UTAH STATE MEET

Jackson Spencer Runs 14:29.8 At Sugar House Park, Wins By More Than 45 Seconds; Herriman Edges American Fork, 60-62; No. 1 Lone Peak Girls Win Sixth Title In Seven Years

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Donal Pearce photos

INTERVIEWS

The No. 1 runner in the country, Jackson Spencer of Herriman, won the Utah Class 6A state cross country final on Wednesday with 14:29.78 on the three-mile layout at Sugar House Park. 

Spencer had plenty of time to catch his breath and enjoy the close team battle behind him as his Mustangs pulled out a narrow 60-62 victory over rival American Fork. 

"It feels great," Spencer said. "I was going into this race just hoping that I could pull out another special performance. This is the toughest course that we have to face so I'm super glad that I was able to get a fast time on it."

It was the third year in a row in which the team championship was decided by six points or fewer and it was Herriman's second straight victory. 

"If think if we stopped 400 meters out, we lose," Herriman coach Doug Soles said. "We knew that it was close and we knew that we needed to finish. We had a plan to come off that pond, cooking."

AF was led by brothers Grant and Chase Hejny, who placed fourth and fifth. 

American Fork's Skye Jensen ran off with her second straight Class 6A girls individual title with a winning time of 17:39.0.

No. 1-ranked Lone Peak, led by runner-up Maya Bybee (17:52) won its sixth girls 6A team championship in seven years, scoring 31 points. It was a similar performance to 2024 when the team scored 29 points and then went on to eventually finish second at Nike Cross Nationals. This year's team was slightly faster across the board. 

American Fork was a strong second with 52 points. 

Lily Alder of Timpview followed the three consecutive Class 5A titles won by former teammate Jane Hedengren with her winning time of 17:28.

Springville won the team title with 79 points, beating Viewmont (88) and Box Elder (97). 

Logan Rohatinsky led Maple Mountain to the 5A boys team title with his individual victory in 15:13.7. 

In the 3A finals held Wednesday, Rozlyn Stowe of Carbon turned in the fastest time by any girl in the state when she won her third title in 17:12.7.

Paul Gardner from Manti won the boys 3A crown with 15:45.1. The Richfield boys won the team title with 59 points and Carbon was second with 103. 

The meet began with the 4A, 2A and 1A finals on Tuesday. 

The Mountain View boys maintained their dominance in the 4A boys race, winning the title with 44 points. 

Peter Mecham of Orem won the individual title in 15:20.8. He wore a band on his wrist to honor Orem coach Andrew Jacobs, who died suddenly of a heart attack over the summer. 

Madelyn Reeder of Highland won the girls 4A race in 17:28.2. 

Kenidee Glazier won the 2A girls race in 18:51.2. North Summit put four in the top nine on the way to victory with 35 points.

North Sevier won the boys 2A title with 76 points. 

Panguitch swept the Class 1A team titles. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 6A - Herriman boys 60 points, Lone Peak girls 31 points

Class 5A - Maple Mountain boys 86 points, Springville girls 79 points

Class 4A - Mountain View boys 44 points, Park City girls 108 points

Class 3A - Richfield boys 59 points, Emery girls 71 points

Class 2A - North Sevier boys 76 points, North Summit girls 35 points

Class 1A - Panguitch 64 points, Panguitch girls 33 points