HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —The Coconino Community College Cross Country program raced Friday at the Southern Showcase, hosted by Jacksonville State University at John Hunt Park — the same course that will host the NJCAA National Championships this November. Racing through hot, humid conditions far removed from Flagstaff’s altitude and dry air, both Comets squads gained invaluable firsthand experience on the course they’ll return to chase a national title.
The men’s team placed sixth of 28 teams with 251 points, finishing ahead of Presbyterian, Wallace State, West Alabama, and more than a dozen other programs from across the Southeast. Pima (Ariz.) CC won the team title with 23 points, followed by Concord (113) and Union (Tenn.) (140). Entering the race ranked 11th nationally in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll, the Comets outscored three ranked programs on the day — No. 2 Wallace State-Hanceville (271 points), No. 12 Shelton State (310 points), and No. 18 Pellissippi State (543 points) — with only Pima (No. 15) and Daytona State (No. 5) finishing ahead of Coconino CC among the ranked field.
Freshman Ian Masayesva once again led the Comets, finishing 16th overall in 26:24.6 — a personal best and his third straight race pacing the team. Brandon Joe followed close behind in 27th with a personal-best 26:59.4.
Edgar Avila Mendoza, the Comets’ returning 2025 Region 1 champion, posted a season-best 27:12.9 to finish 30th, giving Coconino CC three runners inside the top 30 of a stacked, 28-team field that included the nation’s No. 2-ranked team.
Elijah Talkalai (28:30.6, personal best), Cedric Johnson (28:52.9, personal best), Rylan Bia (29:26.5, personal best), and Max Reid (30:20.2, personal best) rounded out the Comets’ effort, with every scoring and non-scoring runner in Coconino CC’s lineup posting a personal best on the day.
The women’s team finished 23rd of 26 teams with 581 points. Alabama A&M won the team title with 48 points, followed by Pima (Ariz.) CC (72) and Carson-Newman (114).
Lillie Dyer led the Comets with a season best 21:39.1, finishing 74th overall. Saige Sloan was next across the line in 88th, also posting a season best in 22:01.7.
Bailey Cunyus (24:09.6), Uriah Garcia (27:07.3), and Cadence Antonio (32:15.9) each posted personal-best times to round out the Comets’ scoring effort.
Friday’s race offered a genuine dress rehearsal for the national championship course this November. Every Comet who finished the race walked away banking course knowledge and race experience that will pay dividends when the team returns to John Hunt Park in November with a national title on the line.
