Run like the wind: Lone Peak girls, AF individuals win 6A state cross country titles
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- Lone Peak runners and coaches pose for a photo after winning the title at the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork sophomore Skye Jensen runs past the colorful trees during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork senior Kaden Evans crosses the finish line to win the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork runners pose for a photo with the runner-up trophy after the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- An American Fork teammate congratulates sophomore Skye Jensen (right) after the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- A group of Lone Peak runners run together during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Maya Bybee runs during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork senior Kaden Evans (center) leads the pack during the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork sophomore Skye Jensen (left) poses for photos with Lone Peak sophomore Maya Bybee (center) and junior Zoey Nilsson as the top three finishers in the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork runners huddle around senior Kaden Evans (center) after the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Maya Bybee runs along the pond during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork sophomore Skye Jensen (right) leads Lone Peak sophomore Maya Bybee as they head to the finish line in the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork senior Kaden Evans (red jersey) is part of the lead pack during the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- American Fork runners congratulate senior Kaden Evans (right) after he won the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners race up the hill during the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Lone Peak runners recover after finishing the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Lone Peak runners pose for a photo after the 6A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete in the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete in the 6A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
One of the challenges when leading at the state cross country meet is that it can be hard to know when someone is catching up.
American Fork senior Kaden Evans, Caveman sophomore Skye Jensen and the entire Lone Peak girls team all felt that apprehension during Wednesday’s 6A state cross country championships at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse.
But although each was pushed hard, they all found ways to come through and win their respective state titles.
The Knights may have come in as the favorites but Lone Peak head coach Courtney Meldrum said they knew they had to be wary of Riverton.
“Riverton is a good team,” Meldrum said. “We knew they were gonna come hunting. We needed our girls to be confident. Being able to settle in during that first mile and not running too fast was just what we really wanted.”
The Knights had a plan to be prepared for the hills on the course and give themselves the best chance to win.
“This is a true cross country course, so it takes a lot of strategy,” Meldrum said. “We knew that we were gonna have to use that to our advantage today.”
Lone Peak also knew it has tremendous depth, which meant it could get a lot of finishers near the top.
“Our girls team has over 80 girls this year, so you’re going to find diamonds,” Meldrum said. “We’re really lucky to have that. They have a culture that they enjoy. They cheer for each other. I think there’s a confidence boost for them.”
The Knights had a pack of runner that stayed together and crossed the finish line as part of a team effort that resulted in Lone Peak finishing with 29 points (second-place Riverton ended up with 63).
Leading the way for much of the race was Lone Peak sophomore Maya Bybee, but Jensen didn’t panic.
“My strategy was to pick it up on the last mile,” Jensen said. “There were some nerves (being behind) but it was good.”
As the race continued, Jensen started closing the gap.
“It just felt motivating to know that I can do it and catch up with her,” Jensen said.
When the finish line came into sight, it was Jensen that had the lead with Bybee trying to catch up. The Caveman sophomore had enough left though, to get the win as she finished in 17:35.60.
“It was a really hard race, but it was fun,” Jensen said. “It’s been a really good season, training hard and then doing well in races.”
The 6A boys race also had some drama coming down the home stretch.
“It was amazing,” Evans said. “We went out really conservative (in the 6A boys race), which I knew would happen. Once we did, I was like, OK, we can destroy the back half and really race on it, which is good.”
The American Fork senior found himself in front but with Herriman junior Jackson Spencer right on his tail.
“It gets stressful, but I know the training has trained us to do what we can do,” Evans said. “I had 100% trust in the training and knew I could do it.”
When asked when he knew he had the race won, Evans said, “never.”
“I thought the last five steps he was gonna pass me the whole time,” Evans said. “It was so scary. I was just digging. I was like, find that 10th gear. Find what I can do going down that stretch no matter what.”
He raised a single finger as he crossed the tape to indicate that this year he was No. 1.
“It was awesome,” Evans said. “It was seriously something else.”
He said his goal was to break the course record at 14:42 but his time of 14:45.51 “wasn’t too bad.”
American Fork head boys cross country coach Timo Mostert said Evans did a great job preparing to make the most of his chance.
“He came in with a really good race plan,” Mostert said. “He hasn’t lost race all season, so we knew that if he raced his race and didn’t get sucked into someone else’s race, he had a chance of winning and be our next individual state champion. We have a long line of state champions that goes back to Austin West in 2009.”
Evans said it’s an “honor” to continue the Caveman championship tradition.
“It’s such an honor that following the guys that have been on this program,” Evans said. “They’ve been amazing. I can’t believe I’m here doing this, especially from where I started. So it’s been great.”
American Fork, which is ranked No. 8 in the nation, gave it everything it had but couldn’t quite catch Herriman, which is the No. 1 in the country. The Mustangs won by just six points
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to coach these boys,” Mostert said. “They’ve just invested in themselves as a family and as a team, and are doing it for each other. They’ve really matured. We only had one runner back from varsity (Evans), so it was a rebuilding year. The fact that we almost beat the No. 1 team in the nation is pretty laudatory for them.”
