Coming up just short of an individual Division III title in 2023 and 2024, Page cross-country standout Symond Martin is ready to take his place in the Arizona history books when the 2025 Cross-Country State Championships get underway Saturday at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.

Martin said he’s ready to win it all.

“I am going into state with a mindset that I can take it out from the gun and win the state title,” said the senior, who was named 3A North region Runner of the Year this fall.

As a team, Page is the three-time defending state champion and they’ll be going for a fourth straight title, and the program’s 21st overall, which would tie them with Tuba City for second-most cross-country team championships in Arizona history. Hopi is the all-time leader with 27, dominating the 1990s and early 2000s until their last title in 2016.

“If we all put ourselves out there, we will earn the team title for a fourth year in a row,” Martin said. “My favorite part of cross-country is winning the races individually and as a team, and all the activities that me and my team do together during practice and outside of practice.

Martin’s little brother Max, a freshman, is already one of the top runners in the state. And if you include junior Jaiden Jordan, and seniors Desmond Goldtooth, Brydan Bennett and Maximus Reid, the Sand Devils are a formidable team at any state level.

Symond began his cross-country career in the third grade, making early morning runs to continue the longtime tradition of all Page runners, including his father and current head coach, Tim Martin.

“My dad loved running a lot and I just wanted to be like him and win races,” Symond said. “Running for my dad reassures me that I am getting the right training for me to excel in the sport that I’m in.”

A former state champion himself, Tim Martin was an All-American in college running for Northern Arizona University and won a Big Sky individual championship during his time in the Lumberjacks program.

The NAU Hall of Famer (Class of 2005) said he attributes the Sand Devils’ success to the history of the program for the last three decades.

“The standard that has been set for the last 30 years, at Page, kids are expected to win in cross-country, so these student athletes have that mindset from the start,” Tim said. “They know the time it requires to excel and the discipline it takes.”

And when he coaches his children, those “expectations” are no different. In fact, they are likely higher.

“Coaching Symond and Max, [it’s] a little different from other runners. First, my expectations for them are very high, seeing them at home and practice, making sure they are doing the right maintenance and recovery I preach at practice. I think it gives them some advantages,” Tim said. “They do press some buttons on coach sometimes, but overall, it’s been great coaching them.”

NOTES

Hamilton’s Zarian Rodriguez is the defending Division I champ. … Glendale Prep. won its first state title last year and returns all seven varsity runners. The team is led by Tanner Janssen, Daniel Andersen and Luke Webdale, who finished last year with personal bests and within six seconds of each other. … Valley Lutheran’s Benjamin Benally is the defending Division IV champ.

TOP NOTABLE BOYS’ TIMES

DIVISION I

Sr., Zarian Rodriguez, Hamilton, 14:52.1, Desert Twilight

DIVISION II

Jr., Yohanes van Meerten, Flagstaff, 14:25.7, Desert Twilight

DIVISION III

Sr., Symond Martin, Page, 14:43.7, Ojo Rojo Invitational

DIVISION IV

Sr., Benjamin Benally, Valley Lutheran, 15:28.7, Ojo Rojo Invitational

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.