Local athletes dominate Grass Relays
The boys start the race during the American Fork Grass Relay cross country race at American Fork High School on Saturday, August 25, 2012. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
American Fork's Brayden McLleland leads the pack through the hay bales during the American Fork Grass Relay cross country race at American Fork High School on Saturday, August 25, 2012. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
American Fork's Diane Leach runs through the hay bales during the American Fork Grass Relay cross country race at American Fork High School on Saturday, August 25, 2012. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald
There isn’t another event quite like it anywhere in the state, and Utah County runners know how to get it done.
For 14 seasons, American Fork High School has kicked off the cross country year with the Grass Relays, a five-runner team relay event featuring a two-mile course that includes bales of hay as obstacles in multiple locations.
On Saturday, the American Fork boys won the varsity division for the fourth year in a row, setting a new team record of 51:46 and outdistancing track power Davis by 47 seconds. Mountain View, Timpanogos and Lone Peak rounded out the top five.
“That was exciting,” said Caveman coach Timo Mostert. “Our goal was to break the record. We knew that if we could do that, we’d have a chance to win.” The squad included Brayden McLelland, Caleb Thompson, Zac Jacklin, Tyson Green and Connor McMillan, all of whom also qualified for individual honors by finishing among the top 15 lap times.
“I’m always amazed at how well they do after hauling out 80 bales of hay the night before,” Mostert said.
Jake Heslington of Timpanogos got his year started out right by running the second-fastest individual lap time ever at 9:57 to top the individual winners list.
“This is mostly a team event and we wanted to make the top five, but my personal goal was to be near the top or have the fastest time today,” he said. “I want to improve my time at state and I hope to win it again.
“However, it’s not going to be easy,” Heslington added. “All of last year’s top five runners are returning this season.”
Cavemen Connor McMillan and Brayden McLelland were next after him, with Alta’s Kramer Morton and Maple Mountain’s Paxton Patey completing the top five personal times.
In the girls varsity race, the Darts were the winners as expected, by a margin of 55 seconds. Mountain Crest was second, followed closely by Orem and American Fork, with Skyline a distant fifth. Tiger star Summer Harper broke the 10-year-old course record by five seconds as she won individual honors with a lap of 11:36.
“It was a good way to push myself mentally,” she said. “I like the course and it’s fun to compete against lots of schools. The team atmosphere helps because we urge each other on instead of all running at the same time.”
Orem coach Andy Jacobs added, “Summer ran an amazing time today. She’s going to be among the top 10 or 15 in the country this year.”
Her closest competitor, Ellie Child of Davis, was 23 seconds slower. Mustang Tori Parkinson was third, Lone Peak’s Amanda Harvey was fourth, and Alta’s Whitney Paskins came in fifth.
The field of 24 teams was very fast and very competitive this year. The girls added six marks to the all-time individual list, and four to the team records. The boys added five to the individual and six to the team list.
The American Fork girls posted their best-ever team time by two minutes. “We set the previous mark the year we won state,” said coach Bruno Hunziker. “That tells you how tough the field has become.”
Most local programs will be in action again next weekend at the Utah County Invitational. It’s set to start at 9 a.m. at Lakeside Sports Park, located at 1850 W. 400 South in Orem.
Beky Beaton can be reached at bbeaton@heraldextra.com. Follow her on Twitter at @BeatonWrite.
Boys Varsity
Individual Award Winners: 1. Jake Heslington (Timpanogos) 9:57; 2. Connor McMillan (American Fork) 10:07; 3. Brayden McLelland (AF) 10:15; 4. Kramer Morton (Alta) 10:17; 5. Paxton Patey (Maple Mountain) 10:19; 6. Alex Hedquist (Davis) 10:20; 7. Jaydin Asay (Mountain View) 10:20; 8. Skyler Williams (DV) 10:25; 9. Zac Jacklin (AF) 10:25; 10. Caleb Thompson (AF) 10:25; 11. Chuck Mitchell (Herriman) 10:26; 12. Hunter Weintz (Copper Hills) 10:28; 13. Nathaniel Wilcox (Timpview) 10:29; 14. Jerrell Mock (Logan) 10:30; 15. Tyson Green (AF) 10:32.
Relay Team Results: 1. American Fork 51:46; 2. Davis 52:33; 3. Mountain View 53:21; 4. Timpanogos 53:53; 5. Lone Peak 53:53; 6. Herriman 54:14; 7. Orem 55:29; 8. Salem Hills 55:41; 9. Springville 55:49; 10. Timpview 56:11; 11. Maple Mountain 56:20; 12. Alta 56:31; 13. Woods Cross 56:37; 14. Skyline 56:38; 15. Westlake 56:38; 16. Box Elder 56:59; 17. Mountain Crest 57:11; 18. Clearfield 58:06; 19. Copper Hills 59:01; 20.Pleasant Grove 59:01; 21. Logan 59:09; 22. Payson 60:27; 23. Grand County 61:48; 24. Juab 61:48; 25. Layton 65:47.
Girls Varsity
Individual Award Winners: 1. Summer Harper (Orem) 11:36; 2.Ellie Child (Davis) 11:59; 3. Tori Parkinson (Mountain Crest) 12:04; 4. Amanda Harvey (Lone Peak) 12:05; 5. Whitney Paskins (Alta) 12:14; 6. Shea Martinez (DV) 12:16; 7. Lucy Biles (Herriman) 12:24; 8. Makayla Stepp (AF) 12:25; 9. Sierra Malm (Salem Hills) 12:27; 10. Miranda O’Very (MC) 12:33; 11. Caroline Neiler (Skyline) 12:34; 12. Millika Holbrook (Woods Cross) 12:35; 13. Candace Greenwood (OR) 12:37; 14. Joanna Boyd (DV) 12:41; 15.Brookayla Nelson (MC) 12:43.
Relay Team Results: 1. Davis 62:41; 2. Mountain Crest 63:46; 3. Orem 63:52; 4. American Fork 64:08; 5. Skyline 64:46; 6. Timpview 66:09; 7. Woods Cross 67:06; 8. Maple Mountain 67:06; 9. Mountain View 67:07; 10. Salem Hills 67:16; 11. Timpanogos 67:17; 12. Herriman 67:27; 13. Copper Hills 69:47; 14. Lone Peak 69:54; 15. Westlake 70:21; 16. Pleasant Grove 71:37; 17. Alta 72:05; 18. Clearfield 72:22; 19. Provo 72:40; 20. Springville 72:47; 21. Box Elder 74:14; 22. Juab 77:11; 23.Logan 77:59; 24. Layton 81:21; 25. Northridge DNF.
