for posted times, and our Season Gallery page for great pictures from the season.