Utah Champions Andie Aagard, Daniel Simmons Win Individual Titles; REAL Training (Niwot CO) Beats Lone Peak For Girls Team Crown; American Fork XC, Herriman XC Earn Auto Boys Berths

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

RESULTS | VIDEOS

Utah state champion Andie Aagard from Lone Peak knew she was in some fast company in the lead pack with a group of highly touted runners from Colorado. 

With 1,000 meters left, Aagard surged ahead and left Colorado's best trailing behind her. She won the NXR Southwest regional title at Coyote Run Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz. in 16:51 for a seven-second victory. 

"I didn't really go into this thinking I could win even though my coaches were telling me that I could," Aagard said. 

In a corner of the country brimming with elite cross country runners, Aagard beat Isabel Allori, the Colorado 3A state champion and Brooke Wilson, the Colorado 5A state champion. 

Aagard's win helped Lone Peak XC of Utah place second behind US#2 Niwot (REAL Training) of Colorado. 

REAL Training scored 67 points and packed five scorers between ninth and 23rd overall. Freshman Addison Ritzenhein led the way and was joined by Mia Prok, Anna Prok, Olivia Alessandrini and Madison Shults. 

Lone Peak locked down the second automatic berth with 84 points. 

Kadet AC (Air Academy CO) and Vista Nation (Mountain Vista CO) placed third and fourth and are eligible for selection at-large bids. 

Daniel Simmons and Tayson Echohawk, champions of their respective classifications in Utah, ran to a 1-2 finish in the boys race. Simmons burst away from Echohawk over the final 1,000 meters and ran 14:44.8 on the new regional course. 

Echohawk finished second at NXR Southwest for the second straight year. 

Mountain View UT edged Vista Nation (Mountain Vista CO) for third place, 192-198. Riverton UT took fifth with 203 points. 

Noah Jenkins' third-place finish helped lift Herriman UT to second place and its first auto berth to NXN. 

American Fork will make the trip to Portland for the 10th time under coach Timo Mostert and scored 113 points for the regional title. Herriman bounced back from a fourth-place showing at the Utah 6A state meet and scored 152 points for second.