.jpg)
Photo by Margot Kelly Photography LLC
The Desert Vista Thunder loses a low stick in nine-time Arizona state champion Dani Jones, but they already have a new Jones leading the squad - that's rising junior Baylee. She leads the team with personal bests of 17:39 for 5k, 16:58 for 3 miles, 10:36 for 3200m and 4:55 for 1600m.
But the Thunder is truly a well-experienced squad. Minus Jones, they return five varsity runners who ran to a fifth-place finish at NXN last year. They are the No. 5 ranked returning team in the nation based on returning 3200m times and the No. 2 ranked returning team in the nation by 3 mile times.
The trio of Amanda Davis, Haley Wolf and Emily Crall ran similar times just off the back of Jones as all three were 5:10 or faster for 1600m and under 11:10 for 3200m this spring. If those three can pack up close to Jones, they will be a truly dangerous squad. But who is No. 5? Mason Swenson had a slightly off spring, but if the rising senior can regain some of her form from the past (sub-5 1600m, sub-11 3200m credentials), the Thunder could be the vying for another top five spot. Don't count out a new face, either - head coach Jeff Messer says there are 13 ladies competing for the top seven spots. And in only his third year at the program, the Thunder are already a perennial contender.
Top Returnees from 2014 XC Season:
| 1) Baylee Jones | 17:39.88 | 14 | ||
| 2) Amanda Davis | 18:02.13 | 46 | ||
| 3) Haley Wolf | 18:03.39 | 50 | ||
| 4) Mason Swenson | 18:58.08 | 318 | ||
| 5) Madeline Bucci | 18:58.33 | 319 | ||
| Average Time: 18:20.36 Total Time: 1:31:41.80 1-5 Split: 1:18.45 | ||||
| 6) Emily Smith | 19:13.00 | 435 | ||
| 7) Sabrina Camino | 19:22.94 | 520 | ||
| Top Returning 3200m Times from 2015 Outdoor Season: | ||||
| 1) Baylee Jones | 10:36.68 | 13 | ||
| 2) Haley Wolf | 10:59.85 | 60 | ||
| 3) Emily Crall | 11:05.55 | 77 | ||
| 4) Amanda Davis | 11:08.37 | 81 | ||
| 5) Emily Smith | 11:56.66 | 351 | ||
| Average Time: 11:09.42 Total Time: 55:47.11 1-5 Split: 1:19.98 | ||||
| 6) Madeline Bucci | 12:04.85 | 418 | ||
| 7) Kellie Cameron | 12:26.08 | 582 | ||
| Top Returning 1600m Times from 2015 Outdoor Season: | |||
| 1) Baylee Jones | 4:55.78 | 16 | ||
| 2) Amanda Davis | 4:55.98 | 18 | ||
| 3) Emily Crall | 5:10.49 | 106 | ||
| 4) Haley Wolf | 5:10.78 | 110 | ||
| 5) Madeline Bucci | 5:21.47 | 250 | ||
| Average Time: 5:06.90 Total Time: 25:34.50 1-5 Split: 25.69 | ||||
| 6) Kellie Cameron | 5:28.66 | 365 | ||
In the 10 day span between Sunday, August 16 and Monday, August 24, MileSplit will release the Pre-Season National XC Team Rankings for Boys and Girls. The No. 1 team will be released on Tuesday, August 25 along with the Pre-Season Saucony Flo50 Team Rankings, which includes the Top 25 teams for each gender. Selections are made by the MileSplit national team, including insight and input from state web masters, and based on 2014 final rankings, placement at 2014 NXN, number and quality of returning runners, improvement during track season and tradition of excellence.