In the final cross-country race of their high school careers, Sedona Red Rock High School seniors Natalie Cox and Tia Myers medaled with times in the top 16 on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Division IV state 5K at Cave Creek Golf Course.
Cox crossed the finish line one second over 20 minutes to finish fourth among all girls runners, then Myers came in a minute-and-a-half later in 16th place.
“I am proud of both of them for their accomplishments this season,” head coach Taryn Kunkel said. “I have a great relationship with both girls and they will be missed.
“Honestly, I was impressed by every one of the kids — by Natalie’s determination to dominate [and] by Tia’s heart to run her best even in the midst of discomfort.”
Sophomore Wyatt Stevenson overcame his discomfort with the course to finish 20th, which led the boys team, which finished 22nd overall. Stevenson’s 17:37 pace was one second too slow to medal, a fact that will motivate him until track season in the spring, he said.
“At the end, I passed 11 kids down the straightaway, and the kid in front of me was one second faster or I would’ve medaled,” Stevenson said. “I was 23 seconds off my [personal record]. If this was a flat track, I would’ve done a lot better.”
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Nov. 12, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
