Arizona runners get unexpected challenger in state championship race by nevel
Top runners often need special motivation to reach their goals. Some of Arizona’s best prep cross country athletes got that and more during the Arizona Interscholastic Association Cross Country State Championships. As reported by the Arizona Republic and Runners World, among other outlets, a coyote jumped into the middle of the race course between the two front runners during the AIA championship race at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix. According to Runners World, at one point the coyote nearly pulled even with the race leader, Catalina Foothills High (Tucson) senior Harvey Nelson. Luckily, that’s about as much as the coyote got up to. Despite large crowds on both sides of the course, the wild animal quietly slipped off the course after running approximately 50 meters, disappearing into the brush never to be seen again. "I think he was looking for The Road Runner, but he was no where to be found," AIA chief operating officer Chuck Schmidt joked to the Republic. ...