Bradshaw Mountain Boys Qualify for State Cross-Country
The Bradshaw Mountain High School boys cross-country team finished second at the Division II Northwest Sectionals and advances to the state tournament.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Track & Field
The Bradshaw Mountain High School boys cross-country team finished second at the Division II Northwest Sectionals in Glendale with 86 points, behind Flagstaff, which won with 27 points. Bradshaw Mountain qualified for the state tournament, where the championship races will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.
Why it matters
The result sends a Yavapai County-area team to the state championship meet and keeps local high school cross-country runners in the state spotlight. It also highlights the strength of Flagstaff's program, which placed five runners among the top 11 finishers at sectionals.
Yohaves Van Meerten finished the 3-mile race in 14 minutes and 57 seconds, while Adonai Hardin ran 16:12 for second place among the top individual finishers. Bradshaw Mountain's 86-point team total trailed Flagstaff's 27 points, and the source does not detail how the scoring gap will affect state seeding.
The players
Yohaves Van Meerten
A ranked distance runner who won the 3-mile race in 14:57 and has committed to the University of Oregon.
The details
Bradshaw Mountain's boys finished behind Flagstaff at the Division II Northwest Sectionals, with runners placing 5th, 7th, 10th, 16th and 48th. Van Meerten, ranked first in the state and third nationally, won the 3-mile race and has committed to the University of Oregon.
Timeline
Sectionals were held in Glendale before Nov. 4, 2026.
The Yavapai County Championships took place at Antelope Hills Golf Course in Prescott.
State championship races are set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.
Season Trajectory
Bradshaw Mountain's qualification for the state meet follows the AIA sectional-to-state format that determines which Arizona high school programs reach the championship races. The sectional outcome places the team behind Flagstaff in the Division II Northwest bracket, a gap that will shape its position heading into state.
The state meet on Nov. 14 at Cave Creek Golf Course will determine which Arizona boys cross-country teams advance to the top placings this season. Fans tracking Yavapai County runners can follow the Bradshaw Mountain squad's progress at the state championship.
The takeaway
Strong sectional finishes often hinge on depth, and Bradshaw Mountain's placings beyond its top runner show how a team score is built. Following a squad through each stage of the season, from sectionals to county meets to state, gives a clearer picture of where it stands.
What happens next
The state championship races take place Saturday, Nov. 14, at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix.
Further reading
For more on the state's distance-running scene, browse Track & Field coverage across Arizona.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Courier.
