Thousands and thousands of high school runners will converge on Walnut, Calif., this Saturday to participate in the Foot Locker Western Regional Cross Country Championships. The same number of runners will gather at three other regionals, with the top eight boys and girls from each regional advancing to the national championship in San Diego on Dec. 17.
"The Western Region is by far the best region in the country," said Mountain View coach Dave Houle. "It's so big there will be about a thousand kids in each race."
In all, there are 23 different starting times for 13 different race classifications.
All eyes will be on the boys' and girls' seeded races at Mt. San Antonio College.
Mountain View's Heidi Magill is Utah's most promising contender in the girls' race — assuming she's ready. Magill, who's committed to BYU, finished sixth at last year's national tournament, but a muscle tear sustained in September has really slowed her this year.
"Her injury is completely healed, it's just a matter of if we've had enough time to get her in shape," said Houle.
Despite being hobbled by the injury, Magill finished fourth at the 4A state championship in October. Other top Utah runners hoping to crack the illustrious top eight include Lone Peak's Katie Bowen, Bingham's Kit Ziegle and Murray's Nichole Torgersen.
"It just depends on the start. You have to be there to understand," said Houle. "There are about 300 or 400 girls in that seeded race, and it's a monstrous hill they start on."
In the boys' race, Mountain View's Steve Strickland is Utah's top contender. The Bruins' senior finished fourth at the prestigious Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C., this past September.
Viewmont's Brian McKenna and Mountain View's Jared Keller could also crack the top eight.
GATORADE ELITE: Hunter lineman Ray Feinga was recently chosen Gatorade Utah football player of the year. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound senior helped lead the Wolverines to their first 5A state championship two weeks ago.
Feinga is a finalist for the Gatorade National High School Boys' Football Player of the Year award to be announced later this month. Gatorade has been honoring the nation's best high school athletes for 19 years.
"In 20 years of coaching, Ray is by far the best lineman I have ever had," said Hunter coach Wes Wilcken. "He's a very good student and a very hard worker. He is an incredible talent and a great example for all of the others."
Recent Utah winners were Mountain Crest's Ryan Zimmerman in 2002, Highland's Haloti Ngata in 2001 and Jordan's Garan Fabrizio in 2000.
COACHING VACANCIES: Taylorsville and Provo are both looking for new head football coaches.
Applications for the Taylorsville job must be received in the Granite School District Human Resources Office by 5 p.m. on Dec. 12. Previous coaching experience on a high school level is preferred, and all applicants must have a current Utah Teaching Certificate. For more information, contact Jerry Haslam at 685-5455.
Those interested in the Provo position should send a letter of interest, rsum and any other pertinent information to principal Sam Jarman. The mailing address is 1125 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84604. The fax number is 801-801-4880.
STANDOUT BRIGHTON JUNIOR: Brighton's Brayden Bell is the 74th ranked junior in the country, according to Futurestars, a top national college basketball service. The 6-foot-10 center is being recruited by Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, BYU, Utah and New Mexico, among others. Bell played this summer with the Salt Lake Metro traveling basketball team.
ALL-STATE FOOTBALL: The 2003 Deseret Morning News all-state football team will be published on Wednesday, Dec. 10.