Desert Vista Girls Cross Country

The DVCC Girls traveled to Southern California on Saturday, September 20th for the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, a huge meet that draws the Best of the West. In the Seniors/Juniors Race, DVCC turned in fifth-place finish, led by Co-Captain Izzy Villarreal who took medalist honors with a time of 18:24. In the Sophomores Race, the Thunder took second place, led by Kendyl Taylor, who won the race with a time of 18:03. In the Freshmen Race, the Thunder grabbed 6th overall, led by Samantha Botzler in 27th place with a time of 21:17.

On Saturday, September 13th, the DVCC Girls made the short trip up I-17 to Anthem to compete in the Boulder Creek Invitational. The DVCC Varsity squad raced to a 1st-place finish in the Varsity Race, led by sophomore Kendyl Taylor, who took medalist honors with a time of 18:49. Senior Bella Collins took second place overall (24:22) to lead the Thunder JV to a first-place finish in the Open race. The Thunder completed their sweep of the days events by winning the Freshmen Race, with Samantha Botzler taking first place overall with a time of 21:46.

The DVCC Girls travelled to Freestone Park in Gilbert, AZ on Friday morning September 5th to compete in the Western Equinox Cross Country Festival. In the Championship race, the Thunder were led to a 5th-place finish by sophomore Kendyl Taylor, whose time of 19:16 was good for 10th place overall. In the Open Race, DVCC captured 11th-place overall, led by junior Laniya Begody who placed 5th with a time of 22:19. The Thunder took fourth place the Freshmen race, led by Gianna Johnson, who placed 12th overall with a time of 23:01.

On Saturday morning August 30th, the DVCC Girls kicked off their 2025 season at the 31st Annual Chandler Invitational. In the series of class-based races, the DVCC Seniors were led to an 2nd-place finish by Team Co-Captain Lydia Leeman, who placed 6th with a time of 20:10. DVCC took 12th in the Juniors race, led by Laniya Begody in 29th (22:41). The Thunder grabbed second place in the Sophomore Race, led by Kendyl Taylor in 4th (19:49). Samantha Botzler finished 12th with a time of 22:40 to lead the DVCC Girls to a fourth-place finish in the Freshman Race.

Congratulations to the DVCC Captains for 2025:

• Lydia Leeman
• Izzy Villarreal

On Saturday Nov 2nd, 2024, the Desert Vista Girls Cross Country team took ninth place at the 2024 Arizona State D1 Cross Country Championship. Freshman Kendyl Taylor led DVCC with a 40th-place finish overall, crossing the line in 20:29. She was followed by junior Lydia Leeman in 45th (20:36), freshman Bailey Orr in 57th (20:54), and freshman Jocelyn Prather in 74th (21:23). Sophomore Laniya Begody completed the scoring in 80th (21:29). Also competing were junior Izzy Villarreal in 124th (23:24) and senior co-captain Dana Pivin (DNF). Read more...