The Maize South girls cross country program has established itself as an annual contender in Class 5A, but coach Alan Birdsell did not think this year, of all years, would be the one when the Mavericks won their first state trophy.

The team surprised even itself with its third-place finish Friday at Rim Rock Farm, as the Mavericks registered a team score of 104 points to comfortably beat local teams such as Valley Center (fourth) and Bishop Carroll (sixth) that they had finished behind previously this season.

“I was quite frankly surprised,” Birdsell said. “I thought we maybe get fifth if we had a good day. The girls just came through and did extremely well.”

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