Queen Creek’s Heritage Academy Gateway has reason to celebrate-their boys junior high cross country team has earned a state champion title!

Despite this being its inaugural year, the team showed great promise from the start, determined to improve and reach it’s goals. The boys junior high cross country team took home the state title in the Canyon Athletic Association (charter school) Division I, beating out a number of other teams.

This rewarding finish to the season was made possible by the team’s first place showings at both the Patriot Invitational and Charger Classic, both hosted by Queen Creek schools. The Heritage Gateway runners took third place at the regional meet in Mayer, Arizona. There, four of the team’s runners placed in the top 10.

The boys were lead to success by their coach, Christie Higgins, who teaches social studies, English and athletics at the school. The athletes look forward to replicating this season’s success next year.