By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here are 10 storylines to follow Friday at the 16th annual Desert Twilight Festival at Coyote Run Golf Course at Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona.

Engelhardt pursuing exceptional double

Sadie Engelhardt has experienced plenty of success on the track in Arizona in recent years, with the sophomore standout from Ventura High in California crossing state lines to compete at the Desert Dream Last Hurrah in 2020, along with racing at Sundown Showdown events and the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational in 2021.

Engelhardt will look to make a big impact again competing under the lights in the girls sweepstakes race Friday at Coyote Run Golf Course at Leisure World in Mesa.

Engelhardt is not only looking to become the first California female athlete in meet history to secure a sweepstakes victory, but also trying to become the first girls competitor to triumph in the sweepstakes races at both the Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS and Desert Twilight Festival, widely regarded as the two elite evening high school cross country competitions in the United States.

Engelhardt prevailed Sept. 16 at Great Park in Irvine, Calif., running the fastest 3-mile effort at any venue in meet history by clocking 15 minutes, 42.6 seconds.

Engelhardt will look to challenge the meet’s all-time 5-kilometer performance of 16:23.4 established in 2015 by former Air Academy of Colorado standout Katie Rainsberger, who achieved the mark at the Grande Sports World Complex in Casa Grande.

California commanded the spotlight in 2020, when the meet was split into high school and unattached sections, along with being held at The Links Golf Course in San Tan Valley.

Newbury Park captured the boys unattached team title, with Colin Sahlman securing the individual victory. Sahlman, the fastest prep 5-kilometer cross country athlete in history, is now a freshman at Northern Arizona.

Great Oak earned the girls unattached team win, although Emily Van Valkenburg of Eastlake High in Washington was the individual champion, leaving the opportunity open for Engelhardt to make history as the first California female athlete to secure a sweepstakes victory in Arizona.

Colorado trio ready to clash for sweepstakes crown

Niwot High became the first Colorado boys team to capture a sweepstakes championship in meet history last year.

The Cougars have an opportunity Friday to become the first boys program to repeat as sweepstakes champions, but they will need to rebound following an 86-91 setback Sept. 17 to fellow Colorado power Mountain Vista at the St. Vrain Invitational at Lyons High.

In order to capture back-to-back sweepstakes crowns, Niwot will need to hold off Colorado rivals Cherokee Trail and Valor Christian.

Cherokee Trail prevailed by an 88-110 margin Sept. 10 against Valor Christian at the Liberty Bell Invitational, led by senior Hunter Strand placing second overall on the 5-kilometer layout at Heritage High in Littleton in 14:50.3. Dane Eike was third for Valor Christian in 14:54.1.

Following the graduation of last year’s individual sweepstakes winner Zane Bergen, now a freshman at Stanford, Niwot is relying on a cohesive pack, as freshman Rocco Culpepper has emerged for the Cougars, providing strong support up front for senior Carlos Kipkorir Cheruiyot.

Cherokee Trail was fourth in last year’s boys sweepstakes race, with Valor Christian making its first appearance at the event since 2019.

Fort Collins took third at Liberty Bell and is led by individual winner Christian Groendyk, who clocked 14:48.0, and is among the leading contenders to triumph in Arizona.

New location, same ambition for Ping

Lauren Ping has an opportunity to become the first athlete in meet history to win sweepstakes titles for two different schools, following her offseason transfer to Valley Christian High in Arizona.

Ping, an Oklahoma State commit, prevailed for Desert Vista High in last year’s sweepstakes at The Links Golf Course in 16:40.31 and will also attempt to become the meet’s only competitor to secure victories at multiple venues.

Sarah Fakler of Xavier College Prep in Arizona won all three of her sweepstakes titles at Toka Sticks Golf Course from 2010-12 and Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy in Colorado captured back-to-back crowns in 2014 and 2015 at Grande World Sports Complex in Casa Grande.

Bernie Montoya of Cibola High in Arizona achieved consecutive boys sweepstakes wins in 2011-12 at Toka Sticks, with Daniel Bernal of El Paso Eastwood earning back-to-back individual titles in 2015-16 at Grande World Sports Complex.

Ping has raced only once this season, clocking 17:58.9 to win the 5-kilometer race Sept. 10 at the Fountain Hills Invitational.

She also has the potential to become the only female athlete to produce four consecutive sub-17 performances in meet history, and would achieve the feat on a third different 5-kilometer course.

Ping placed second in the 2019 girls sweepstakes in 16:49.13 at Grande World Sports Complex, then ran 16:57.2 to earn runner-up in 2020 at The Links Golf Course, before winning last year.

Ping, the reigning Division 1 state champion, is expected to be joined in the sweepstakes race by Division 2 winner Mia Hall of Flagstaff, as well as Division 3 title holder Kylie Wild of Salpointe Catholic.

