A lot of sweat and tears went into the 2009 prep cross country season in Santa Cruz County.

And it paid off.

Nogales High brought home an individual (Zahira Jimenez) and team (girls) state title, while Rio Rico High also kicked in an individual state champion (Aeoleone Bristow).

All four teams�”boys and girls for both schools�”finished no lower than fourth place.

Individually, Rio Rico High’s Jose Luis Muõz was 44 seconds behind Flagstaff Sinagua senior Brian Shrader, who is ranked sixth in the nation in this demanding sport.

Only if you were there at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix Saturday would you be able to appreciate how impressive all this is.

Only if you saw all the throngs of runners who trampled the 3.1-mile course could you understand the quality it takes to get to such a high level.

It was quite a sight to see.

When a friend asked Jimenez if she would repeat her state title next season, she jokingly said, “I’m quitting!”

But there is no quit in these kids. They are like the Energizer Bunny on steroids. They just keep going and going and going.

Because of that the cross country programs of both schools will likely only get better because success breeds success�”and no one knows that better than Hawks skipper Roger Bristow, who took the powerhouse program over from Steve Schadler and didn’t skipped a beat.

That is what Apache coach Manny Gatica is trying to do�”build on what is becoming a bright star in the Santa Cruz County sky.

“I’m hoping this can come home to Nogales so more girls will join us,” he said, “but there are no shortcuts around it.”

On the back of the Apaches’ T-shirts this season was a slogan: “No bench, no timeouts, no halftime.”

That said a lot.

The slogan on the state champion T-shirts is expected to be “Dream, believe and achieve,” which is what Nogales and Rio Rico highs have done this season�”making everyone so very proud of them along the way.

To hear their school names announced time and time again Saturday created a sense of pride that can be equaled by no other.

So, if you pass one of them in the hallways or at the super market, pat them on the back for a job well done.

They deserve it.

(What do YOU think? E-mail “Ski” at editorial@nogalesinternational.com.)