High School Cross-Country Runners hit stride at Cedar Invite |
Meet results and girls varsity cross country highlights |
At the Cedar Invitational, the fastest individual runners did not take home the team victories, a reminder that high school cross country rewards depth as much as speed.
Hosted by Cedar High School in Cedar City on Sept. 26, the meet brought together Region 9 programs and athletes from several other Utah schools as the season neared its final stretch.
Cedar junior Eliza Johnson won the girls varsity race in 17:51.72, finishing ahead of Pine View’s Tevye Geddes and Cedar teammate Macie Mitchell.
Johnson’s victory gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate, but the team race swung toward Crimson Cliffs, which edged Cedar 45 to 49.
Crimson Cliffs junior Jenna Clark placed fourth in 18:13.5, and senior Taylor Baldwin followed in fifth at 18:14.64, both recording personal bests.
The four-point margin made every place count, especially with nine of the top 10 girls recording personal-best times.
Johnson was the lone exception, winning despite finishing roughly three seconds shy of her own best mark.
Those girls varsity cross country performances showed just how competitive the field has become heading into the postseason.
The boys race brought a similar split between individual glory and team strength.
Desert Hills senior Jackson Mathews pulled away early and won in a personal-best 14:48.87, the fastest finish of the day.
Behind him, Pine View took the next three places, giving the Panthers a 30-point team total against Desert Hills’ 45.
Benji Williams led that Pine View group in second, followed by Elliot Haendiges in third and Nate Lee in fourth.
Desert Hills senior Travis Carpenter completed the boys’ top five.
Taken together, the cross country meet results offered Cedar City spectators two compelling races: a narrow girls team contest and a boys win built on runners finishing close together.
With the 4A divisional meet scheduled for Oct. 14 in Orem and state championships planned for Oct. 28 in Salt Lake City, the stakes are rising for these runners.
The Cedar Invitational showed that individual breakthroughs can turn heads, but teammates crossing the line together can change the standings. |
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Pine View boys are looking dangerous heading into postseason. Getting three guys in the top four is the kind of depth that wins region titles.
Greg TwitchellThey are for real. Benji Williams has been building all season too. I would not want to line up against that group at regionals.
I live right by Cedar High and had no idea this meet was happening. Next time I am definitely going to walk over and watch. Sounds like it was a great afternoon.
Tasha M.Seriously it is a fun low key way to spend a Saturday morning. The races go quick but there is usually a good crowd and you can walk the course to watch at different spots.
Does anyone know if the divisional meet in Orem is open for spectators to come watch? My daughter runs for one of these schools and I want to make the drive.
Crimson Cliffs kids ran smart. Clark and Baldwin both got personal bests and that was enough to tip the whole team score. Depth wins every time.
Kim LarsenTotally agree. Clark and Baldwin both PR-ing on the same day at the same meet is not a coincidence. That team is well coached.
Jackson Mathews running 14:48 as a senior is no joke. Hope he has a great run at state in Salt Lake.
joshXCThat time on that course is legit. If he runs anywhere close to that at state he could sneak into the top ten for sure.
Nine out of ten girls ran personal bests at this meet. That tells you the conditions were perfect that morning. Perfect weather for it honestly.
Four points. Four points decided the girls team race. I feel bad for Cedar but that is just how cross country works sometimes.
Dave S.Four points is nothing. One runner having a slightly off day and it flips completely. Cedar will be hungry heading into divisionals for sure.
My son ran in the JV race that day and the energy at the course was awesome. Cedar does a great job hosting every year.
cedar_mom22Same, my daughter did JV too! The course was in great shape and the volunteers were on top of everything. Cedar really does put on one of the better meets in the region.
Pine View swept 2nd 3rd and 4th in the boys race and still lost because Mathews was just that far ahead. Wild how one guy can do that.
Tyler RoundyRight, and those three guys finishing together actually worked in Pine View's favor for the team score. Just hard to overcome a 14:48 at the front.
Eliza Johnson is so fun to watch. That girl is something else and she won the whole race without even hitting her best time. Crazy talented.
Brenda K.She was calm the whole race too, never looked like she was pushing to her limit. Kind of scary to think what she can do when she actually goes for it.