UTAH STATE MEET

Simmons shines in 6A final, leading American Fork boys to 10th title, with Mountain View boys extending state record with 17th championship following 5A win; Aagard guides Lone Peak girls to third 6A crown, Springville girls secure fifth straight in 5A and Timpview sophomore Hedengren triumphs

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The Utah High School Activities Association state cross country championship meet was highlighted Tuesday by second-chance success stories, dynamic debuts and dominant dynasties at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City.

Five of the individual champions improved from runner-up performances last year, with another elevating from a fourth-place finish.

Two of the individual crowns were claimed by freshmen, with several other ninth-graders rising to the occasion in their state debuts to contribute to team titles.

And there individual repeats by a pair of competitors, with many of the most accomplished programs and coaches in state history adding to their legacies with historic achievements.

The Lone Peak girls team and American Fork boys lineup also secured Class 6A championships after both placing second last season.

Lone Peak supported junior Andie Aagard winning an individual title in her state meet debut by placing six athletes in the top 11 to produce a 30-57 victory against last year’s winner American Fork.

Aagard covered the 6-kilometer course in 17:26.6, with junior Addie Meldrum finishing fourth in 18:12.7, freshman Anna Bybee securing seventh in 18:27.1 and sophomore Boston Bybee earning eighth in 18:28.1, followed by freshman twin sisters Brielle Nilsson (18:31.7) and Zoey Nilsson (18:31.9) taking 10th and 11th, respectively.

Lone Peak coach Courtney Meldrum became the second coach in the state to win championships in 2019 at Sugarhouse Park, 2020 at Soldier Hollow and at the Regional Athletic Complex.

American Fork had junior Avalon Mecham place second in 17:47.6, freshman Sophie Steiger take sixth in 18:22.0 and junior Natalia Boltz grab ninth in 18:31.1, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Lone Peak’s depth, as the Knights secured their third 6A crown in four years.

Shelby Jensen, a four-time state finalist, was third overall for Westlake in 17:51.6.

American Fork not only welcomed junior Daniel Simmons back to the state meet after he spent last year in Idaho, but his victory in 14:49.8 was supported by five scorers in the top 25 to help the Cavemen achieve a 76-99 triumph against Lone Peak, which had senior Jaron Hartshorn take third in 15:14.0.

Seth Smith, a senior, was 12th in 15:36.6, Ben Bradshaw took 18th in 15:44.3 and fellow junior Ben Jaster finished 21st in 15:48.5, with another junior Chase Pack placing 24th in 15:52.5 for the Cavemen.

American Fork’s Timo Mostert became the first boys coach in state history to capture 10 titles, achieving the feat in 14 seasons. Simmons was the 11th individual champion for the Cavemen during that stretch.

American Fork had captured the first two 6A crowns in 2017 and 2018 at Sugarhouse Park, but watched Corner Canyon prevail in 2019, Skyridge triumph in 2020 and Farmington win last year.

Herriman, which was seeking its first boys championship since 2012, had Noah Jenkins grab second in 15:08.5 and William Horne finish fifth in 15:28.9, but placed fourth overall with 126 points, as Riverton took third with 101 points.

Mountain View extended its boys state record with a 17th championship, placing five scorers in the top 15 in the 5A final to prevail by a 48-104 margin against Orem.

Senior Tayson Echohawk took the individual crown for Orem in 14:53.7 after securing second last season and junior teammate Austin Westfall was third in 15:11.2, but the Bruins relied on their depth to repeat as champions.

Liam Heninger placed second in 15:05.2 and fellow senior Parker Barnes earned eighth in 15:20.7 for Mountain View, which had sophomore Kyle Steadman take 10th in 15:38.1.

Mack Waite, a senior, was 13th in 15:47.1 and sophomore Isaac Sohler grabbed 15th in 15:48.1 for the Bruins.

Jane Hedengren, a sophomore at Timpview who also placed runner-up last year in the 5A girls final, emerged victorious in 17:25.4 after pulling away from Mountain View senior Mari Konold (17:37.6) in the final mile.

Springville made it five consecutive championships with a 78-83 victory against Timpanogos. Mountain View, which had its pursuit of a state record 20th title hurt by sophomore Julie Moore not finishing, was third with 126 points and Orem finished fourth with 129 points.

Lydia Beus took third for Orem by clocking 18:22.3.

