In a repeat of last year’s state championship, Desert Vista Cross Country finished a close second to Gilbert Highland at the 18th annual Chandler Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 8.
Xavier Esparza won the freshman race and Matt Anciaux, Chris O’Brien and D.J. Harris gave DVCC four of the top eight freshmen finishers. Kyle Havriliak was fourth in the sophomore contest. Andrew Hermanski was DV’s top finisher in the junior race and Carter Macey was third out of 120 seniors in the final race.
“We accomplished what we set out to do,” Coach Chris Hanson said. “For some, it was racing and for some, it was training.”
Coach Hanson had his varsity sit this meet out and had them instead run from the Desert Vista campus to Tumbleweed Park in Chandler (about 12 miles) to get in a long workout a week in advance of one of the nation’s biggest meets. DVCC will be taking 50 runners to the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in Irvine, Calif., on Sept. 15.