ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Danica Ganje: The Tempe Corona del Sol junior led the Aztecs to the Central Region championship with her individual win last weekend at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. Ganje finished the 3.1-mile race in 20:08, and the Aztecs totalled 28 points to get past Chandler Basha at 55. Coach John Drury thinks this is just the start for Ganje. “During the offseason she really fell in love with running. She has really exploded this season, and she will only get better,” Drury said.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Many East Valley runners and teams earned championships at their respective region meets held last week. Some raised a few eyebrows while others were predictable. In the boys 5A-I Fiesta Region meet, it wasn’t a surprise Cory Breinholt won, but the Gilbert Highland super sophomore still had an impressive time of 16:54. In the girls race, Chandler Hamilton’s Taylor Cole continued her solid season with an individual title and nearly got the Huskies a team championship, falling just short to Highland, 56-51. In the 4A-II East Sky Region, Queen Creek’s Sherod Hardt got himself ready for a run at a state title by winning the region, and freshman Taylor DeLaVeaga took the girls title. Queen Creek swept the team titles as well. Derek Stanek continued to impress, as the Scottsdale Horizon sophomore won the 5A-II Pima Region title at Gilbert’s Freestone Park. In the girls race, Phoenix Pinnacle made it look easy, claiming six of the top seven places to finish with 16 points and earn the team crown. And in the usually ultracompetitive 5A-I Central Region, Phoenix Desert Vista’s boys and Corona’s girls had relatively easy team wins. The Thunder boys grabbed third through sixth place to turn back second-place Corona, while the Aztec girls had five in the top 10 to cruise past runner-up Basha. Scottsdale Saguaro’s girls took care of business in the Desert Sky Region by earning four of the top six individual spots. Carolyn Brown led the Sabercats with an individual title, and now the team has its sights set on Glendale Sandra Day O’Connor and the 4A-I state championship.

LOOKING AHEAD

The prep season concludes this weekend with the state meets. All classes will compete throughout Saturday at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.

5A-I girls: Phoenix Xavier enters the girls 5A-I state race as the prohibitive favorite. Considering the Gators are the defending state champs, the top-ranked team and have the state’s elite runner in junior Jessica Tonn, the moniker is well deserved. But there are a couple of teams — namely Mesa Mountain View and Tempe Corona del Sol — that could make things interesting. “We know we have to be ready,” Xavier coach Dave Van Sickle said. “The thing about the state meet is anything can happen. Anything.” Corona coach Jon Drury said his team is as ready as it will ever be. Considering his team placed seven in the top 12 at last week’s Central Region meet, he has reason to be confident. “We want to bring home a trophy (top three),” Drury said. “Who knows? We feel ready. Let’s see what happens.”

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