Some in Apache Country may have been concerned that the Nogales High boys undefeated cross country season was in jeopardy Tuesday when team captain and No. 1 runner Jose Valdez was not in attendance because of an automotive workshop symposium in Phoenix.

After blowing away the field Tuesday, Nogales High sophomore Josue Rosas was all smiles when he crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 46 seconds. He was rebounding after a week off due to illness. “I just came back, and I guess the time (off) worked good for me,” he said.

From the starting gun to the finish line, though, Valdez's teammate Josue Rosas must have been thinking to himself, ‘Valdez who?’�”because the sophomore, fresh off of a week’s rest due to illness, left the rest of the field in the dust and insured a perfect regular season for the maroon and gold.

Rosas finished the 3.2-mile course in 16 minutes, 46 seconds, while the Apaches topped out with 17 points, followed by Sahuaro (48) and Mountain View (76).

“Without Jose here, I felt I had to step it up,” he said. “I just came back, and I guess the time (off) worked good for me.”

It also worked good for the Apaches and their undefeated season slate�”not including invitationals.

“It’s really good,” Rosas said. “Now we want the chance to win regionals. I think we will improve more. We will try to work hard to get a good place at regionals and state.”

That’s the kind of talk the Apaches head coach likes to hear.

“He stepped up today,” Nogales skipper Manny Gatica said of Rosas. “He’s trained hard.”

So have the rest of the boys team, including Aaron Valdez and Carmelo Moraila, who took second and third in 17:30 and 17:32, respectively.

Rafael Valenzuela and Julio Palacios, who took fifth and sixth, respectively, in 17:59 and 18:29, followed them.

“We’ve got a solid crew,” Gatica said. “I told the (boys) that they’ve been in the shadow of the girls, but I’ve also been telling them all along how good they were.”

The Nogales High girls aren’t bad either, and remained their fast and furious selves Tuesday�” winning behind the outstanding pace set by anticipated state title contender Zahira Jimenez (19:27).

The Lady Apaches finished with 22 points, followed by Mountain View (37) and Sahuaro (67). They only have two regular meet losses this season to Buena and Sabino, although they rebounded to beat them in other invitationals.

“Our main focus is regionals now,” said KC Zuniga, who took third in 20:26 after Mountain View’s Kerri Lenihan crossed in 19:48. “It got us mad (that Sahuaro’s top two runners, Chloe Newell and Gabriel Stevens did not compete due to a soccer scheduling conflict). We want to beat you on our home course, and we want to see you before regionals.”

That wasn’t the case Tuesday, but the time will come Oct. 31 when the regionals are held at Marana High�”a flat course, especially compared to the hills on the Nogales course.

“That will benefit us,” Gatica said. “We are going to be getting ready for that race. I don’t want to give away our training program, but we’re going to be ready for a flat course. We already know what we’re facing, and we’re going after the terrain.

“We just have to be careful, watch our health and watch their training so they don’t get injured,” he added. “I yell at them. Don’t screw around! Don’t mess around! You can do that after state, but right now we’ve got to focus on what we’ve got to do right now.”

After regioanls, state is scheduled for Nov. 7�”and the Apaches are ready for all comers, Gatica said.

“We’ve always been missing the number four and five; a strong four and five on both the boys and girls teams,” he said, “but this year, we have the complete package on both teams. And, they’re motivated. They’re hungry. We just have to work hard for the next two weeks.”

Prior to Tuesday, the Apaches participated in the Thunderbird Invitational on Saturday in novice and open divisions.

“Freshmen and sophomores run the novice race, and juniors and seniors runners compete in the open,” explained Gatica. “We did well.”

On the boys' side of the house, Jose Valdez and Rafael Valenzuela medaled in the open division, placing 10th and 35th.

“We also had three runners place in the top 10 in the novice race,” explained Gatica. “Josue Rosas, Aaron Valdez, and Julio Palacios placed 4th, 8th and 9th, respectively.”

Melissa Durazo was the only girls runner that medaled at the Thunderbird for NHS. She placed 22nd in the open division.

“Melissa ran a great race and will be ready for regionals,” Gatica said. “The girls varsity squad did not compete in this race because they were all taking the PSAT on Saturday.”