Corner Canyon boys, Lone Peak girls deliver dominant efforts to secure 6A titles; Panguitch’s Norris wins third in a row, with Woods Cross’ Hansen, Grand County’s Ricks and Grantsville’s Whitworth all repeating as champions; Lone Peak’s Arrington and Bountiful’s Mortensen run fastest overall times

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it was the bright blue eyeshadow being showcased by Lone Peak’s first champion, junior Eliza Arrington, or the army of navy blue kits worn by the Corner Canyon boys that came across the finish line one after another Wednesday, the 6A finals at the Utah High School Activities Association state championships were all about making impressive statements.

In the 5A races, one showdown among reigning champions lived up to the lofty expectations, with another falling short when one of the nation’s elite competitors couldn’t recover from an early fall and didn’t finish.

And even before those marquee matchups took place on the 3-mile layout at Sugarhouse Park and Highland, history had already been achieved with a three-peat in the 1A girls final, a classification record in the boys 2A championship and back-to-back individual titles secured by both 3A winners.

MERGED RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Corner Canyon capped the 12-race schedule with one of the most dominant efforts in meet history, following 6A individual winner Creed Thompson of Skyridge with the next four finishers and a total of five scorers in the top 10.

Thompson clocked 15 minutes, 14.3 seconds, just behind 5A winner Dalton Mortensen of Bountiful, who ran 15:14.2 for the fastest time of the meet.

Corner Canyon, which won the 5A crown last season, positioned Caleb Johnson (15:21.5) in second, Mark Boyle (15:31.5) in third, Alex Harbertson (15:34.5) in fourth and Easton Allred (15:35.9) in fifth, with AJ Rowland (15:46.8) taking 10th. Ben Dastrup, who didn’t compete at last year’s state meet, was 12th in 15:54, with Arik Manwaring (16:01.9) placing 26th.

Their collective performances, with Allred racing for only the second time this season after recovering from a stress fracture, helped the Chargers amass 22 points and a team time of 77:50, both 6A records.

Corner Canyon became only the third program in state history to run under 78 minutes on the Sugarhouse Park course, joining American Fork at 76:31 in 2016 and Springville at 77:14 in 2017. The Chargers also nearly equaled the lowest score by the champion in the highest classification, which American Fork accomplished with a 21-point effort in 5A in 2010.

American Fork, which had won the only two 6A titles since the classification was added in 2017 and had captured three championships in a row overall including a 5A crown in 2016, placed fourth with 108 points. Davis secured second with 80 points and Skyridge was third with 86 points.

It marked the lowest finish for American Fork, winner of nine overall titles under coach Timo Mostert, since placing eighth in 5A in 2006.

Lone Peak atoned for a disappointing runner-up finish behind American Fork in last year’s 6A girls final, relying on Arrington’s victory in 17:55.7 – the fastest female time of the meet – to place four scorers in the top six and five athletes in the top 20 to run 91:59 and prevail over the defending champions by a 31-86 margin.

Eliza Mason (18:12.3) was third, Reagan Gardner (18:14.3) took fourth, MacKenzie Meldrum (18:20.2) finished sixth and Katie Bybee (19:16.9) earned 18th for the Knights, who not only captured their first team title, but also became only the second program in state history to run under 92 minutes, joining American Fork clocking 91:45 in 2015.

Hope Preston (18:08.3) finished second for Davis, which took third overall with 94 points.

The top individual girls matchup saw Woods Cross junior Carlee Hansen repeat as 5A champion, clocking 17:56.5 to hold off course record holder and last year’s 4A winner, senior Anna Martin of Lehi (18:00.4). Hansen became the first female athlete to capture back-to-back 5A crowns since Lucy Biles of Herriman in 2013-14.

Martin was competing in only her third race of the season after returning from a knee injury, but still pushed the pace from the gun, building a two-second lead at the mile and running stride for stride with Farmington’s Elisabeth Ferrell and Hansen through the 2-mile mark.

Hansen, the second-fastest miler in state history, relied on her impressive closing speed to pull away from Martin and Ferrell in the final 600 meters. Alta’s Morgan Jensen (18:10.2) rallied to finish third, with Ferrell (18:15.5) placing fourth.

AnnaBeth Templeman (18:40.6) took fifth to lead three Springville scorers in the top 10 and five athletes in the top 20, as the Red Devils repeated as champions with a 45-83 victory over Farmington.

Skyline senior Thomas Boyden had been the most dominant performer in the state throughout the regular season and had discussed prior to the 5A final the possibility of trying to challenge the course record of 14:42.9 achieved in 2016 by American Fork standout Casey Clinger.

But the dreams of a state championship and potential record run were dashed when he slipped and fell leading past the mile mark and despite an inspired effort to catch up to Mortensen with less than a mile remaining, his adrenaline could only carry him so far and the buildup of lactic acid resulted in another fall late in the race and Boyden was unable to finish.

Rawson Spackman of Farmington (15:41.7) was a distant second behind Mortensen, but he did lead the Phoenix to the first state title in program history with a 70-83 victory over Timpanogos.

Carson Belnap (15:24.1) and Josh Oblad (15:45.4) finished first and third for Stansbury in the 4A boys final, helping the Stallions secure their second championship in three years with a 50-70 victory over Cedar. Belnap improved from 37th last season in 16:42.1 to capture the title.

Hurricane sophomore Caila Odekirk (18:17.6) moved up from 13th last season in 19:15.7 to win the 4A girls crown.

Jessica Hill (18:42) finished second, as Pine View rebounded from a championship setback last year against Desert Hills to win a third title in four years with a 70-118 victory.

Grand County junior Kylah Ricks (18:50.2) repeated as 3A girls champion, with Morgan also securing back-to-back titles with a 37-93 victory over Union. Ricks became the first female athlete to win consecutive 3A titles since Aimee Bryson of Cedar in 2012-13.

Grantsville senior Porter Whitworth (15:43.7) was challenged throughout by Grand County senior Evan Ellison (15:46), but managed to become the first male athlete to achieve back-to-back 3A championships since Ben Saarel of Park City in 2011-12.

Carbon had three athletes in the top 10 and all five scorers in the top 25 in the 3A final to prevail by a 57-90 margin over Richfield and capture the first team title in program history.

Rowland Hall junior Carson Burian (15:51.7) and Wasatch Academy junior Christopher Korir (15:55.3) ran the two fastest times in 2A boys history. Rowland Hall placed three athletes in the top 10 and all five scorers in the top 25 to edge Millard by a 49-52 score.

North Summit junior Elizabeth Zwahlen elevated from a runner-up finish last season in the 2A girls final to capture her first championship in 18:36. Millard junior Katy Kelly, last year’s individual winner, took third in 18:44.8 to help the Eagles secure a second straight title and third overall with a 32-62 victory over Parowan.

Panguitch swept the individual crowns in 1A, but took second in both team battles, which score only four athletes in comparison to five in the remaining classifications.

Senior Taylia Norris ran 19:17.4 to become the seventh female athlete in state history to capture at least three individual championships. Whittni Orton secured four in a row for Panguitch from 2012-15, giving the Bobcats seven of the past eight winners.

Senior Luke Reeder clocked 17:16.8 to earn his first 1A title, with Wayne placing all four scorers in the top 15 to produce a 33-53 victory.