(GILBERT, Ariz.) Gilbert Christian cross country enters the 2026 season with proven talent at the front, an experienced senior class and a young boys' group already making its mark on the program leaderboard.
 
Senior Asa Jones returns as one of Arizona's top runners after capturing the Division III East sectional championship in a photo finish last season. His winning time of 16:11.97 helped lead the Knights to a third-place team finish and an automatic berth in the AIA Division III State Championships, where Jones placed 15th in 16:29.70.
 
Jones begins his final season as Gilbert Christian's 5,000-meter record holder after running 16:01.1 in 2025, nearly 35 seconds faster than the previous program best. He continued lowering records during track season, establishing a new GCHS mark in the 1,600 meters at 4:23.96 while also running 9:44.24 in the 3,200 and 2:02.04 in the 800.
 
Now physically bigger and stronger, Jones has taken on the most grueling training regimen of his career. He is currently logging approximately 65 miles per week, even through the Arizona summer heat, as he prepares to see how far he can push the records in his final season.
 
Sophomore Weston Ford gives the Knights another record holder near the front of the lineup. Ford ran 16:36.0 during his debut season, establishing the GCHS freshman 5K record and climbing to second on the program's all-time list.
 
Ford placed 10th at last year's sectional meet in 16:47.13, finishing as the fastest freshman in the 136-runner field. Ford followed with a standout track season, recording a personal-best 2:01.41 in the 800 meters before competing at New Balance Nationals, where he ran 2:01.84 in the freshman race. He has continued that development through a demanding summer program, increasing his weekly mileage from approximately 16-20 miles to 40 as he readies for his sophomore campaign.
 
Ford leads a particularly strong sophomore class that already occupies several places on the Knights' leaderboard. McKay Pacheco ranks ninth in program history with a 17:50.3 personal best, followed by Noah Chhokar at 18:27.6 and Austin Beck at 18:35.2. All four gained valuable postseason experience as freshmen last fall.


 
Senior Vaughn Sees adds another proven returner after running a personal-best 18:35.7 in 2025. He joins Jones and Bradley Craven as the three seniors on the boys' roster.
 
Junior newcomer Westin Hawkes is another runner to watch. Hawkes demonstrated his athletic range during track season, winning the 400 meters at the Al Nelson Invitational in 52.05 before lowering his personal best to 51.97 in the Division IV state final. His speed and middle-distance background could make him a valuable addition as he transitions to cross country. Hawkes also competed for the Knights in the Decathlon State Championships in the spring.
 
On the girls' side, senior Kodi Bell returns for her fourth season as one of the most accomplished distance runners in school history. Bell's personal-best 19:50.2 ranks fifth on the GCHS all-time 5K list.

Bell qualified individually for last year's Division III state championship after placing 27th at sectionals in 22:36.80. She remained active during the spring, recording a season-best 5:50.29 in the 1,600 meters.
 
Fellow senior Aubrey Charvat joins Bell in providing veteran leadership for the girls. Together with Jones, Craven and Sees, the pair completes a five-member senior class that will guide a team combining established frontrunners with considerable young talent.
 
The first meet of the year, The 32nd Annual Chandler XC Invite, is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at Tumbleweed Park. Races are slated to begin at 7:10am.