Sarah Galbraith not only captured her fourth team title representing Springville, but also earned all-state honors every year of her career, finishing fifth in 18:39.6.

The Red Devils had senior Lydia Templeman take 12th in 18:55.5, sophomore Savannah Galbraith place 15th in 18:58.3, junior Emily Sumsion grab 20th in 19:18.3 and senior Adri Bird finish 26th in 19:26.4.

Springville coach Sam Smith became the only girls coach in state history to guide a program to five straight 5A championships, with the Red Devils earning their sixth overall. Smith also led Springville to titles in 2019 at Sugarhouse Park, as well as in 2020 at Soldier Hollow and the past two years at the Regional Athletic Complex.

Emma Page improved from a second-place finish last year in 4A to secure the individual title in 18:58.2, leading Cedar to a 37-47 victory against Pine View, which had Brooklyn Hill take third in 19:05.6.

It marked the 10th girls team championship for Cedar, but the program’s first since 2007.

Addison Pettingill, a senior, improved from seventh last season to take runner-up in 19:03.8, helping Desert Hills finish fifth with 133.5 points.

Desert Hills captured a second 4A boys crown in three years and the sixth title in program history by producing five scorers in the top 15 in a 38-58 triumph against Snow Canyon, which had James Butterfield place second in 15:39.8.

Trey Despain of Pine View, a senior, elevated from fourth place last season to secure the individual title in 15:26.3.

Desert Hills had four seniors in the top 10, with Kaden McKinlay (15:49.1) taking third, Payton Wilkins (15:53.8) finishing fourth, Christopher Boyer (15:58.5) securing sixth and Luke Ashton (16:03.7) placing 10th.

Ogden continued its impressive run in the 3A boys final, repeating as champion and capturing a seventh title in program history with a 52-106 triumph against Canyon View.

Carter Parsons (16:11.5) and Jack Blodgett (16:15.8) were second and third for Ogden, which had five scorers in the top 20.

Richfield senior Richard Crane, runner-up last year, emerged victorious in 15:57.5.

Freshman Rozlyn Stowe made it a memorable debut for Carbon, not only capturing the 3A girls championship in 18:17.1, but contributing to five scorers in the top 25 to help the Dinos secure the first team title in program history by a 63-81 margin against Grand County.

Jaylie Jenkins, a sophomore from Union, was second in 18:26.5.

Another promising ninth-grader, Kennidee Glazier of Kanab, triumphed in the girls 2A final in 18:27.5, with North Summit relying on freshman Chayden Sargent to place five scorers in the top eight overall in a 22-40 victory against Millard.

North Summit, which won five in a row from 2013-17, started another streak with back-to-back titles to increase the program total to seven overall. Freshman Ava Sargent (20:44.3) and sophomore Adilynn Sargent (20:44.4) for North Summit.

Millard senior Michael Ralphs repeated as 2A boys winner in 16:06.0 and sophomore sibling Ben Ralphs placed second in 16:12.8, with senior Camden Moat taking fourth in 16:44.2 to lead the Eagles to a third consecutive championship and sixth overall by a 30-73 margin against North Sevier.

Freshman James Ralphs was 12th in 17:32.9 for Millard.

Adelaide Englestead not only secured back-to-back 1A girls championships in 20:06.0, but the senior contributed to Panguitch sweeping the top three spots for the first time, supported by junior Tabi Henrie in 20:11.3 and freshman Brooke Albrecht in 20:24.5, resulting in a 17-55 victory against Monticello.

Panguitch won its third straight 1A girls crown and captured an eighth title in program history.

Ashton Arnold, a junior at Altamont, ascended from a second-place effort in the 1A boys final last year to capture the program’s first title in 17:19.5.

Theil Cooke, a junior, led Water Canyon to its first championship in program history, placing second in 17:29.0 to contribute to a 36-45 triumph against Monticello.

State Champions

Class 6A - American Fork boys 76 points, Lone Peak girls 30 points – RESULTS

Class 5A - Mountain View boys 48 points, Springville girls 78 points – RESULTS

Class 4A - Desert Hills boys 38 points, Cedar girls 37 points – RESULTS

Class 3A - Ogden boys 52 points, Carbon girls 63 points – RESULTS

Class 2A - Millard boys 30 points, North Summit girls 22 points – RESULTS

Class 1A - Water Canyon boys 36 points, Panguitch girls 17 points – RESULTS