PROVO — On paper, the favorites for this weekend's Utah High School track and field championships look easy to spot. But as coaches and veteran athletes all know, the slightest little miscues can cost teams and athletes medals.
That's what makes this year's championship all the more intriguing as it starts this morning at BYU. Today's schedule includes finals in one distance race and a few field events, with the bulk of finals taking place Saturday.
Already this season, mistakes have changed outcomes in team scoring, so even the state's most elite competitors can take nothing for granted.
In the boys division, the defending champs are Viewmont, Mountain View, Hurricane, Richfield and Panguitch. The girls champs of a year ago were Alta, Mountain View, Judge Memorial, North Summit and Saint Joseph.
BOYS
In 5A, Viewmont captured last year's title by edging its rivals from Davis, and Viewmont will certainly be a factor again, led by record-setting high jumper Trevor Heiner. But Davis or Alta are smart picks.
Davis will turn to field-event standouts like Clayton Davis in the long jump, Dan Garrett in pole vault, Ryan Spencer in the shot and Brock Money is discus. Josh Adams and Thomas Lingard should score in distance races, and the Darts usually have competitive relay.
Alta's hopes will depend on the health of sprinter Dan Hutson, who is the state's best 200-, 400- and 800-meter athlete. He was injured during the Davis Invitational three weeks ago, so if he can come back, the Hawks will be tough. Alta will also count on Collin Robinson and Trevor Muhlstein in sprints, Chase England in the 800m, Brett Kotter in the 3,200m and Jameson Frazier in hurdles.
Taylorsville's Sok Nhim could win gold medals in the long jump, 100m and 200m. Jordan's Brady Leavitt has been the best pole vaulter in the state this year. Daniel Yockey of Taylorsville is outstanding in the 800m, and Weber's Nick Fisher has dominated the 1,600m. His teammate, Jared Bienlien, is also a threat in distance races. Fremont hurdler Taylor Pebley has also been dominant this season.
In 4A, Mountain View boasts two of the state's best in field event star Leir Arrhenius, the best shot put and discus thrower in Utah, and distance ace Steve Strickland. The Bruins will also get points from distance men Jared Keller and Chad Horton. Whether the supporting cast can score enough will determine Mountain View's ability to hold off challenger Box Elder. The Bees boast sprint stars Beau Herbert and Josh Crittenden, the latter also a threat in the hurdles. John Johnson should score in pole vault, Jared Galvin could win the javelin and the Bees might be slight favorites.
Other 4A stars include Spanish Fork's Trent Bingham in high jump, Murray's Zac Ishino in the long jump, Logan sprinter Jeff Alley, Roy's Chris Carter in middle distance and Provo's Reagan Frey and Jared Rohatinsky in distance. Box Elder or Mountain View should reign.
Hurricane lost Tony Jones to graduation, and that may open the door for Judge Memorial. The Bulldogs already bested everyone else at the BYU Invite two weeks ago and now have their sights set on a 3A title. Leading the way for Judge is sprinter Jeff Watkins, middle distance stars Mike Webber and Kyle Meakins and distance standouts Patrick Smyth and Nik Hlady.
Other 3A athletes to watch are Ben Lomond high jumper Mitch Hyer, Dixie long jumper Brad Jurca, Grantsville pole vaulter Zach Vera, Park City shot-putter Owen Koeppen, Delta javelin thrower Jordan Mecham and Pine View hurdler Tel Stewart.
Richfield, North Summit and Juan Diego should battle it out again for 2A supremacy. Richfield stars include Trevor Dowdle in the long jump and David Shaffer in javelin. Juan Diego has sprinter Marquis Wilson, pole vaulter Ian Jensen and shot-putter Carlos Valle. The 1A battle of Panguitch and St. Joseph's should continue, with Duchesne also in the hunt.
GIRLS
For 5A girls, the question is whether Alta can repeat without graduated superstar Amy Menlove, who now runs on this same track as a BYU Cougar. Alta gets a pretty good jump start from senior hurdler Dana Strauss, state record holder in both events. She will also help the Hawks' relay teams. Sarah Butler will score for Alta in the javelin, and Ali Smart will be among sprint favorites. Chelsie Harward is a distance standout for Alta as well.
Viewmont could challenge with points from field event star Nicole Farnsworth, who could win three golds, along with Jamie Jensen in javelin and Elaine Connolly in sprints. Jordan will challenge as well, with Sarah McOmber in field events, Erin Fuller in distance races and a strong medley relay team. This team race could be a tight one.
Other 5A performers of note are Davis high jumper Jennifer Schiess, Taylorsville sprinter and long jumper Shawnee Slade, Weber sprinter Hawley Kunz, Weber mid-distance runner Haley Reeves, Northridge distance star Stacie Lifferth, West Jordan hurdler Heidi Huber and Weber hurdler Kathryn Sevy.
Mountain View has won 10 straight state titles and should defend again in 4A. Led by Heidi Magill and a supporting cast that includes high jumper Mandy Witherspoon, middle distance stars Heidi Houle and Anne Marie Thomas and hurdler Melynn King, the Bruins will be tough to beat as a team.
Top 4A girls include Timpview high jumper Rebecca Wilson, Orem's Mallary Minster and Provo's Julie Anderson in long jump, Logan shot-putter Becky Phillips, Olympus sprinter Jaden Gundry, Pleasant Grove distance runner Tawny Parks and Spanish Fork hurdling star Diane Stewart.
It's harder to handicap the 1A, 2A and 3A girls divisions. In 3A, those to watch include Grantsville's Shalane Titmus in high jump, Snow Canyon's Jenna Esplin in long jump, Hurricane's Illima Sam Fong in shot, discus and javelin; Jamie Daniels of Bear River in sprints, Park City's Chelsea Shapard in the 400, Judge's Samantha Gaffney in distances and Cedar's Cathy Decker in hurdles.
The 2A stars to watch include those from Richfield and North Summit, the teams that battled to the end in Provo last year. St. Joseph's and Panguitch will once again battle for 1A titles.