Troutner makes it three in a row for Utah

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Before Aidan Troutner delays his enrollment at Brigham Young to embark on his two-year LDS mission in June, the Timpview UT senior was dedicated to completing a year-long mission to win the Nike Cross Nationals championship.

After near misses attempting to qualify last season at NXR Southwest and Foot Locker West, a more committed, focused and stronger Troutner finally got the opportunity to compete against the best in the country Saturday and delivered the finishing kick of his young career to capture the NXN individual title at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.

Troutner surged past Brentwood TN senior Brodey Hasty in the final 400 meters to secure the 5-kilometer victory in 15 minutes, 3.9 seconds, extending Utah's reign at NXN to three straight years, following back-to-back victories by American Fork graduate and future BYU teammate Casey Clinger.

"Winning a national championship is something I couldn't even dream of until this year," Troutner said. "I was just thinking at the beginning of the summer that I had to take control, of myself, of my mileage, of my races. Everything had to be my own. I couldn't rely on other people or let other people control my race. I had to control everything myself, my mileage, my workouts, my races, every single day up until now."

Hasty, who finished third last year, improved to second in 15:05.9. Redwood Larkspur CA junior Liam Anderson ascended from sixth to third in the final mile, finishing in 15:07.6 for the best performance by a California athlete since Big Bear graduate and Portland redshirt sophomore Caleb Webb took third in 2014.

"I feel like I took myself out of it with a mile left. Brodey has an amazing kick and I felt like he might go, but he was still there, still in my sights with 600, then 400 to go and I was like 'I can win,'" Troutner said. "I heard someone, I'm not even sure who, say '600 left' and I just kept reminding myself, I do this during workouts all the time. I went for it and caught up to them on those loopty hills and I was right there and I just kicked it in."

Danny Kilrea of Lyons Township IL, James Mwaura of Lincoln WA and Hasty took turns leading over the first two miles, with Troutner keeping a watchful eye on the lead pack five meters behind. Hasty eventually moved in front of Mwaura with less than a kilometer remaining, with Kilrea also falling off the pace, creating openings for Troutner and Anderson to move up on the final 350-meter straightaway to the finish.

"It was almost like my entire season just flashed (in front of me) and came together right there and I just pushed and I won it," Troutner said. "I knew I had to keep going. I knew I had enough left."

Hasty, who competed unattached this season racing against collegiate and post-collegiate athletes until he repeated as NXR Southeast champion, was in position to become the first NXN winner from Tennessee. But Troutner, whose brother in law is first cousins with Clinger, ran the second-fastest time in the four-year history of the meet at Glendoveer, trailing only the 15:03.2 produced by his future BYU teammate in 2015.

"Aidan had a fantastic kick. Best to him, that was amazing," Hasty said. "I felt like I had a pretty good race and my finish was pretty strong, but he outkicked me and he ran fantastic. I'm pretty happy to know that last year and this year, that I could run on this course pretty strong. The mud makes it pretty hard to run in, but I've stayed pretty consistent, so I feel good about it."

Mwaura, who twisted his ankle following the course run through Friday, delivered an inspired effort to finish fourth in 15:12.6. The Midwest Regional was represented by five All-Americans in the top 18, led by Kilrea (15:14.5) in fifth, Lakota East OH senior Dustin Horter (15:21.2) placing sixth, Middletown OH junior Conant Smith (15:24.9) taking eighth, Sandburg IL senior Dylan Jacobs (15:30.4) securing 13th and Whitney Young IL senior Clayton Mendez (15:32.3) finishing 18th.

Mwaura led four Northwest All-Americans, including Bozeman MT senior Duncan Hamilton (15:29.1) in 11th, Bishop Kelly ID junior Nicolas Russell (15:32.3) placing 16th and Bonneville ID sophomore Stetson Moss (15:32.3) finishing 17th.