Montoya wins second straight cross country title by healthy margin

PHOENIX — A lone figure came into view over the hilltop, running down the final straightaway toward the finish line to claim cross country gold.

Bernie Montoya remained a lone figure for what is, in cross country terms, an eternity.

That's not to say the Cibola junior didn't run into a couple of hiccups on the re-configured layout on his way to his second consecutive state championship at Cave Creek Golf Course on Saturday in the Division I Cross Country State Championships.

Rain late Friday and early Saturday morning caused the small creek running through the course to overflow, necessitating a last-minute course change that pushed the start of the races back an hour.

The adjustment caused Montoya to veer off the course twice and also stay closer to the pack through the first mile-plus.

“I wanted to pull away after the first mile, but I made a couple wrong turns,” Montoya said. “That's kind of what hurt me a bit, but I didn't panic. I was a little freaked out about it, but I calmed down and we all got around it.”

Cibola coach Kris Norton said he wasn't surprised Montoya was able to overcome the wrong turns.

“The most important thing is to win the race and that's what he did today,” Norton said. “He went off the course twice because they had to adjust everything due to rain. Due to those adjustments Bernie got real nervous about going off course so he stayed a little closer to the pack than taking it out hard like we were intending to. He veered off course a couple times, but he paid attention and got back on course quick. Given those types of things that arise and still recovering from them, we're real pleased with that.”

Now Montoya said he's already turned his sights to setting some Arizona history. According to the Arizona Interscholastic League's published records, only one boys' runner has won three state championships — Mesa-Westwood's Chris Schurz from 1986-1988 — while no one has ever won four. Montoya did not run cross country his freshman year, instead electing to play football.

Montoya said staying humble is the key to his quest for three titles.

“Next year I have to come in as the same mentality as the underdog,” Montoya said. “You can't come in with the mindset of a champion or you get too far ahead of yourself. So I'll just train hard and next year will be the big one, hopefully.”