From a 1,000-foot, year-over-year view, Mountain Ridge’s cross country season and second place finish at the state Division I meet Nov. 15 was an unqualified success.

The Mountain Lions placed 11th in 2024, 17th in 2023 and 14th in 2022.

But Mountain Ridge was the favorite to win Division I for a bit more than a month. Finishing second with 117 points to Gilbert Highland’s 91 points was a shock.

“You get your best lessons from failure, and I don’t think this is a failure,” Mountain Ridge Coach Mitchell Moses said.

He said this breakthrough season began because guys put in the extra miles for years. This group has been dedicated to the program since eighth grade.

Mountain Ridge was the second-highest finishing Arizona school at the Desert Twilight meet Sept. 26 at Toka Sticks in Mesa,

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