The Desert Vista Boys Cross Country squad ran a great race and placed second in the 2013 Arizona Division I State Meet Saturday, Nov. 9, in Phoenix. This was the fourth runner-up finish for the Thunder overall, and its eleventh top-3 finish in the past twelve years.
Coach Chris Hanson’s squad set a school record for its fastest cumulative time ever on the State Meet Course at Cave Creek Golf Course. All five scoring Thunder Runners placed in the top 25.
Sophomore sensation Xavier Esparza led the way with a sixth-place finish in a time of 16:11. He was followed to the tape by a pair of departing Seniors: Team Captain Jacob Walimaa, who finished 15th with a time of 16:22 and Alec Hoyt, who finished 18th with a time of 16:29. Two Juniors were close behind: Kyle Havriliak, a two-time Son of Thunder who finished 23rd with a time of 16:36, and first-time Son of Thunder Ben Davis, an impressive newcomer who finished 25th with a time of 16:37. Also running in their first State Meet were a pair of upcoming Sophomores: DJ Harris, who finished 44th with a time of 17:04 and Matt Anciaux, who finished 128th with a time of 18:28.