BY DOUG CARY • [email protected] • October 9, 2008

ST. GEORGE - One week before taking to the course in the Region 9 meet, cross country runners from all seven region schools, and a boys' contingent from Parowan High, battled the heat on the Snow Canyon course during Wednesday's pre-region meet.

While Pine View's boys and Cedar's girls found the best success in handling the elements to churn out team victories, Austin Smith of Pine View and Snow Canyon's Sarah Gunn were the top individual finishers.

Smith passed Snow Canyon's Hayden Hawks, who led the most of the race, on the last down hill.

"I just watched (Hayden's) back the whole time," said Smith, who ran the three-mile race in 15:50 to complete his first victory of the year. "The race was awesome. (The course) is a pretty good indicator of state. It's my favorite course."