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Timpanogos girls cross country team poses with their second-place team trophy at the 4A state championship. October 28, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos Anna Bliss and Sophie Paulson pose with Orem's Sydney Eraso after receiving their individual medals at the 4A cross country championships. October 28, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Orem girls cross country team poses on the podium after receiving their first state championship trophy in 24 years. October 28, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Of the genuinely happy and overwhelmingly grateful people who either attended, competed or coached at Wednesday’s 4A cross country championships, it would be hard to find anyone surpassing Orem coach Marie Glahn, and for good reason.

The second-year Tiger coach made all the rounds, dulling out hugs to what seemed half of those in attendance while lending special attention to both her girls and boys teams, both of who performed exceptionally well.

“I’m a big-talker, so I feel like I’ve been talking non-stop since we learned that we won it, but today has just been so amazing, for me, but especially for our runners,” Glahn said. “This is the first championship our girls have won in 24 years, and to do this for Andy Jacobs, who I know has been watching makes it so special for everyone.”

Jacobs, who coached at Orem for 20 years before unexpectedly passing away just prior to the 2025 cross country season, has been at the forefront in the minds and hearts of everyone involved with the Tiger program since, making Wednesday’s team championship for the girls team all the more special.

“We’re still coming off the tough situation of losing Andy, who meant so much to all of us, and there’s been some other challenges. Other sacrifices that have been made, and it’s been so much hard work and dedication,” Glahn said. “So this team — these girls have gone through so many hard things together, but that’s when magic happens. That’s when you really come together, which we did today and it’s been such a joy for me to watch every step of the way.”

Orem was one of the top teams entering Wednesday’s races, but wasn’t necessarily tabbed as the favorite. But after a successful season, and certainly after a promising start to the race, Glahn began to realize that it just might happen for her runners.

“After mile one I felt, ‘oh my gosh, we can do this today,'” Glahn shared. “And then each mile it got better and better, and then we found out we won by just one point and I just started shaking. I was just so happy and proud of all of them. It’s been stressful, but amazing and sort of overwhelming, but I couldn’t be more happy for our girls and everything they put in right now.”

As is the case with just about every racing competition, there were some disqualifications which ultimately lended Glahn’s team a more comfortable margin than previously reported, with the most notable qualification coming with Mountain View freshman, Susan Hedengren. Only a freshman, the younger sister of cross country legend Jane Hedengren, finished well ahead of the second-place finisher, but officials determined the disqualification due to Susan Hedengren having her older brother run astride her for a brief moment in the race, which is illegal due to rules against helping pace runners at any time during the race.

Orem’s runners didn’t encounter any disqualifications, however, while running a collective race that won’t soon be forgotten for a program that has had to deal with some uncommon adversity. Pacing the Tigers was Sydeny Eraso, who finished seventh overall with her time of 18:38.12. She was followed up by Kate Adams’ 14th place finish, Callie Latham, who finished in 16th place and then Liv Trimble, who placed 19th.

“We needed everyone and everyone has been a huge part of our team all year, so it’s really hard for me to point out any individual runner,” Glahn said. “Of course our seniors were very important for us. And then our captains, Liv Trimble and Maggie Glahn both did a great job in their own ways. Maggie, who is my daughter, loves to talk to everyone and is very outgoing and bubbly, while Liv is a bit different in that way, but they’ve each in their own way been beautiful of helping all of this coming together. They’re two very different personalities, but it’s really been beautiful to draw on their strengths and for the girls to respond. But it’s been everyone. Every single member of the team has worked so hard, and I couldn’t be happier to see it all come together to get this for Andy.”

Team scores

Orem, 96

Timpanogos, 132

Crimson Cliffs, 142

Cedar, 142

Highland, 149

Park City, 156

Mountain View, 158

Desert Hills, 208

Pine View, 243

Deer Creek, 247

Girls individual results

Lily Knowles, Mountain Crest, Sr., 18:11.79

Lizzie McFarland, Green Canyon, Jr., 18:18.20

Brooke Greenberg, Park City, Jr., 18:22.96

Jessica Keele, Sky View, Sr., 18:28.39

Madelyn Reeder, Highland, Sr., 18:31.23

Anna Bliss, Timpanogos, Sr., 18:33.09

Sydney Eraso, Orem, Fr., 18:38.12

Sophie Paulson, Timpanogos, Jr., 18:41.98

Arya Armstrong, Hurricane, Jr., 18:46.78

Tevye Geddes, Pine View, Jr., 18:49.63