Flagstaff Runner Wins Arizona Boys XC Gatorade Player of the Year

Yohanes van Meerten breaks state course record and finishes second at Nike Cross Nationals

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Flagstaff junior Yohanes van Meerten has been named the 2025-26 Arizona Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year. During his historic season, van Meerten won the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division II individual state championship, broke the course record, finished second at the Nike Cross Nationals, and ran a personal best of 14:25.7 for the 5,000 meters.

Why it matters

Van Meerten's standout performance has cemented his status as one of the top high school distance runners in the country, drawing interest from top college programs across the nation. His achievements have also elevated the profile of Arizona high school cross country, with van Meerten surpassing the previous state record held by a former Gatorade Player of the Year.

The details

In addition to winning the state title and breaking the course record, van Meerten also broke the course record at the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational, running 14:10.1 for the hilly three-mile course. He finished fourth at the Brooks XC National Championships, another top-level postseason meet. The only Arizona high schooler ahead of van Meerten on the state's all-time 5k list is Gilbert Highland alum Leo Daschbach, who ran 14:14.26 in 2019.

  • Van Meerten won the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division II individual state championship in the fall of 2025.
  • Van Meerten finished second at the Nike Cross Nationals in December 2025.
  • Van Meerten broke the course record at the Mt. Sac Invitational in October 2025.
  • Van Meerten finished fourth at the Brooks XC National Championships in December 2025.

The players

Yohanes van Meerten

A junior at Flagstaff High School who is the 2025-26 Arizona Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year.

Billy Orman

The former holder of the Arizona state meet course record that van Meerten broke.

Leo Daschbach

A Gilbert Highland alum who is the only Arizona high schooler ahead of van Meerten on the state's all-time 5k list.

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What they’re saying

“A furious closing stretch rallied Yohanes van Meerten to the silver medal in his toughest race of the year at Nike Cross Nationals, but his mid-season showing at the Mt. SAC Invitational was equally impressive. Destroying the course record while seemingly relaxed and in a controlled fashion, he handed high-quality rivals with their most humbling margins of defeat. This kid harbors an incredibly scary upside for his senior year.”

— Rich Gonzalez, Editor of PrepCalTrack (Press release)

What’s next

With his standout junior season, Yohanes van Meerten has emerged as one of the most sought-after distance recruits in the country. He is currently considering offers from top college programs such as Oregon, BYU, Oklahoma State, Washington, and many others.

The takeaway

Yohanes van Meerten's historic performance has elevated the profile of Arizona high school cross country, with the Flagstaff junior breaking a long-standing state record and finishing second at the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals. His success has drawn national attention and positioned him as one of the top distance running prospects in the country.