Desert Vista (AZ) Boys -- NXR Southwest team scores and results
The team no one expected to get into NXN may have the best shot among all the wild cards to succeed.
But the big question that remains for this Arizona program will be whether the team can transition to tougher conditions in Portland.
The numbers certainly say it should happen. In a virtual meet pitting all 22 teams against each other's career PRs, Desert Vista was third overall.
Getting to the podium in Portland won't be that easy, but here's what we know: The Thunder accomplished its first ever four-peat in Arizona and only graduated one senior from their seven-man squad from last year.
Senior Reece Donihi has been the low stick for the Thunder for much of the season, running a 5K PR of 15:18.40 in September at the Desert Twilight Festival. It's there where Desert Vista finished first and ahead of NXR South third-place El Paso Eastwood.
The Thunder also earned a second-place nod at Woodbridge in California behind Great Oak and ahead of Dublin (CA), Long Beach Poly (CA), and NXN qualifier Southlake Carroll (TX).
At the Division I Arizona state cross country championships, the program scored 34 points (Brophy College Prep was second with 130) and registered a 25-second spread and 16:09 average.
If Desert Vista can transition smoothly to Portland's variables, they could find themselves with a stellar team finish.
Related Links: