2023 Pima Aztecs Men's Cross Country News

Sophomore Abraham Valenzuela (Palo Verde HS) was the top Pima finisher in 31st place out of 199 runners at the NJCAA Division I National Championships. Freshman Hall Griffith set a season personal-best with a time of 25:22.50 in the 8K race as the Aztecs finished in ninth place in the final team standings (best finish since 2015). Photos by Ben Carbajal and Raymond Suarez
Aztecs Men's Cross Country takes ninth place at NJCAA National Championships

November 11, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team finished in the top 10 for the first time since 2015 on Saturday at the NJCAA Division I National Championships.

Sophomore Abraham Valenzuela (Palo Verde HS) claimed the NJCAA Region I, Division I Individual title while the Aztecs placed second with a score of 30 points. (Left to right) Hall Griffith (7th), Valenzuela (1st), Russell Bauer-Woodman (11th), Justin VanDeberg (10th), Jace Schaub (8th), Declan Jorgenson (4th) and Louis Madrigal-Diaz (12th) earned All-Region honors. Photos by Ray Suarez
Abraham Valenzuela wins Region I title as Aztecs Men's Cross Country takes second at Region I Championships

October 28, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team competed in the NJCAA Region I, Division I Championships on Saturday at Glendale Heroes Regional Park.

The Aztecs Men's Cross Country Team competed at the Highlander Invitational. Four Aztecs set new season PRs in the 8K race as they finished in 15th place with a total of 413 team points. Photo courtesy of Mark Bennett
Four Aztecs set new season records in the 8K race at the Highlander Invitational

October 14, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team competed in the Highlander Invitational on Saturday in Riverside, CA.

The Aztecs men's cross country team took second place with a team score of 33 points. They occupied five of the top 10 individual spots. (Left to right): Dale Snook, Justin VanDeberg (7th), Hall Griffith (3rd), Jace Schaub (10th), Evan Rasoumoff (9th), Declan Jorgenson (4th), Elijah Conroy. Photo courtesy of Mark Bennett.
Five Aztecs place in the Top 10 at the George Young Invitational

October 07, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team competed at the George Young Invitational on Saturday held at Central Arizona College in Coolidge, AZ.

Sophomore Abraham Valenzuela (Palo Verde HS) claimed second place during the 8K (4.97 mile) race with a time of 24:55.0 and earned First Team All-ACCAC conference while freshman Declan Jorgenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) finished 10th at 25:46.0 and earned Second Team All-Conference. The Aztecs finished fourth with 87 points. Photos by Raymond Suarez
Abraham Valenzuela takes runner-up, earns All-Conference along with Declan Jorgenson at ACCAC Championships

September 30, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team took part in the ACCAC Conference Championships on Saturday at Central Arizona College.

Former Pima Community College track & field and cross country head coach and 2013 Pima Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Mielke passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. He =led the men's cross country team to the 1980 NJCAA National Championship and was named National Coach of the Year. His coaching career spanned over 60 years with the Aztecs, Sunnyside Junior High and Sunnyside High School. HOF Photo by Ray Suarez 2013. National Championship/Pima Archives 1980
Pima Community College Athletics Hall of Fame Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Jim Mielke passes away

September 05, 2023

Pima Community College Track & Field and Cross Country coach and Athletics Hall of Famer Jim Mielke passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86.

Sophomore Abraham Valenzuela (Palo Verde HS) was the top Pima finisher in the 4.5-mile race as he took fourth place in the Open Division of the George Kyte Invitational with a time of 22:30.6. Freshman Declan Jorgenson (Ironwood Ridge HS) placed 17th with a time of 24:21.6. Photos by Stephanie van Latum
Abraham Valenzuela takes fourth place in the Men's Cross Country Open Division at the George Kyte Invitational

September 02, 2023

The Pima Community College men’s cross country team competed in the George Kyte Invitational on Saturday to open the 2023 season.