The Desert Vista Cross Country boys have some work to do the next three weeks if they're to achieve their goal of winning the state meet.
DVCC finished fifth out of 14 teams in the elite race of the Doug Conley Invitational in Tempe on Saturday, Oct. 15. Carter Macey again led the way for DVCC, finishing fifth in 16 minutes, 22.29 seconds. Fellow juniors Ryan Dykstra (17:08.44 for 25th) and Zach Smith (17:26.83 for 38th) finished in the top 40, senior Nick Kooinga was 49th and sophomore Andrew Hermanski completed the top five scorers in 55th place.
Jacob Walimaa (17:32.09) won the JV race and Tyler Bonebright (17:45.70) finished fourth, helping the Thunder to third place. Both their times would have been in DVCC's top five for the varsity race. Troy Giordano (ninth), Austin Tielke (18th), Austin Aguinaga (22nd), Kyle Havriliak (26th), Spencer Clason (27th) and Mitchell Bogushefsky (29th) gave DVCC eight runners in the top 30.
Gilbert Highland (106 points), Mesa Mountain View (124), Chinle (124) and Brophy (135) all finished ahead of DVCC (164) and must be overcome to win the state meet on Nov. 4.