Pine View High to host many of state’s top track and field athletes at weekend invitational

Dixie High sprinter Caidan Cooper warms up at a recent practice, St. George, Utah, March 9, 2023 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Hundreds of track and field athletes from around the state are scheduled to compete in the 31st Pine View Invitational / MVP Sports Championships this weekend.

The meet’s sessions are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. For a full schedule and other details, see the Pine View High School track and field webpage.

This year’s participants include approximately 40 full teams, ranging from 1A to 6A schools, plus more than a dozen other smaller groups or individual competitors.

Pine View head coach David Holt said the meet has historically been one of the fastest meets of the season. 

“Nearly every meet record is a state record or held by a state record holder,” he told St. George News.

Pine View senior Trey Despain competes in the 1600-meter run at the Snow Canyon Invitational track meet, St. George, Utah, March 11, 2023 | File photo by Jacqui Knighton, St. George News

“This year, the top races look to be the distance races, which are always some of the best in the state,” Holt said, adding that this year’s field includes several national cross-country all-Americans athletes, including Tayson Echohawk of Orem (an Oregon commit), and Liam Heninger and Parker Barnes of Mountain View.

Additionally, Pine View’s own Trey Despain, a senior, has run the 10th fastest 1600-meter race in the nation so far this season, his coach added.

Other top boys teams scheduled to compete include Herriman and Riverton, while Lone Peak’s girls team also includes multiple all-American athletes.

Fremont High School sprinter and long jumper Amare Harlan, the state record holder in the girls 100-meter dash, also is expected to compete at Pine View this weekend.

In the boys sprints, Dixie High senior Caidan Cooper is expected to once again be a top contender. He placed second at state in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races last year, in addition to helping the Flyers to a first-place finish in the 4×100 relay. During this year’s indoor season, Cooper also posted a time of 6.95 seconds in the 60-meter dash at a meet in early February.

“One of the great things about this meet is the opportunity it gives for local teams from all classifications to compete against some of the very best in the country,” added Pine View coach Holt.

Meet results will be posted online and updated as they happen on runnercard.com.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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