5A Pre-Region IV Championships
Cottonwood Complex
September 2, 2009
(5000 Meters: 4700ft alt. 82 degrees, hot humid, muggy; course is very hilly with thick grass. Perhaps one of the most difficult 5000 meter courses in the state)
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"You can't race hardcore unless you train hardcore"
Before the meet began I caught a glimpse of mathmatician Timo Mostert walking around the course with a measuring wheel. With obvious frustration Timo could not understand why his GPS watch was not corresponding with his measuring wheel. For Timo, it is all about the details. Guiding the American Fork Cavemen to a first-ever state championship he is a meticulous coach who has produced a consistently dominant program. However, there is another coach at American Fork who has his sights set on a state championship and team greatness.
GIRLS RECAP: AMERICAN FORK DOMINATES
American Fork girls head coach Bruno Hunziker has been guiding the AF girls teams since 1988. Hunziker's girls were thought to be pretty good however, at the pre-region meet we saw another fully loaded AF team ready for a match up with Davis and Park City in this weekends BYU Invitational. While the girls were racing, I was watching Bruno coach along the sidelines and coined the nickname "pitbull", he knows every girls name and is constantly reassuring the team. Giving advice that seemed to be directed towards each runners strengths the only conclusion that could be determined was that Bruno knows his team. (Photo by Aron Taylor)
In somewhat of an unexpected turnaround the American Fork girls utterly destroyed the field in one of the most difficult regions in the state. Featuring an Alta program that is looking to go top 3 at state American Fork girls made a mockery of the field. Running as a pack the girls swept the first four places and closed with the fifth runner in 8th place for a record low 18 team points. The second place team was Alta coach Rob Murphys squad who finished a distant runner-up in 44 points.
Team Results: 1. American Fork 18 points; 2. Alta 44 points (5 others distant)
| 1. Morgan Warner | American Fork | 20:06 |
| 2. Alexis Laws | American Fork | 20:12 |
| 3. Daniell West | American Fork | 20:20 |
| 4. Jamie Lee | American Fork | 20:21 |
| 5. Kaitlin Snydergaard | Alta | 20:28 |
| 6. Julie Mazeika | Pleasant Grove | 20:30 |
| 7. Carolyn Webber | Alta | 20:34 |
| 8. Kaijsa Angerhofer | American Fork | 20:54 |
| 9. Celeste Gutzman | Alta | 21:03 |
| 10. Amy Reid | Jordan | 21:11 |
| 11. Sierra Murri | Alta | 21:19 |
| 12. Sierra Batey | Alta | 21:22 |
BOYS RECAP: UT#1 AMERICAN FORK DOMINATES
Some aspects of great cross country teams include superb coaching, impecible timing, a bit of luck and a whole lot of fun. All of these attributes apply to the American Fork Cavemen. Having covered the sport for several years now, I can honestly say I have never seen a team
as loose, happy, and just plain fun as this team. In "THE" most difficult region meet in the state against a slew of teams who most likely will contend for state hardware. Heading into this meet. American Fork would have their work cut out for them. However, it never materialized.
Under the watchful eye of Timo, American Fork went out and took care of business. Over a very difficult and hilly 5000 meter course the cavemen ran faster times than they ran over the 3-mile state course last year. As expected American Fork has improved from 2008. Led by last years sophomore state record holder Austin West's individual victory Af would dominate. West won over a dominant Steve Morrin, the Cavemen filed in a tight pack close behind. West won in 15:42, to put this time into perspective, no Bingham runner has ever run faster. Not Footlocker finalist and Utah great Jeff Hopkinson or Ryan Bullock, not Jared Bienlein and not Corbin Talley. Austin West's 15:42 is simply one of the fastest times ever over the region course. ONLY second to Stephen Clark's 15:17 set in the Region II Championships in 2007. However, in 2007 Clark only ran 15:51 in the Pre-Region meet on the same course, so, expect big things from West this season. West's race was perfect as he sat right off the shoulder of Lone Peak's Steve Morrin and then blasted in the final quarter mile for the win and a region meet record. It should be noted that Morrin's 15:47 is the third fastest time ever on the course. Not too shabby for the defending region champion. (Picture: Austin West; photo by Aron Taylor)
To put the team performance into perspective, American Forks 5th runner was faster than their top runner in 2008 at the pre-region meet. In a realignment of regions American Fork was priviliged to face off against 2008 Cinderella team Alta. As expected the Cavemen claimed a Region Championship for the second consecutive year. During the first few miles it would seem Alta was not going away without a fight and looked to be stride for stride with American Fork for the team title however, the AF team pulled away in the final mile to claim victory. As usual, when I ran into Timo after the race to see if we could get a team photo he proclaimed, "the guys got a two-mile cooldown." Nuff said, Timo is focused, so I chased down the team and got a pic. The Cavemen will not be attending the BYU Invitational to continue on the teams path towards a state championship.
Team Scores: 1. American For 28; 2. Hillcrest 67; 3. Pleasant Grove 82; Alta 82 (lost on 6th man tie breaker)
1. Austin West
American Fork
15:42*
2. Steve Morrin
Lone Peak
15:47
3. Garrett Jones
Alta
16:12
4. Robby Lee
American Fork
16:20
5. Clayton Young
American Fork
16:23
6. Daniel Reich
Hillcrest
16:24
7. Mack Morrison
American Fork
16:26
8. Matt Lynch
Hillcrest
16:30
9. Darren Gleason
Pleasant Grove
16:33
10. David Burt
Jordan
16:38
11. Corey Jackson
American Fork
16:39
12. Brian Howell
Alta
16:46