Puma Men's Cross Country likes the 12th of November. It was on the 12th of November in 2011 that the Pumas won their last NJCAA DI Cross Country Championship title. And, it was on the 12th of November three weeks ago, that the Pumas won the 2022 NJCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championship. 

 

The championship, held at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, FL, awarded the Pumas their fourth NJCAA National Championship title and brought Paradise Valley back to the top of NJCAA Cross Country. "We're way overdue," commented head coach David Barney. "We've had some great teams, and some great athletes since 2011, but the championship has eluded us. We're happy to be back!" 

 

The Pumas, leaning heavily all season on a strategy of pack running, patience, and a strong second half of the race, used that ploy once again to dominate the national meet. After the first kilometer of the eight kilometers race, the Pumas were in 12th place overall with 355 points, hardly looking like a team that could end up on the podium, much less win the team title. After two kilometers they had moved into 11th place and had improved their score to 310 points. At 3000m, they jumped to 9th with 236 points. By the halfway point, four kilometers, they had improved to 173 points and were in 7th place. After 5000m, the Pumas had clawed their way into 5th place (143 points), and the other teams began to take notice. At the six kilometer mark, the Pumas, now in 3rd place with 114 points, began their final charge. With one kilometer to go (at seven kilometers), the Pumas, at 91 points, had worked their way into a tie for 1st place with Lansing Community College. By the finish, the relentless Pumas had dropped their score again, to 68 points, for a dominating win over 2nd place Heartland Community College's 88 points and Lansing's 94. "One of the mantras we hold is that we "own the last mile," stated Barney. "In order to do that, you have to put in a lot of volume, run a lot of miles. Our guys worked hard all summer and all fall, and, collectively, moved up 292 places between kilometer one and the finish line. We passed 292 runners in the last seven kilometers! You don't do that without a lot of work and a lot of confidence!" 

 

The Pumas were led by sophomore Gilbert Olivas' 4th place overall finish in a time of 25:43.6. "I think Gilbert might have won the race had he not been concerned with the team title," said Barney. "He went out conservative to make sure he had a solid race and the team won. He was definitely looking out for the team!" Following Olivas were freshman Jonathan Barney, who placed 9th in a time of 26:23.4; sophomore Pierce Vittone, 10th in 26:28.1; freshman Nathan Pestka, 11th in 26:28.5; freshman Chaz Miller, 36th in 27:19.1; freshman Jason Lundgren, 38th in 27:28.6; and freshman Oscar Gonzales, 40th in 27:34.9. "We had a fantastic effort today," said Barney, "Our two sophomores ran great, and our five freshmen stepped it up big time! Every one of them ran with poise and confidence. They believed in who we are, what we do, and they executed! I couldn't be more proud of them!" 

 

The Pumas were lauded not only for their team effort, but for their individual efforts as well. Gilbert Olivas, Jonathan Barney, Pierce Vittone and Nathan Pestka were decorated with NJCAA All-American honors, as well as USTFCCCA All-America awards. Coach Barney was named NJCAA Coach of the Meet and later voted USTFCCCA NJCAA Men's Division II Cross Country Coach of the Year. This was Barney's fifth time being voted Coach of the Year (four DI & one DII), and his fifth time being voted Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year (four DI & one DII).