On Saturday, November 22, the highest ranked high school cross country teams from Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada gathered in Tempe, Arizona for the 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships. The top two teams, and top five individuals from non-qualifying teams, in the Girls and Boys Championship races, earned the right to compete in the Nike Cross Nationals Championship meet in Portland, Oregon on December 6. In addition, four at large teams nationally will be selected to compete, based on a point scoring system.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships ***

In contrast to last year’s runaway record-breaking performances, the individual winners of both championship races this year were decided in the final meters. Dart Schwaderer from Wheat Ridge edged out Jon Nelson from Timpview, 15:14.98 to 15:15.73 in the Boys Championship race. In the final meters of the Girls Championship race, Laura Tremblay from the Eagles XC Club surged past local favorite Jessica Tonn from the Xavier TC by three one hundredths of a second, 17:40.20 to 17:40.23.

Click here for 2008 NXN Southwest Regional Championships results

I recently had an opportunity to experiment with taking product photos for a friend’s Web site. We set up a makeshift tabletop studio, using household lights and ordinary materials. Taking pictures in a studio environment was an entertaining and educational change of pace. What a novel concept, capturing images of stationary subjects!

*** Click here to view Flip-Shine product photos ***

On November 8, hundreds of Arizona high school harriers descended upon the Cave Creek Golf Course for a full day of sun, hills, and competition at the 2008 AIA State Cross Country Tournament.

*** Click here to view photos from the 2008 AIA State Cross Country Tournament ***

Click here for 2008 AIA State Cross Country Tournament results (on Arizonatrack.com)

In the Boys 4A Division II race, Brian Shrader, a junior from Sinagua High School, surged past early leader Tim Freriks to claim the first individual title of the day. Rio Rico captured the team title.

Christina Price from Sabino High School claimed the Girls 4A Division I title, while Sandra Day O’Connor captured the team title.

Ryan Yazzie and Billy Orman, Tuba City’s dynamic duo, swept the top two individual places on the podium and led Tuba City to the Boys 3A team title.

Aeoleone Bristow, a sophomore from Rio Rico, captured the Girls 4A Division II individual title. Flagstaff High School claimed the team title.

Alex Evans from Sabino was the Boys 4A Division I individual champion. Catalina Foothills won the team title.

Rolonda Jumbo, a freshman from Chinle, dominated the Girls 3A race, with the second fastest finishing time of the day, and led Chinle to the team title.

Jorge Martinez from Alhambra held off Carlos Martinez from Dobson and Andrew Kellogg from Desert Vista to claim the Boys 5A Division I individual title. However, Jorge’s individual win wasn’t enough to prevent Desert Vista from winning the team title by two points over Alhambra.

Lacey Kalinen from Pinnacle High School, won the Girls 5A Division II individual title. Ironwood Ridge won the team competiton.

Cody Rosengarten from Tombstone High School was first across the line in the Boys 1A/2A race. Hopi dominated the team competiton, with 28 points.

Jessica Tonn won by over a minute in the Girls 5A Division I race, with the fastest time of the day, and the only sub-18 minute 5K among the female competitors. The 1-2 finish of Tonn and teammate Sarah Penney led Xavier to the team title.

In the final Boys race of the day, Alberto Tellez from Camelback won the 5A Division II individual title. Sunnyside won the team title.

The full day of competition concluded with the Girls 1A/2A race. Andrea Klimowski from Northland Preparatory won the individual title. Hopi placed their five scoring runners in the top-10 to claim the team title.