The Scorpions of the cross-country team ended the 2012 season with a bit of disappointment, but a trip to state, nonetheless.

With high expectations at the beginning of the year, the Sedona Red Rock High School team looked solid in the first half of the season, but unforeseen injuries, particularly on the girls’ side, hindered the runners as a team for the regional and state meets. Head Coach Harry Schneider knew the number of runners would be the biggest obstacle the team would face this season.

“These kids are good runners,” Schneider said at the beginning of the season. “Our only problem is our numbers.”

In order to win meets and championships, a cross-country team needs to earn points based on where each runner places. The more runners a team has, the better the chance of winning the state meet.

Five is the minimum number of runners to compete as a team. The girls only had three in the regional and state meets. Nevertheless, they were the top three Scorpions girl runners and they placed high individually.

The Division IV Section I regional meet was Oct. 26 at the Hidden Cove Golf Course in Holbrook. Scorpions senior Mykala Seresun placed second out of 69 runners in the 3.18-mile race, averaging a 6:14.8 mile and finishing with a 19:24.27 time.

The first-place finisher was freshman Nikesha Eagleman of Ganado High School. She finished in 19:16.91.

SRRHS seniors Taylor Gage and Eva Wilson finished fifth and seventh with 20:37.76 and 20:54.67 times, respectively.

The boys had a full team with seven runners. They placed third as a team with 85 points at the

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 14, issue of the Red Rock News.