UTAH STATE MEET

No. 1 Herriman Climbs Past American Fork To Win Utah 6A Team Title; Timpview's Hedengren Wins 5A Final By A Minute At Sugar House Park; Lone Peak Extends Domination With Girls Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Donal Pearce photos

INTERVIEWS

Jane Hedengren called Wednesday's state finals race at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City "a celebration," and was especially glad to be healthy. 

The Timpview senior tore off the starting line and made the 3-mile tour of the Utah cross country championships' traditional home in 16:21.5. That's the first time anyone has run under 17 minutes in a girls final in Utah. 

And even though it was her third state title, the past two years' wins came despite injury. Last year, Hedengren shut down her season after the state meet and didn't participate in the postseason. 

Again this fall, there were a few weeks fraught with worry over an ailment she couldn't figure out. Despite some impressive race results, she was experiencing fatigue and had her blood analyzed to try and find the root of the problem. 

On Wednesday, Hedengren was fit and healthy and she left a lasting mark on the Utah state meet. 

"The past two weeks I've gotten back to feeling like my old self," Hedengren said. "It's amazing. I'm happy to be running, happy to be healthy."

The BYU recruit was followed across the line by teammate Lily Alder and Timpview won its second straight Class 5A team title with 72 points. 

The big news in the 6A finals was that reigning NXN champion Herriman was able to get past American Fork to win its first state title since it won 4A in 2012. 

With four runners in the top nine and a strong close for fifth man Noah Manwaring, Herriman beat American Fork 44-50. 

"We knew that we needed to get positioned well," Herriman coach Doug Soles said. "All of the guys in our fifth spot were a little banged up so we knew that was an area we had to run well. We were a little bit behind where we needed to be and Noah Manwaring kicked really hard at the end and put us in a good spot and we were able to hold on for the victory."

Kaden Evans gave American Fork plenty to cheer about as he moved up one spot from his runner-up finish in 2023 and won the individual title in 14:45.6. That's the second-fastest time ever at Sugar House Park, behind Casey Clinger (2016). 

Evans is American Fork's 13th individual boys champion in the past 16 years and followed back-to-back wins by Nate Jaster (2020-21) and Danny Simmons (2022-23). 

"He races like he trains," American Fork coach Timo Mostert said of Evans. "He's very strong, he's doing the right stuff. He's been on the varsity for three years so he has a lot of experience running in super-big races."

Lone Peak won its fifth girls team championship in six years, scoring 29 points to win the 6A title as Maya Bybee and Zoey Nilsson finished second and third behind American Fork's Skye Jensen (17:35.6).  

Team Champions - RESULTS 

Class 6A - Herriman boys 44 points, Lone Peak girls 29 points

Class 5A - Taylorsville boys 66 points, Timpview girls 72 points

Class 4A - Mountain View boys 32 points, Mountain View girls 62 points

Class 3A - Canyon View boys 72 points, Carbon girls 91 points

Class 2A - Millard boys 77 points, North Summit 31 points

Class 1A - Monticello 59 points, Panguitch girls 28 points