Nation’s top two boys programs continue to build momentum toward championship battle Oct. 24 in Salt Lake City with impressive victories in respective races at Lakeside Park in Orem; Lone Peak girls pursuing back-to-back 6A titles, with Springville girls seeking sixth straight 5A crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Herriman and American Fork, the nation’s top two boys cross country teams, checked off the final boxes Tuesday at the Utah High School Activities Association 6A divisional races in preparation for what could be three head-to-head matchups in a 40-day span.

Placed in separate sections at the state qualifying competition at Lakeside Park in Orem, both American Fork and Herriman dominated their respective fields to advance with an opportunity to square off Oct. 24 for the 6A state championship at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City.

RESULTS

Herriman placed seven athletes in the top eight of its race, with a 12-second spread, producing a 20-71 victory against Skyridge.

American Fork had six competitors in the top nine of its section in a 21-49 triumph against Riverton, led by defending 6A state champion Daniel Simmons covering the 5-kilometer layout in 15:22.0.

Chase Pack was second for the Cavemen in 15:48.3, Kaden Evans finished fourth in 15:55.8, Maxwell Orr secured sixth in 16:05.3, Ben Bradshaw earned eighth in 16:11.0, Noah Nielson took ninth in 16:11.6 and Ryker Bement achieved 17th in 16:36.7.

Lone Peak’s Nathan Rummler prevailed in his section in 15:44.1, followed by seven consecutive Herriman athletes.

Jack Beckstrom grabbed second in 15:53.4, with William Steadman taking third in 15:53.6, Maxwell Hofheins placing fourth in 15:59.3, Tayshaun Ogomo finishing fifth in 16:02.0, Jonah Tang capturing sixth in 16:03.0, Micah Tang securing seventh in 16:05.0 and Hyrum Wood achieving eighth in 16:05.9.

American Fork won last year’s 6A state title with 76 points and Herriman finished fourth at 126 points.

The teams haven’t squared off this season since Sept. 1 at the Timpanogos Invitational, with Herriman edging American Fork on a sixth-runner tiebreaker after the programs both accumulated 49 points.

Lone Peak took another step toward repeating as 6A girls state champion with a 19-45 victory in its section against American Fork.

Andie Aagard, the reigning 6A state champion, clocked 18:29.4 for the Knights, who had seven athletes place in the top 10.

Boston Bybee took third in 18:47.4, Maya Bybee finished fourth in 18:55.8, Addie Meldrum placed fifth in 19:01.2, Zoey Nilsson secured sixth in 19:06.0, Brielle Nilsson earned eighth in 19:12.8 and Anna Bybee was 10th in 19:19.8 for Lone Peak.

Avalon Mecham was runner-up in 18:31.3 for American Fork, which had six competitors in the top 16.

Westlake won its 6A section by a 35-74 margin against Riverton, led by a third-place finish from Millie Robinson in 19:44.8.

Skyridge’s Lucy Hawkins triumphed in 19:15.1 and Maya Oyler from Riverton placed second in 19:26.8.

Timpview sophomore Lily Alder won her 5A section in 18:10.9, helping the Thunderbirds hold off Maple Mountain by a 49-56 margin, despite competing without Jane Hedengren.

Olympus freshman Adria Favero prevailed in her 5A race in 18:39.6, with Springville achieving a 76-83 victory against Box Elder in pursuit of a sixth consecutive state championship.

JoJo Jourdon of Olympus was victorious in his 5A competition in 16:01.5, with Gabe Hooper taking second in 16:12.7 to lead Viewmont to a 51-56 triumph against Maple Mountain.

Taylorsville’s Cole Jameson won his 5A section in 16:06.3 and Alta placed five athletes in the top 16, led by fourth-place finisher Aidan Neal (16:29.1), to defeat Woods Cross by a 43-86 margin.

Julie Moore (19:19.3) and Abby Stone (19:32.9) took the top two spots in their 4A girls race to help Mountain View produce a 29-51 victory against Timpanogos.

Orem edged Desert Hills by a 60-63 margin in their 4A girls section, with Hailey Shakespear from Green Canyon earning the victory in 19:25.7. Orem’s Ava Trimble placed second in 19:26.8.

Orem also relied on Austin Westfall (15:35.4) and Tate James (16:21.4) securing the top two places in their boys 4A section, as the Golden Tigers achieved a 36-50 victory against Timpanogos.

Mountain View had five athletes in the top nine in its 4A race, with Kyle Steadman earning the victory in 15:58.3 for the Bruins.

Rozlyn Stowe from Carbon won her 3A section in 18:46.5, with Ogden placing five scorers in the top 16 for a 34-52 triumph against the Dinos.

Union’s Jaylie Jenkins clocked 19:14.3 to take the top spot in her 3A race, as Canyon View had five athletes in the top 17 to prevail 59-73 against Emery.

Emery’s Camdon Larsen was victorious in 16:45.6 in his 3A competition, but Manti had four scorers in the top nine to advance with a 47-72 win.

EJ Lee of Morgan won the other boys 3A race in 17:14.2, with Canyon View placing five athletes in the top 12 to achieve a 37-63 triumph against Ogden.