The Pahrump Valley High School boys’ cross country team capped off a strong 2025 season with a solid performance at the State Championships, held Saturday, November 8, at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno. Facing some of the toughest competition in Nevada, the Trojans battled through the challenging course to finish sixth overall as a team, demonstrating their depth, consistency, and potential for the seasons ahead.
Leading the charge for Pahrump Valley was Joaquin Flores, who finished 24th overall with a time of 18:35. Close behind came Logan Tilley, finishing 30th at 18:55, followed just hundredths of a second later by Josh Gent, who placed 31st. Aydon Veloz continued the strong pack effort with a 33rd-place finish in 19:09, and Timmy Stutzman crossed the line 36th at 19:15. Rounding out the top seven were Josh Flores, who took 39th (19:21), and Ben De Santiago, who finished 43rd in 19:45.
Head Coach Erik Odegard praised the team’s effort, noting that the boys had formed a remarkably tight and competitive core throughout the season. “The boys team had a strong core this year. One through eight was so close all year—that pushed these boys to give everything at the end of the season,” he said.
While the Trojans knew the northern teams would be tough competition, Odegard said the group approached the race with focus and determination. “We knew this was going to be a tough race. Not only are the north teams going to be good, but it gets harder when we have to go up to them to compete,” he explained. “These boys ran a good team race; unfortunately, we were about 10 places too far down as a group to put us in the mix for the top two spots.”
Still, the performance was a reflection of a season built on discipline and teamwork. Odegard shared that the team entered the state meet with a specific strategy in mind: staying within a 45-second gap among the top five runners. “We knew that we needed to be within 45 seconds of each other, one through five, if we were going to have a real shot at one of the top two spots in the state,” he said. “We missed that by a little, but I am so happy for these boys and what the future holds for them.”
Several members of the varsity squad will graduate this year, but Odegard remains confident in the program’s direction. “We’re going to lose a few seniors that we’ll have to find a way to fill next year,” he said. “We were still pretty young as a team this year, and I think the returning runners gained some valuable experience at this state meet that will put us back in a good position for next year again.”
Odegard also emphasized how much the team grew both physically and mentally throughout the year. “The boys really bought into what we were trying to accomplish this year with each workout, and this prepared them for the state meet,” he said. “I am so proud of how these boys worked this year.”
The Trojans’ sixth-place finish reflects both their competitive spirit and the foundation being built for future success. As Coach Odegard summed it up, “Both teams this year did an exceptional job, and this season was truly a team effort to a final prize. As we regroup for next year, we hope to build off this season.”
With a returning core hungry for improvement and state-level experience now under their belts, the PVHS boys cross country team looks poised to climb even higher in 2026.