Hall was 10th and Wild placed 20th in last year’s sweepstakes race.

Jamison Ping, Lauren’s freshman brother, is scheduled to represent Valley Christian in the boys sweepstakes race. 

Mora embracing more competition

Ben Shearer of The Woodlands Christian and Daniel Bernal of El Paso Eastwood are the only Texas male athletes in meet history to secure the individual sweepstakes title, but senior David Mora of Lubbock Monterey is capable of joining that group after an impressive start to the season.

Mora has achieved multiple victories, including Aug. 27 at the Southlake Carroll Invitational by covering the 5-kilometer layout in 14:46.2.

He faced his toughest test Saturday at the McNeil Invitational, with Kevin Sanchez of Austin Vandegrift holding off Mora by a 14:24.1 to 14:30.3 margin on the 3-mile course.

Mora could also help Texas capture sweepstakes titles at a third different venue, with Bernal winning at the Grande World Sports Complex in 2015-16 by running 15:00.8 and 14:45.6, respectively, and Shearer edging Judson Greer of Melissa High by a 14:39.6 to 14:45.9 margin at The Links Golf Course in 2020.

Daniel Romero of Tornillo High is another talented Texas competitor scheduled to compete in the boys sweepstakes race, boasting a personal-best 15:39.6 performance on the 5-kilometer course to win Sept. 17 at the Tornillo/San Elizario Invitational.

Christopher Moreno of San Elizario High in Texas is also expected to compete in the sweepstakes race after finishing 23rd last year.

The opportunity to square off against top Colorado competitors will be a valuable experience for Mora in preparation for the upcoming 5A postseason schedule in Texas.

Niwot seeking another memorable night

Despite having to replace three members of last year’s championship lineup, Niwot is seeking a third sweepstakes title in four years, each at a different venue.

The Cougars became the first Colorado girls program to capture the title in 2019 at Grande World Sports Complex, then prevailed by a 44-77 margin against state rival Arapahoe last year at The Links Golf Course, led by Mia Prok taking third and Stanford commit Madison Shults securing sixth

Niwot will have an opportunity to square off against two other impressive Colorado programs Friday when it matches up against Air Academy and Valor Christian, looking to make it five consecutive years that a girls team from out of state wins the sweepstakes title after Arizona programs secured the first 11 championships.

The Cougars will rely on the depth of a lineup that includes Olivia Alessandrini, Lex Bullen, Cayden Justice, Bella Nelson, Anna Prok, Addison Ritzenhein, Mia Prok and Shults in an effort to offset the strength up front of Wake Forest-bound Brooke Wilson and Keeghan Edwards for Valor Christian, along with Bethany Michalak and Tessa Walter for Air Academy.

Michalak was second last year and Walter finished 17th in the sweepstakes for Air Academy, which secured sixth overall.

Although Valor Christian didn’t compete at Desert Twilight last year, Edwards and Wilson placed second and third in the 5-kilometer championship race at NXR Southwest at Shalimar Country Club in Arizona in November.

Katelyn Maley, a two-time Colorado 3A state champion at Basalt, is also expected to compete in the sweepstakes, along with teammate Ava Lane.

Maelynn Higgins of Broomfield, McKenna Mazeski of Cherokee Trail and Ella Johns of Fort Collins are also Colorado athletes scheduled to participate in the girls sweepstakes.

Hoping to become hometown heroes

Cesar Diaz, a senior at Mingus Union, is the top returning Arizona male competitor in the sweepstakes field, finishing 24th last year in 15:40.19 on the 5-kilometer layout.

But there are several Arizona athletes looking to shine on home soil, including Michael Urbanski of Salpointe Catholic and Brandon Martz of Catalina Foothills.

Martz produced the fastest 3-mile performance Sept. 17 at the 42nd ASICS Mt. Carmel Invitational by clocking 15:12.8 to win the Division 1 senior/invitational race at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego.

Martz finished ninth in the championship race last year at Desert Twilight, but is moving up to face stronger competition in the sweepstakes field.

Urbanski won the Division 2 senior/invitational competition in 15:27.1 at Mt. Carmel, and is looking to improve on a 68th-place finish in the sweepstakes race last season at Desert Twilight.

Ryan Denhof and Jonathan Sweepe of Liberty, Martin Breinholt and Mitchell Jones of Campo Verde, Andrew Gibby of Hamilton, Crewe Resendez of Highland, Cole Troxler of Flagstaff and Stevie Saurini of Desert Vista all return after placing in the top 100 of last year’s sweepstakes race, seeking significant improvements.

Desert Vista took third last year, Flagstaff was fifth and Highland finished sixth overall.

Looking to add to Southeast legacy in Southwest

Whether it’s St. Pius X Catholic of Georgia in the girls sweepstakes race or IMG Academy of Florida in the girls championship race, there are opportunities to add an impressive history of success for athletes and teams from the Southeast in meet history.

