If air quality was a concern for you in Utah this weekend, it was likely a bigger concern in Boise, where they ran the Bob Firman Invitational. Regardless of particulate levels in the air, those who competed seemed to run very well this weekend. And there were not a few stunning outcomes this last weekend:
Bob Firman Invitational
That great shaking of the foundations you heard was Herriman beating Davis to alter the known order of things in the Utah universe. North Central and Aracadia went 1-2, but then it was a string of tightly-packed Utah teams, with Herriman leading the pack. Herriman needs to find a way to package this momentum and carry it through the remainder of the season.
You don't go to Bob Firman to run a B-team kind of effort, so Davis has to be looking at how the put the wheels back on this wagon. The Darts finished one point behind Herriman, two points ahead of Ogden and 14 points up on Mountain View. Suddenly, a lot of possibilties that seem closed before look very much open now.
Ben Saarel, Jake Heslington, and Jordan (can somebody set me straight on the correct spelling of Cross's first name, please?) Cross take top individual honors among the Utah boys, finishing third, fourth, and ninth, respectively. Saarel's 15:08 doesn't just look like an outstanding time; it is an outstanding time.
On the girls side of things, this meet seems to have witnessed a revival of Park City's fortunes. The Miners were conspicuously second behind a very solid Davis girls team. with Skyline going third, Orem fifth, and Ogden sixth. At this moment, the injury bug seems to have bitten the Ogden Tigers, but there's time to get the wheels back on this wagon, too.
As we've grown accustomed to seeing, Summer Harper paced the Utah girls in second, but Shea Martinez likely had her best meet of the season to date in third. Lucy Biles, Sarah Feeny, Ellie Child, and Emily Rich continue the parade of Beehivers at the front of the field. There is a gnawing sense, however, that the times being posted have plateaued for the moment.
On-Site Coverage
XC Wknd 9/22: Erba fastest ever in IN! CBA perfect 15 at Bowdoin, North Central rolls at Firman!
Alli Cash rolls Rim Rock. US#1 Christian Brothers Academy started their quest for another national title in Wappingers Falls NY with a perfect 15 score. (Photo by Michael Frazier)
Meet Results
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Miranda O'Very (Mountain Crest) 18:59.31; Olivia Redd (SUGAR-SALEM HIGH SCHOOL) 19:00.40 SB; Summer Harper (Orem) 18:10.25 SB; Louisa Serpe (TIMBERLINE HIGH SCHOOL) 19:23.23; Shea Martinez (Davis High School) 18:13.43 SB; Millika Holbrook (Woods Cross) 19:26.49; Lucy Biles (Herriman High) 18:17.49 SB; Tori Parkinson (Mountain Crest) 19:27.96; Sarah Feeny (Ogden) 18:18.57; Ellie Child (Davis High School) 18:25.10; Emily Rich (Bingham) 18:35.17; Alisse Walker (Park City) 18:50.83 SB; Caroline Weiler (Skyline High School) 18:58.00 SB; Maddy Kauffman (Lehi) 19:00.36 SB; Mikayla Malaspina (VALLIVUE HIGH SCHOOL) 19:02.67 SB; Jessica Sams (Ogden) 19:03.07; Candace Greenwood (Orem) 19:09.26 SB; Joanna Boyd (Davis High School) 19:11.74; Sophie McDonald (Park City) 19:11.98 SB; Jackie Heaps (Lehi) 19:13.84 SB; Kami Hartley (Herriman High) 19:15.70 SB; Melissa Garrett (Ogden) 19:20.59; Annie Orr (Park City) 19:20.64 SB; Chelsey Johnson (Davis High School) 19:22.58 SB; Sierra Manzer (Melba High School) 19:24.98 SB; Mikell Wood (Davis High School) 19:25.36; Madison Garlock (Davis High School) 19:25.69 SB; Alyssa Snyder (Park City) 19:26.30 SB; Mary Christensen (Timpanogos) 19:29.82 SB; Cheryn Trapp (VALLIVUE HIGH SCHOOL) 19:31.21; Natalie