SALT LAKE CITY — Over 1,000 runners will converge on Sugar House Park this Wednesday for the state cross country meet in what figures to be 12 highly competitive races for team and individual titles.
In the boys six classifications, only one individual champion returns whereas five individual champs return on the girls side, including two in the same classification.
Woods Cross’ Carlee Hansen won the 5A individual title last year while Lehi’s Anna Martin won the 4A title. They’re both competing in 5A this week in what could be the most competitive race of the day as the race also includes Farmington’s Elisabeth Ferrell and Springville’s Heidi Sumsion.
Ferrell beat Hansen in the Region 5 meet last week.
The day begins at 10 a.m. with the 1A girls race and concludes with the 6A boys race at 3:30 p.m.
“5A is pretty competitive this year especially with individuals, which is really nice because faster individuals help pull the entire race along which will hopefully help everyone get better times,” said Springville coach Samantha Smith. “On the girls side, there are a few awesome teams like Farmington that we are running against and I’m excited to see how things shake out. On the boys side, I feel like the race is a lot closer, especially from third place down to seventh or eighth place, so it will be interesting to see what happens. The best part about state is it doesn’t matter how you’ve done all season — it’s all about who wants it most and is willing to push for it.”
The six boys defending state champions are American Fork, Corner Canyon, Pine View, Morgan, North Summit and Monticello.
All six teams will be on the hunt for titles again in what figures to be tight races all day.
Corner Canyon claimed the 5A title last year, but this season is competing in 6A along with American Fork. Last week, Corner Canyon beat American Fork for the Region 4 title to give the Chargers a leg up at state.
Corner Canyon, American Fork, Davis and Skyridge are all ranked nationally which makes the 6A race stacked with talent. On the girls side Lone Peak is also nationally ranked.
Monticello also bumped up a classification to 2A and will battle Duchesne and defending champ North Summit for the team title.
The lone individual boys returning champ is Grantsville’s Porter Whitworth.
“The thing I have learned coaching cross country is that rankings or times going into state don’t matter. Whatever team is willing to show up, run for each other, and push themselves could have a chance to win at the state meet,” said Morgan coach Brennen Fuller. “That’s what I love about it. It’s anyone’s race on any given day. It also teaches these kids to set goals, never give up on themselves, and run for a bigger purpose.”
On the girls side, American Fork, Springville, Desert Hills, Morgan, Millard and Panguitch are all returning state champs. Only Springville, Morgan and Millard won their respective region titles this past week, which adds to the intrigue of the state meet.
In addition to Hansen and Martin, there are three other returning individual champs at this year’s meet. Grand’s Kylah Ricks is the reigning 3A champ, while Millard’s Katy Kelly is defending her 2A title and Panguitch’s Taylia Norris her 1A title.
Norris narrowly lost to Milford’s Kinley Spaulding at the Region 20 meet last week, and this Wednesday’s rematch should be very competitive.
Here’s a look at the teams and individuals who won region titles last week heading into the state meet:
Region team champs
Davis, West Jordan, Herriman, Corner Canyon
Region individual champs
Drew Hogan, Syracuse; Austin Klingler, West Jordan; Seth Robertson, Herriman; Caleb Johnson, Corner Canyon
Region team champs
Davis, West Jordan, Herriman, Lone Peak
Region individual champs
Hope Preston, Davis; Gentry Pierce, West Jordan; Addi Bruening, Herriman; Eliza Harrington, Lone Peak
Region team champs
Farmington, Olympus, Timpanogos, Springville
Region individual champs
Dalton Mortensen, Bountiful; Thomas Boyden, Skyline; Taylor Knight, Orem; Reese McGrath, Park City
Region team champs
Farmington, Skyline, Mountain View, Springville
Region individual champs
Elisabeth Ferrell, Farmington; Caroline Rupper, Brighton; Anna Martin, Lehi; Heidi Sumsion, Springville
Region team champs
Desert Hills, Stansbury, Ridgeline
Region individual champs
Joshua Armstrong, Hurricane; Carson Belnap, Stansbury; Ian Bressel, Logan
Region team champs
Pine View, Ogden, Bear River
Region individual champs
Caila Odekirk, Hurricane; Kate Allred, Ogden; Madison White, Bear River
Region team champs
Carbon, Morgan, Union
Region individual champs
Evan Ellison, Grand; Porter Whitworth, Grantsville; Dason Day, Juab
Region champs
Richfield, Morgan, Union
Region individual champs
Kylah Ricks, Grand; Madelyn Bossarte, Judge Memorial; Fiel Woods, Manti
Region team champs
RSL Academy, Duchesne, Rowland Hall, Millard
Region individual champs
Chris Kori, Wasatch Academy; Corey Bunker, Monticello; Carson Burian, Rowland Hall; Nathan Bowman, Kanab
Region team champs
RSL Academy, North Summit, Rowland Hall, Millard
Region individual champs
Ashley Lagat, Wasatch Academy; Lisa Zwahlen, North Summit; Regan Belko, St. Joseph; Katy Kelly, Millard
Region team champs
Pinnacle, Wayne, Tintic, Manila
Region individual champs
Xavier Martin, Whitehorse; Luke Reeder, Panguitch; Zachary Kugler, Telos; John Scott, Rich
Region team champs
Monument Valley, Milford, Wendover, ICS
Region individual champs
McKayla Holiday, Monument Valley; Kinley Spaulding, Milford; Kalynn Livingston, Tintic; Ashlyn Nelson, ICS