Globe hosts spirited cross country meet at High Desert

The trails around High Desert Middle School were buzzing with energy on Tuesday, October 1, as runners from Globe, Miami, San Carlos, and Florence High Schools laced up for a full afternoon of competition and camaraderie. With clear skies, a light breeze, and plenty of cheering fans, the meet was a great showcase of grit and teamwork.

The Boys 5k kicked off the day. Blayze Coronel of Florence set the tone early and held on for the overall win, crossing the line in 19:39.1. The chase behind him was tight, with Aden Patterson and Kris Church from San Carlos battling stride for stride and finishing second and third. Aiden Burdette, Dakota Edwards, and Kevin Church placed sixth, eighth and tenth respectively to help the Braves lock in the team win.

Miami’s Beau Dickison and Rudy Dozal both cracked the top five, showing consistency and teamwork for the Vandals. Globe runners Barbarino Gilbert and Karmyne Dude led the Tigers’ effort, finishing seventh and ninth. Their teammates Michael Hogan, Ethan Verdugo, and Rayvon Sanchez rounded out the lineup, helping Globe secure second place in the boys’ team standings behind San Carlos.

The Girls 5K was equally exciting, and it was Globe’s Freshman Laak’os Parsons who set the pace early and never looked back, taking first place with a time of 25:23.7. San Carlos runners followed strong, led by Samirah Ailak in second and Daisy Simmons of Florence close behind in third.

San Carlos showed impressive depth on the girls’ side, with Mia Garibay, Kayetin Keton, Seanice Patten, and Myhkal Patten all finishing in the top seven to help secure the team win. Globe’s Carina Garcia-Angeles and Sage Parsons finished eighth and tenth, respectively, contributing to a second-place team finish for the Lady Tigers, while Florence placed third.

For Globe, the meet also highlighted the steady growth of its young runners — Elianna Dillon-Lott, Alexis Garcia, and Pollen Nosie all ran solid races and continue to gain valuable experience in the 5K distance.

In team results, San Carlos swept the meet, taking first in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. Globe earned runner-up honors in each, while Florence and Miami each had standout individual performances.

Globe High School Cross Country Coach Arleth Martinez after the meet said, “I would like to thank the volunteers for helping me put this meet together. I would especially like to thank the timers. They have a tough job. To all the runners, great work! It is a tough course and everyone ran strong!”

Overall, it was a day of strong finishes, sportsmanship, and community pride. Whether it was underclassmen crossing the line or seasoned athletes setting new personal bests, every school had something to celebrate under the Arizona sun.