By JOSHUA SHAVER
Pima Community College is running away from the competition.
Last season, Pima went all the way to the NJCAA Nationals. Pima eventually ended up losing to Iowa Community College, but it is on a fast track for similar, if not more, success.
Can Pima duplicate its success from last year, or can it at least improve from its 16th place showing?
At the Dave Murphy Invitational, women and men competed against a number of schools.
In the women’s 5K (3.1 miles), sophomore Iriana Sanchez finished in 28th place with a time of 23 minutes, 58 seconds.
Her friend and teammate Rainbow Hoss placed behind her at 24 minutes, 4 seconds.
While the women showed up, the men also showed their grit running the 7K (4.35 miles) race.
Sophomore Juan Miranda was the top finisher for the Aztecs and finished in 31st place with a time of 26 minutes, 41 seconds.
Pima rounded out the pack as freshman Alex Corrales finished in 36th with a time of 29 minutes, 10 seconds; followed behind by freshman Zach Zobak at 29 minutes, 36 seconds at 37th; and sophomore Aaron Espinoza came in 38th at 30 minutes, 12 seconds.
Pima performed exceptionally at the George Kyte Classic Track and Field in Flagstaff. The Aztecs had two runners finish in the Top 10 and was one of two teams to accomplish that.
Janae Quihuis finished seventh with a time of 19 minutes and 18 seconds, with an average mile time of 7 minutes, 25 seconds.
Following behind her in ninth place, Iriana Sanchez clocked a time of 19 minutes, 34 seconds with an average mile of 7:31.
The Aztecs look to keep up the action as they hit the road Sept. 28 to Mesa for the ACCAC Conference Championships.