Hawaiian Five-Oh’s
***Update: Due to
Reference: http://uhsaa.org/realignment/Final11-20-08.pdf
Over Hill and Dale were hitting the Trail with H5O:
Hello Utah! Back from a mountain top Sabbatical, its Hawaiian-Five-Oh. You may remember me as the always poignant and tenaciously mordant thorn inWatchout’s side. Sometimes there is nothing better than meaningless provocation. Alas, those days are gone and here we are wrapping up a great Spring Track season full of many surprises, upsets, and triumphs. Congratulations to all champions and competitors who had the fortitude to lace up their shoes and overcome that first step out the door. Isn’t it the hardest!
As one season ends another begins and we have great reason to be highly optimistic about all our class fields. I cannot recall a time where talent has been so evenly distributed across all divisions. As the key players take to the grassy stage, we may find that a National Superstar emerges from anonymity or that a previously unrenowned team makes a decisive challenge for national prominence. Certainly if you haven’t been following since Puskedra’s departure you may want to tune in as something remarkable will occur this fall on the Utah High School Cross Country scene.
So this is the beginning of my weekly run down on Utah Cross Country. So here is how it’s going to work, each week for the remainder of the summer I will be releasing analysis on individual boys, individual girls, and team title contenders. Some great runners and teams may not be mentioned; I apologize and hope that in doing so you find one more reason to train tenaciously this summer to prove me wrong. I challenge you and hope you do. In reality it’s in the preparation that the hallmark of a professional is found and regardless of this article, the young man or unified team who submits wholeheartedly to a cause greater them themselves will stand ready when those important moments of opportunity come. Good Luck and Godspeed!
5A analysis:
Sophomore Phenom Steve Morrin of Lone Peak is coming off amazing multiple runner-up (1600, 3200) finishes at the State Track Championships. Look for him to improve dramatically over his 9th Place 2008 finished as the race for the 2009 State Cross Country Championships should go through him. With renowned coaching to his decided advantage, this could be the next great one folks!
The duo of Austin West and Robby Lee from American Fork will put forth a significant challenge to Morrin’s title hopes. With a considerable training advantage that accompanies fast teammates these two should be in the mix to upset Morrin. I would not be surprised to see a 1-2 finish under unusual circumstances.
Not to be forgotten Garrett Jones of Alta High is the top returnee and thus regardless of an up and down track season is the man on the top of the Totem Pole. It is not uncommon to find that one guy who dominates in XC but struggles in Track. It happens. I am extending a personal challenge to Mr. Jones to prove himself worthy this summer and leave no doubt when all the key players roll into the Autumn Classic who the King of the Mountain is.
Hawaiian Five-Oh’s “Upset Pick” is swinging the direction of Hunter High’s Dallin Taylor who improved from a 75th place 2008 fall campaign to place 5th in the State 3200m in 9:35 just behind Morrin, West, and Lee. Additionally, he ran an outstanding 4:28 1600m. Taylor’s drastic improvement leaves no doubt that whatever he is doing it is working, and with a consistent training regime over the Summer he should be a primary player on the fall cross country scene and could be the reason for a new class course record at the State Meet. Young man, we share the same last name, so therefore, coupled with your amazing improvement you have my vote~!. Get out and hit the trails, log the miles, and show us another amazing improvement. Remember, its not what others believe can happen, but what you make happen.
The uncertainty principle in the 5A race will be 5A addition Jamal Tongo of Cyprus High. Cyprus was put on the map a few years ago with the shocking victory of Jeremiah Johnson in 2005 and now are being moved into the 5A division. Tongo certainly has the cross country wheels to press Taylor to the limit, as shown in the 2008 4A race where he nearly broke 16 minutes. However, spring results were not as to be expected. Simply put, he did not keep pace with his peers. Either Tongo is a pure cross country athlete, or complacency set in over the winter. Either way, it is clear that no one truly knows what to expect from Jamal Tongo this fall. Compounding that uncertainty was the lane violation and DQ at the State 3200 race. This was paramount to adding insult to injury as it tops off one of the worst spring seasons for an athlete of his caliber. It simply was not what was expected to happen after nearly break 16 minutes on the difficult Sugarhouse course. There is however light at the end of the tunnel; with stellar coaching and a tremendous spirit, I would not be surprised if he puts it all together and redeems his high school running career. I know a little bit about redemption and triumph, amazing things can happen when you have one last shot and the heart to face it courageously. He showed his potential in 2008 and I believe that Jamal Tongo will be a primary player for the 5A state crown.
H5O Upset Pick:
Dallin Taylor
Garrett Jones/Alta H.S. 3rd/15:52.9
2009 State Track: 10th 1600/4:29.32
7th 3200/9:44.77
Steve Morrin/Lone Peak H.S.
2008 State XC: 9th, 16:06.2
2009 State Track: 2nd 1600/3200 4:22/9:30
Austin West/ American Fork H.S.
2008 State XC: 8th, 16:02.4
2009 State Track: 3rd 3200/9:33.6
11th 1600/4:29
Robby Lee/ American Fork H.S.
2008 State XC: 16th 16:17.7
2009 State Track: 4th 3200/9:35.33
8th 1600/4:28.35
Dallin Taylor/ Hunter H.S.
2009 State Track: 5th 3200/9:35.43
9th 1600/4:28.92
Jamal Tongo/Cyprus H.S.
2008 State XC: 6th 16:01.2
2009 State Track: 14th 1600/4:37.89
DQ 3200/lane violation