SALT LAKE CITY — The Desert Hills boys cross country team just keeps winning, even on a day when the Thunder didn’t run their best.
Desert Hills took the boys XC title easily with five of seven runners placing in the top 11 at the state cross country meet in Sugarhouse. It is the third straight title for the DH boys. Stansbury won the girls title, upsetting favored Pine View by a single point.
Creating a dynasty obviously isn’t easy, but for Desert Hills cross country coach Logan Fielding, it wasn’t too hard when the program is filled with excitement.
“The kids just bought into the system a few years ago and when we won our first title, the excitement level grew,” Fielding said. “Then we started getting younger kids in the program, freshmen and sophomores. The success of the program spread by word of mouth and that created even more strength.”
Led by four seniors, Desert Hills easily outdistanced second-place Pine View and third place Stansbury. DH had 32 points with PV checking in with 59 and the Stallions ending up with 76.
“We’re kind of scratching our heads a little bit because we were a lot slower than usual today and definitely slower than last year,” Fielding said. “It was windy and colder than we’re used to and they changed the course a bit, but we’re not unhappy. It was great competition with Pine View taking second. They are our biggest rival. We’re super happy, even if we didn’t run as fast as we wanted to.”
Pine View runner Nick Hill took the overall individual prize, finishing the three-mile course in 15:43.5. Canyon View’s McKade Steffenson was second at 15:50.6 and DH’s Jaiden Melendrez was the top placing underclassman. The junior took third with a time of 16:00.4.
“We’ve been trying all year to be careful with Nick because he tends to push himself and develop some overuse injuries,” said Pine View coach Dave Holt. “We’ve held him back and had him help his teammates. We told him it was time to open it up. The Nick we saw today wasn’t an anomaly. He’s a force to be reckoned with.”
Hill, who place 11th at state last season, is known for his work ethic.
“He’s almost a laid back California surfer-type guy, but when it’s time to get down to business, he gets it done,” Holt said. “You have to believe in yourself to be a state champion and be confident. He’s really a well-rounded kid. He’s got a 3.99 GPA. He’s an awesome kid and it couldn’t have happened to a better guy to have it all click for him today.”
Both Desert Hills and Pine View have key runners returning for next season. Melendrez will lead the way for DH, along with junior Spencer Ford (fifth at state) and sophomore Bryson King (15th). PV will return Dallen Gillespie (eighth), Mitchell Price (12th) and sophomores Carson Horspool (14th) and Alex Hill (39th).
Boys Team scores:
1. Desert Hills 32
2. Pine View 59
3. Stansbury 76
4. Canyon View 93
5. Cedar 129
6. Logan 211
7. Grantsville 218
8. Union 237
9. Bear River 267
10. Hurricane 278
Full results: Boys 3A State Cross Country Meet (via runnercard.com)
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
It was a weird finish at the girls meet in Sugarhouse. Pine View was originally named the state champion as several runners from other teams were disqualified for running off-course. After an appeal and recalculation, the DQed runners were reinstated and the final results were re-tabulated.
In the end, Stansbury emerged as the team champ, beating Pine View by a single point.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our girls,” Holt said. “It wasn’t necessarily our best race, but the girls ran with all their hearts and they handled the situation really well. It was an emotional day, but the kids are going to come back even stronger, not just in running, but in life.”
The Stallions finished with 60 points, just ahead of PV’s 61, while Park City was third with 83 and Desert Hills came in fourth with 88 points.
The individual state title went to Union’s Kennedy Powell, who finished in 18:58.4. Stansbury’s Zoe Hales was second at 18:59.4 and Desert Hills freshman Bailey Brinkerhoff was third with a time of 19:00.5.
Other top individuals from southern Utah include D-Hills freshman Lily Poulton (fifth at state), Pine View’s Meskerem Stucki (eighth) and Cedar frosh Mic Webster (ninth).
Girls team scores:
1. Stansbury 60
2. Pine View 61
3. Park City 83
4. Desert Hills 88
5. Cedar 123
6. Canyon View 200
7. Snow Canyon 230
8. Tooele 249
9. Bear River 275
10t. Logan 298
10t. Juab 298
Full results: Girls 3A State Cross Country Meet (via runnercard.com)
Academic All-State
3A Boys (Combined GPA 4.0)
Austin Christenson, Bear River
Matthew Matheson, Canyon View
Dalton Latimer, Carbon
Gabriel Van Dyke, Carbon
Joshua Dickison, Cedar
Adam Martin, Cedar
Seth Palmer, Cedar
Tanner Sharp, Desert Hills
Austin Eyring, Dixie
Ike Urquhart, Dixie
Wesley Allen, Grantsville
Nathan Beckett, Grantsville
Elliot Willmore, Logan
Preston Warby, Pine View
Kellon Sandall, Richfield
Nathaniel Johansen, Stansbury
Levi Miller, Union
3A Girls (Combined GPA 3.99)
Mariah Pace, Bear River
Allyson Berri, Canyon View
Katrina Arnell, Cedar
Kaylen McGuire, Cedar
Whitney Yardley, Cedar
Elyse Doty, Desert Hills
Sharlene Gunn, Morgan
Claire Brieholz, Park City
Teisha Truman, Snow Canyon
Maggie Beazer, Stansbury
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