The morning of Saturday, September 5th brought the early wake up of over 1,500 high school runners and coaches all over Utah. Teams started showing up around 6:30 a.m. in sweatpants and sweatshirts, trying to keep their skins warm and ready to go in 60 degree weather with barely any hint of the sunrise. Large, dark, rocky structures towered over the flat course. The mountains right next to the course, being shadows looming over hundreds of nervous racers provided bright sun rays once the sun said good morning through the peaks.
At 7:37a.m, with thirteen 3 mile heats to be ran, the Timpanogos Cross Country Invitational was underway. Senior boys and girls started out, bringing in the first scores. Coaches and teammates moved around the course with the runners, cheering every single person on. *Due to Covid-19, family and friends were not allowed at the race as spectators. Coaches, athletes, and managers were required to wear masks if they weren't running, and social distance as much as possible. Schools had their own areas away from other schools all over the field. However, there was still a loud cheer for every team and every person and the finish line met another runner. Music blared next to the announcers stadium as runners crossed, ranging from California Gurls by Katy Perry to We Will Rock You remixes.
As the sun rose, the next six heats, each spaced 20-40 minutes apart, brought junior girls and boys, followed by varsity and varsity elite racers. The same festivity and applause was generated for every heat and every racer. Varsity Elite consisted of approximately 20 schools, supposedly the fastest 20 schools in the state. The last five races consisted of sophomore and freshman boys and girls, with the sophomore boys being split into heats due to so many signing up. Teammates and coaches continued to run back and forth through the course to cheer their friends on. Racers crossed each mile marker and the finish line, and their time was electronically recorded, giving accurate results fast. Personal records were broken all over in every heat for many runners. Feedback from racers shows that overall, it was a great race. Way to go cross country runners, we're so proud of you!
For all official results, go to http://www.runnercard.com/results3/meet?meetId=6c9dde26-c7d9-4cfb-a26d-82afe474da8e
Senior Girls Heat Top 5
1st- Bethany Blakey- 19:26- Springville High School
2nd- Natalie French- 19:41.6- Herrmian High School
3rd- Aubrey Westover- 20:00.4- American Fork High School
4th- Brianne Ericksen- 20:21.4- Salem Hills High School
5th- Mazey Schofield- 20:21.4- Springville High School
Senior Boys Heat Top 5
1st- Tim Spiesman- 15:59.7- American Fork High School
2nd- Braden Miller- 16:14.7- Farmington High School
3rd- Ryan Jolley- 16:18.3- American Fork High School
4th- Carson Bauco- 16:30.6- Farmington High School
5th- Ashton Hofheins- 16:34.1- Herriman High School
Junior Girls Heat Top 5
1st- Laurissa Blakey- 19:14.8- Springville High School
2nd- Maili Boyer- 20:16.5- Springville High School
3rd- Morgan Hatch- 20:26.7- Herriman High School
4th- Alyssa Stratton- 20:27.9- American Fork High School
5th- Lydia Rowe- 20:28- Springville High School
Junior Boys Heat Top 5
1st- Carson Wall- 15:52.4- Desert Hills High School
2nd- Jackson Henstrom- 15:57.7- Corner Canyon High School
3rd- Tate Martineau- 16:04.4- Farmington High School
4th- Matthew Neuenschwander- 16:28.8- Farmington High School
5th- William Merkley- 16:29.2- American Fork High School
Varsity Girls Heat Top 5
1st- Hailey Kidd- 18:45.3- Copper Hills High School
2nd- Amelia Hunter- 19:20.1- Salem Hills High School
3rd- Mari Briggs- 19:31- North Sanpete High School
4th- Camille Jensen- 19:36.7- East High School
5th- Erica Maestas- 19:37.3- Salem Hills High School
Varsity Boys Heat Top 5
1st- Jefferson McMullin- 15:33.9- Lehi High School
2nd- Tyler Reese- 16:01.6- Spanish Fork High School
3rd- Tyler Martin- 16:11.1- Lehi High School
4th- Gabe Sargent- 16:13.8- Morgan High School
5th- Zealand Riser- 16:20.7- Copper Hills High School
Varsity Girls Elite Heat Top 5
1st- Caila Odekirk- 17:37.4- Hurricane High School
2nd- Avalon Mecham- 17:38.1- American Fork High School
3rd- Addi Bruening- 17:59.8- Herriman High School
4th- Oakley Olson- 18:15.4- Morgan High School
5th- Sarah Galbraith- 18:20.4- Springville High School
Varsity Boys Elite Heat Top 5
1st- Brayden Packard- 14:48.5- American Fork High School
2nd- Nathan Jaster- 14:54.3- American Fork High School
3rd- Michael Moffat- 15:04- Westlake High School
4th- Anthony Davies- 15:07.3- Hillcrest High School
5th- Jedidiah Megargel- 15:11.7- Westlake High School
Sophomore Boys Heat Top 5
1st- Kyler Nelson- 16:31.5- American Fork High School
2nd- Luke Ashton- 16:36.4- Desert Hills High School
3rd- Bodie Williamson- 16:46.4- Farmington High School
4th- Kaden McKinlay- 16:56.4- Desert Hills High School
5th- Will Peeler- 16:57.4- Corner Canyon High School
Sophomore Girls Heat Top 5
1st- Audrey Wright- 19:58.6- American Fork High School
2nd- Brynn Rees- 20:05.6- Viewmont High School
3rd- Claire Babcock- 20:15.8- Corner Canyon High School
4th- Paityn Bird- 20:18- Springville High School
5th- Amelia Woolley- 20:25.6- Desert Hills High School
Freshman Girls Heat Top 5
1st- Addilyn Orndoff- 19:12- Springville High School
2nd- Alyssa Kleinman- 19:55.1- American Fork High School
3rd- Aldana Navarrete- Lamas- 20:25.9- Timpanogos High School
4th- Millie Baird- 20:34.8- American Fork High School
5th- MaKenzie Wilber- 20:39.5- Maple Mountain High School
Freshman Boys Heat Top 5
1st- JoJo Jourdan- 16:59.9- Olympus High School
2nd- Anders Berlin- 17:03.7- Timpanogos High School
3rd- Chase Pack- 17:13.7- American Fork High School
4th- Zach Hillhouse- 17:21.7- Pleasant Grove High School
5th- Clark Peters- 17:28.5- Timpanogos High School
*The author of this article is a manager for the Copper Hills High School cross country team, and had permission to be there.
