Considering the Phoenix Desert Vista boys cross country team won state titles in 2005 and 2006 and was the runner-up last season, it’s difficult to call the Thunder underdogs.

SLIDESHOW: 2008 Arizona High School Cross Country Championships

But that’s the mindset the team took into Saturday’s Class 5A-I state meet held at Cave Creek Golf Course.

The strategy worked as Desert Vista edged defending state champ Phoenix Alhambra by two points (96-98) for its third title in four years.

“I much prefer coming from behind,” Thunder coach Chris Hanson said of his team’s us-against-the-world mentality. “I can’t watch the finish. My heart can’t take it.”

Andrew Kellogg paced the Thunder with a third-place individual finish in 16 minutes, 5.85 seconds.

But it was Albert Kombe’s 27th place finish that gave the Thunder a four-point lead after four of the five runners had been scored. Alhambra’s fourth runner placed 29th and the Thunder held on from there.

“We took the approach that we did not care if we won or lost,” Kellogg said. “We just wanted to give our best. We didn’t have the best meets all season, but we definitely knew we could win this one.”

The Thunder finished with five runners in the top 32, while Alhambra had five in the top 30. But Adam Estavillo placed ninth in the No. 2 spot, compared to Alhambra’s No. 2 George Ramirez at 14th.

“We really had everyone step up,” said Hanson, whose teams were favored entering the previous two title years. “When kids step up and exceed your expectations, and theirs, it’s magical.”

Gilbert Highland turned in a solid meet and finished third with 152 points. Tucson Salpointe Catholic placed fourth (159) and Mesa Mountain View, the top-ranked team entering the day, finished fifth (173).

Jon Brown and Cory Breinholt placed seventh and eighth, respectively, for Highland, while D.J. Johnson finished 10th for Mountain View.

Mesa Dobson’s Carlos Martinez capped his solid career with a runner-up finish in 16:05.7, sprinting past Kellogg in the final 25 meters. Martinez trailed only Alhambra’s Jorge Martinez (16:03), who he ran shoulder-to-shoulder with for much of the race.

“You always have to go into a race wanting first-place,” Martinez said. “I didn’t always do that which is why I didn’t always run very well.”

The Martinez pair blistered the field with a 4:47 first mile. Carlos Martinez said he had to start that fast in order to have a chance.

“I wish I could have gone faster,” he said.

5A-II

In the boys 5A-II race, Tucson Sunnyside earned the team title with 60 points. Phoenix Camelback was second with 110.

Phoenix Pinnacle finished sixth with 197 and Scottsdale Horizon was ninth at 273.

Derek Stanek led Horizon with a sixth-place effort in 17:10.

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