Matthews (Skyline High School) 19:33.77; Jeni Townsend (Skyline High School) 19:35.83; Ashley Tyndall (Davis High School) 19:36.08; Marlee Mitchell (Bingham) 19:42.77; Carly Hansen (Butte County High School) 19:43.46 SB;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Jerrell Mock (Logan) 15:49.68; Andrew Rafla (TIMBERLINE HIGH SCHOOL) 16:28.03; Ben Saarel (Park City) 15:08.26 SB; Jake Heslington (Timpanogos) 15:26.70 SB; Estevan De La Rosa (Arcadia High School (SS)) 15:46.90 SB; Mitchell Pratt (Arcadia High School (SS)) 15:47.26 SB; Jordan Cross (Ogden) 15:50.70; Andrew Brewer (Bingham) 15:53.49 SB; Chuk Mitchell (Herriman High) 15:58.44 SB; Jaydn Asay (Mountain View) 16:01.25; Brayden Cromar (Davis High School) 16:02.40; Jack Dailey (Judge Memorial Catholic HS) 16:02.63 SB; Rory Linkletter (Herriman High) 16:07.69 SB; Alex Hedquist (Davis High School) 16:19.14; Gordon King (Mountain View) 16:19.37 SB; Paxton Patey (Maple Mountain High School) 16:22.88 SB; Mike Buckley (Ogden) 16:25.02; Nathaniel Wilcox (Timpview) 16:27.21; Erich Olschewski (Bingham) 16:28.89; Connor Jones (Herriman High) 16:29.75 SB;
Nebo XC Invitational
Unlike most of Utah's powerhouse programs, American Fork stayed home this weekend. And maybe a lot of the schools at this meet wish that they hadn't. I don't know.
After the usual win by American Fork in the boys division, it was Bonneville in a solid second. This meet thus validates the Bonneville performance of two weeks ago. Colby Myers and Cade Perry lead the pack, but this is a very good team, and yet another team to consider in the 4A race.
The American Fork girls were nearly as dominant as their male counterparts, but Maple Mountain did keep it very close through three runners. If you show up for a race against American Fork, however, you'd better have five. And that would be five who can finish a 5K at right around 20-flat or better.
Individual honors to Jordan's Tavia Dutson and Alta's Kramer Morton. Mr. Morton has won a few races lately. Pine View's Michael Finch ran an impressive second in the boys race, as did Cedar's Aimee Bryson in the girls event.
Girls Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Tavia Dutson (Jordan) 19:37.40; Aimee Bryson (Cedar High School) 19:44.00;
Boys Highlights
- 5,000 Meter Run - Kramer Morton (Alta) 15:56.00; Michael Finch (Pine View) 16:01.00; Connor Mcmillan (American Fork) 16:03.00; Tyson Green (American Fork) 16:06.00; Brayden McLelland (American Fork) 16:07.00; Colby Myers (Bonneville) 16:16.00; Cade Perry (Bonneville) 16:19.00; Zac Jacklin (American Fork) 16:30.00;
Utah Pre Region 3 Meet
If the names of Tavia Dutson and Kramer Morton seem peculiarly familiar, it would be because you just read them. But Nebo wasn't the only race they won in the last week, just the biggest race they won in the last week. They dominated here as well, and probably at a more moderated level of effort.
Wasatch Rendezvous
Spelling seems to be my issue of the week. Does this meet name use a variant spelling of Wasatch?
I won't even attempt to decode the scoring of this meet. If you were there, you understand what went on. The big idea is to match teams first, second, third, etc. runners in mini-races. Of note is the fact that St. Joseph's Lyna Garcia was the only non-first runner among the females to break 20. Her 19:57.9 put her at the top of the 3rd runner race, but you will look in vain for a St. Joseph's #1 or #2 in those races. Nice run, but I'm puzzled about the placement. Cedar's Aimee Bryson had the top run of the day at 18:40.
For the boys, it was East's Tomy Gutierrez with the top run of the day, and the only sub-16, at 15:49.