Junior Luis Valdez continues to be the bright star for Camp Verde High School cross-country as the teams host the Camp Verde Invitational beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.
The Cowboys will host 11 other teams, including cross-Verde Valley rival Sedona Red Rock High School and lifetime members Alhambra and Apache Junction high schools, at the invitational.
“They’re the two teams that have come every year,” said Mike O’Callaghan, head coach of the Cowboys cross-country teams. “Sedona, it will be their first time here. Coconino’s taking their top seven kids out to California, but the rest are coming here.
“We’re such a young team that we’re avoiding Flagstaff this year, but we’ve got a few meets where we know we’re going to have really tough competition.”
O’Callaghan starts the Camp Verde Invitational course at Sam Hammerstrom Field and runs a 5K up CV Hill across Apache Trail from the back of the CVHS campus.
“Why wouldn’t I?” O’Callaghan said. “It’s not going to change.
“Personally, I am not a golf course-type guy. I’ve always tried to make it from the school. If it’s cross-country, it’s cross-country where we’re at.”
Arizona State University, Anthem and Greyhills preparatory academies also join Coconino, St. Mary’s Catholic, Valley Christian, Wickenburg and Flagstaff Basis high schools at the invitational.
