Young runners dominate Deseret News 5K

The 2024 Deseret News 5K was dominated by young runners looking to get faster before their high school and college seasons.

The men’s 5K was won by 17-year-old Tayshaun Ogomo, who will be a senior at Herriman High this fall, won the race with a time of 15:14. But it wasn’t his victory that made him happiest Wednesday morning.

“I ran with the majority of our team, and we all ended up finishing well,” Ogomo said. “It was a really cool experience, a really big confidence booster.”

The Herriman runners ended up finishing in the top six spots. Ogomo’s teammate, Jonah Tang, 17, was right with him, finishing in 15:15, and Jackson Spencer, 16, earned third with 15:17.

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“It was really fun to just be able to have all my teammates together, and all be pretty fast and perform well this early in the season,” Ogomo said of what he enjoyed most about his race performance. “It was fun to just be together and run fast today.”

Ogomo said his mom’s decision to sign him up for a youth track league helped him find the sport he loves.

“The competition, the relaxing feeling of going out for a run, and being able to compete at the level we do,” he said, “it’s all of that combined that makes it so fun for me.”

University of Utah cross country runner Morgan Jensen, 22, won the women’s race with a time of 16:51.

“I’m just getting ready for my cross country season,” she said. “I just wanted to race again before I start racing again.”

The Alta High graduate said she got hooked on running in middle school when she was able to run faster than most of her peers.

“I played soccer, but it’s more fun to do something you’re good at,” she said with a laugh. “And I was better at running than I was at playing soccer.”

Adria Favero, 15, was second with a time of 17:32, while 20-year-old Addi Bruening was third crossing the finish line in 18:05.