Tatum David led IMG Academy to the girls sweepstakes title in 2020, a year after Jenna Hutchins of Science Hill High in Tennessee secured the sweepstakes crown.

Mountain Brook High from Alabama was the first team, regardless of gender, from outside Arizona to win a sweepstakes championship when it captured the 2011 boys title.

St. Pius X Catholic placed eighth Sept. 23 at the Wingfoot XC Classic at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville, Ga., and is led by juniors Zoe Garcia and Jessica Sheehan, along with senior Hannah Schemmel.

IMG Academy was eighth in the sweepstakes race last year, but is one of the leading contenders to capture the championship race title Friday, especially with veterans Layla Haynes, Quinn Nelson, Izabella Toscano and Mia Andreae.

Haynes was 15th in the sweepstakes race last season in 17:40.27, with Nelson, Toscano and Andreae all finishing among the top 150 competitors.

IMG Academy was seventh in the boys sweepstakes last year, but has also decided to pursue the championship race this season, with Isaac Perez and Simeon Hayward returning from last year’s lineup.

Building toward breakthrough performances

Few outside Colorado realized how impressive Connor McCormick of Longmont High was before he competed at The Links Golf Course last year, but his runner-up effort in the boys sweepstakes was the catalyst for a memorable senior year that included him committing to Princeton and capturing the Nike Outdoor Nationals title in the mile in June in Oregon.

A handful of Colorado competitors carry that same potential entering Friday’s event, especially Evan Kraus of Erie High, who followed a fourth-place sweepstakes finish Sept. 10 at the Liberty Bell Invitational by placing second in the 4A/5A race Sept. 17 at the St. Vrain Invitational.

Although Tanner Brown of Chaparral is the reigning Colorado 5A state champion, his junior teammate Brennan Draper could be primed for a strong showing after winning Sept. 2 at the Arapahoe Warrior Invitational and then securing sixth Sept. 10 in the Liberty Bell sweepstakes.

Brown finished 13th in the Liberty Bell sweepstakes, just ahead of another rising Colorado prospect in Valor Christian sophomore Kaeden Dendorfer.

Dominykas Remeikis of Summit High was one of the few Colorado athletes to compete in 2020, winning the championship section in 15:57.0. He was 25th in the sweepstakes race last year in 15:40.22.

Remeikis placed seventh in the Liberty Bell sweepstakes and was 16th in the 4A/5A race at St. Vrain, although he did triumph Sept. 2 at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede.

Waiting for their spotlight

Despite senior Taylor McCue of Catalina Foothills being injured and unable to defend her title in the girls championship race and last season’s team winner Cherokee Trail of Colorado elevating to the sweepstakes race, there are still plenty of capable competitors in the field, including last year’s third-place finisher and 2020 runner-up Evelynne Carr of American Leadership from Queen Creek.

Landen LeBlond of Millennium, Jade Reid of Page, Kimi Cahoon of Phoenix Country Day, Evangeline Dunckley of Saguaro and Alona Haymore of Queen Creek are also impressive Arizona competitors expected to be in the race, as well as Sarah Perkins, Kendall Madine and Lauren Hendershot from Niwot.

Perhaps the most formidable force in the field will be senior Layla Haynes of IMG Academy in Florida, returning to Arizona following a 15th-place effort in the sweepstakes race last year.

Corona del Sol, led by Paige Davies-Boerner, is the top returning team in the girls championship race after placing fourth last year, but IMG Academy could position itself well to secure the title, along with Etiwanda High from California.

American Leadership from Queen Creek captured the girls championship title in 2020, along with Great Oak from California in the unattached section.

Red Mountain eyes another championship peak

Although last year’s individual winner Elijah Davis graduated, Red Mountain High from Arizona is still back in contention in the boys championship race, led by Matthew Hamilton, 12th a year ago, and fellow junior Tyler Mathews, who finished 15th.

Jorge Trujillo-Lira of Rio Rico High in Arizona is back after taking third last year, along with fourth-place finisher Tyler Tisinger of Corona del Sol. Glenn Thomas of Northwest Christian, who finished 87th in the sweepstakes race last season, is also expected to be a top contender.

Shadow Ridge of Nevada, runner-up last season, is also entered in the championship competition, led by senior Ethan Hughes.

The Mustangs ran to an 84-84 result against Shadow Ridge of Arizona last year, but secured second based on a sixth-runner tiebreaker.

Page, which finished fourth last year, also returns and is led by Gavyn Begay.

IMG Academy of Florida will also pursue the boys championship title after placing seventh in the sweepstakes last season, with Isaac Perez the top returnee.

IMG Academy placed second behind Salpointe Catholic of Arizona in the 2020 championship race, as Great Oak prevailed in the unattached section.