Cross Country teams advance to state race
Oct 19, 2023 02:31PM ● By Liisa London Mecham
Morgan competed at the first round of the State Championships (Divisionals) on Oct. 10 at Lakeside Park in Orem. Junior EJ Lee won the Division B race, leading the boys’ team to a third-place finish. The girls’ team took sixth place, and both advanced to the State Finals on Oct. 24 at the Rose Park Complex.
For the first year ever, the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) hosted Divisional races as the first round of the state meet. Morgan’s boys’ and girls’ teams both placed high enough to advance to the final race.
Junior EJ Lee led the team with a first-place finish in the Division B race with a time of 17:14.2. He finished over 11 seconds faster than Carbon’s first runner. Junior Maverick Guymon completed the course in 18:000 in eighth place. The third scoring runner was sophomore Henry Rose (18:32.9) with senior Tucker Giles (18:35.7) fourth and freshman Drake Mecham (18:55.3) fifth. Jonas Archibald (18:57.1)
As a boys’ team, Morgan scored 77 points to Canyon View’s 37 and Ogden’s 63. Competition will be tight at the state meet. Coach Brennen Fuller explained, “Our goal at divisionals was to advance to the next round. We didn’t completely taper for this race as we are continuing to work to hit our best times at state.”
He continued, “If the boys can stay healthy, we are strong. We knew both Manti and Canyon View were good, and they showed it at divisionals. We are going to do our best to give them a run for their money to bring home that trophy!”
Morgan’s girls finished sixth (150) behind Ogden (34), Carbon (52), Richfield (89), Juan Diego (112), and Juab (145). Freshman Alexis Cox garnered the spot as the top finisher for Morgan (22:58.8) and 13th overall. Juniors Brooklyn Hill (24:48.4) and Brooke Wiliford (25:15.3) were second and third scorers for the girls followed by seniors Kiara Hayward (25:31.4), MaKenna Terry (25;55.8) and Lindsay Birt (26:10.1). Sophomore Reese Richardson finished out the team (26:54.9).
Coach Fuller said, “After losing most of our varsity girls team last year, we are very pleased with how our new girls have battled. We are hoping they will battle out a top-10 finish at state!”
“I’m proud of our kids and look forward to seeing what they will accomplish when they leave it all on the course for the team next week,” Fuller said. λ
