Recently, we sent out a coaches poll and received mixed feedback on top returning programs in each division. Now it's Hawaiian Five-Oh's turn to estimate who are potential contendars and who are the pre-season pretenders. We start with the Utah boys.
Hawaiian Five-Oh's XC Analysis: Utah Pre-Season Rankings
By: David Taylor; Milesplit Utah contributer
***Update: Due to Utah Classification Re-Alignments Timpanogos High will compete in 5A in 2009***
***Juab will compete in 3A; North Summit in 2A***
Reference: http://uhsaa.org/realignment/Final11-20-08.pdf
Ok, so here is the deal, Utah will be sending a team to NXN this coming fall, mark it down. American is basically the elephant in the room. There is no one even close. If this were a family American Fork would be that exemplar older brother who can do no wrong, whereas ParkCity would be the lonely middle child stuck leading his triplet brothers through everything (Pine View, Davis, and Mountain View). Yeah it’s great to be second, but wouldn’t it be nice to be first! Not going to happen. Barring a cataclysmic situation American Fork is going to run wild over the state of Utah. ForkHigh School
Basically American Fork returns 6 of their top 7, and 4 of their top 5. This is going to be a very good team that should undoubtedly enter the season with a top 25 National Ranking. Park, the 3A powerhouse, is in the same boat, returning 6 of their top 7 and 4 of their top 5. However, American Fork gets the edge with their first five returners being superior to the Park 3rd returner. City City
So Overall, here is out it should play out: American Fork in a land slide.
1. American Fork (5A) (could be over a hundred points better than next team)
2. Park City (3A)
3. Pine View (4A)
4. Davis (5A)
5. Mountain View (4A)
6. Alta (5A)
7. Hillcrest (5A)
8. Orem (4A)
9. Pleasant Grove (5A)
10. Springville (4A)
11. Mountain Crest (4A)
12. Canyon View (3A)
13. Hurricane (3A)
14. Syracuse (5A)
15. Timpanogos (4A)
For the classes:
5A: American Fork will handily take the 5A title. Davis High should be in a comfortable second with Hillcrest High rounding out the top three. Led by 2008 XC Coach of the Year Rob Murphy look for Alta as a darkhorse, the dominant Alta has graduated a few from last years varsity but still returns three of the top runners in the state, should they find a 4, 5 they could be a force once more.
1. American Fork High (Going to take a miracle to beat AF in 09!)
2. Davis High
3. Hillcrest High/ Alta High
Chase Group: Syracuse High
4A: Pine View High has the slight edge over perennial 4A powerhouse Mountain View High. Orem High should contend for third with a chase pack coming from Springville and Mountain Crest. Unless Mountain View puts together a “Bruin” summer, this will be a close race. However, with that much tradition, and the direction things are progressing…who knows, they may join ParkCity to challenge American Fork. I am not going to bet on it, but I don’t put it past the former National Championship program.
1. Pine View High (gonna be close!)
2. Mountain View High
3. Orem High
Chase Group: Springville High, Mountain Crest High and Timpanogos High (New Addition)
3A: ParkCity by a landslide. This one is not even in question. The only decision to be made is whether this team is going to put unity over individual goals and string together the summer necessary to move up and challenge American Fork for Utah Dominance. We shall see. What will be a great show is the battle for second between Canyon View and Hurricane which could be decided by the sixth or seventh runner.
1. Park City High (lock this one in, it will not change)
2. Canyon View High
3. Hurricane High
2A: With Juab High moving up to 3A Richfield should be a lock for the state title. New join North Summit should challenge for third.
1. Richfield High
2. Parowan High
3. North Summit (New Addition)
1A: St. Joseph should without doubt claim this title. They will however face a challenge from Piute and RichHighSchool. This is basically St. Joseph’s to lose as they are the premier legacy in 1A cross country, perhaps they should be renamed Championship High.
1. St. Joseph High
2. Piute High School
3. RichHigh School