Christina Romero attends Rio Rico High School and is a member of the AIA's Student SID Program.

 

In a triumphant performance, the Hawks emerged victorious in the AIA Sectionals to defend their Division III South Championship for the third year in a row. The stunning achievement has secured Rio Rico’s qualification for the AIA State Championships, setting up the opportunity for the Hawks to compete against the best runners in the state.

A three-peat in any sport is no easy accomplishment - even Patrick Mahomes is yet to achieve this impressive feat! For the Hawks, the achievement is a testament to the relentless effort it has taken over the years to reach this milestone.

“Our top runners [Julian Guillermo, Isabella Bravo] have really blossomed this year,” says Stephen Schadler, the head cross country coach at Rio Rico High School. "I want them to be confident, and I want them to know that they’re more than ready to meet their goals.”

The preparation for this event begins during the summer months, in a process that Schadler describes as a “slow and steady pyramid” toward November. The main goal of their training is to be as prepared as possible for the AIA Sectional that is hosted by the school annually - a chance to showcase the hardworking and determined mindset of the Hawks. Each year, the runners begin building their foundation for success by meeting twice a week in June and three times a week in July, steadily developing their confidence and skills for the season and the crucial home-hosted sectional. Schadler believes that both Julian Guillermo and Isabella Bravo “personify” the pyramid method that has helped Rio Rico sustain their cross country success.

Isabella Bravo, who came into this race as the defending champion, finished in first place with a final time of 19:58.10. The win was a remarkable display of her dedication that she has maintained since running as a freshman. “It has been really nice to see her grow in confidence since the start,” maintains Coach Schadler, who has worked with her since her freshman year.

“It was hard sometimes, but at times like this when I can just sit back and see all the work come into a reality, it makes it all worth it,” remarked Isabella Bravo after her win. “It just feels good, and it's a great thing for the school and the boys team as well.”

Julian Guillermo, who began running cross country his sophomore year, also took first place with a final time of 16:23.20 - the best time of all boys races at the sectional. The achievement highlights his perseverance that has helped him achieve rapid success in the sport. “He has really bought all in, and just does everything that we have ever asked of him,” states Coach Schadler.

“We always strive to do better than we did before,” declared Julian Guillermo after securing the win, “Every time we set a new bar, we take that bar, destroy it, and then we make an even higher one.” 

Both runners plan to use what they have learned from the sport to benefit them in the future. Isabella Bravo has expressed her desire to hopefully run in college, and Julian Guillermo hopes he can “continue to do the best I can, whether it’s in running or life in general.”

Coach Schadler has emphasised the team's unwavering work ethic and commitment that has brought them the success to thrive in the demanding sport. As they advance to the AIA State Championships, which will be held on November 15th at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix, the runners will undoubtedly bring enormous pride to the Hawks cross country program in their pursuit of another victorious race.