Run like the wind: Hedengren, Alder set pace as Timpview girls wins 5A cross country title
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren (left) congratulates junior Lily Alder after they finished first and second in the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren wins the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview runners pose for a photo with the championship trophy after winning the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren competes during the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview junior Lily Alder competes during the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren (left) and junior Lily Alder pose for photos after they finished first and second in the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren smiles at the finish line after finishing the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior Jane Hedengren competes during the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview runners start the 5A girls state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Timpview senior David Boyce competes during the 5A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Springville senior Joey Rees races down the hill during the 5A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete during the 5A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete during the 5A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
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- Runners compete during the 5A boys state cross country race at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Timpview junior Lily Alder ran a phenomenal race in Wednesday’s 5A state girls cross country championships at Sugarhouse Park in Sugarhouse, covering the distance in 17:21.86. That’s 14 seconds faster than any of the girls from any of the other classifications and running one of the fastest times ever on that course
But since Alder runs for the Thunderbirds, that time put her in second place on her own team.
That’s because Timpview senior Jane Hedengren has been rewriting cross country and track record books throughout her career and did so again on Wednesday, finishing a full minute in front of Alder and smashing the course record by 54 seconds.
“It was a celebration, a celebration of my time in high school, a celebration of the hard work I’ve been putting in, and just a celebration of the relationships I’ve been able to grow on this team,” Hedengren said.
As expected with such an impressive time, Hedengren spent much of the race running by herself. So what was she thinking?
“I was just leaning into a lot of gratitude and inspiration running on this course, specifically because it’s so historic,” Hedengren said. “So many state races have been put on here at Sugarhouse Park, and so many amazing athletes have come through the cycle. As I was running out there, I was just glad to be out there, glad for the weather to be so gorgeous, and just glad to be out there with my team and to be healthy.”
The state championship course route is slightly different than what has been run in the past at Sugarhouse Park, which will likely be acknowledged in the official state record books, but Hedengren said she loves the challenges of the competition at that location.
“It’s true cross country, right?” Hedengren said. “You’ve got the cold weather, the hills, some mud. It’s great. I’m a big fan.”
Timpview head coach Jaimie Ribera agrees, saying this is where state cross country belongs.
“Everyone has wanted to come back to this course, myself included,” Ribera said. “It just feels like the state meet. To have those course records that go back years and years, it’s very spectator friendly and the hilly course makes it much more like a true cross-country race. I’m really grateful to the UHSAA for letting us come back and I hope that it stays here you know for the duration.”
Ribera enjoyed the thrill of seeing Hedengren and Alder put on a show but said she knows what it took for them to get there.
“With any elite athlete, you see them race, and it’s great and it’s fun and exciting,” Ribera said. “But I think I’m really privileged to be able to see behind the scenes. They just work their freaking butts off. Both of them. They are the hardest workers, the most dedicated, constantly willing to sacrifice, going to sleep early, willing to work on recovery, being really encouraging the teammates. They really do put in all the back work to make those things happen. Obviously they both are exceptionally talented, but they really use that talent to the best of their ability.”
While the top two were the duo in the spotlight, Ribera said the rest of the Thunderbird squad also deserved tremendous credit for getting Timpview another state title.
“When you have No. 1 and No. 2, that’s a great way to end a race,” Ribera said. “But Jane and Lily didn’t run at region because of their schedules and we won region without them. We have a strong team, one to 10. Everyone works hard and they’re great kids. This has been a really, really good group.”
Hedengren’s face lit up a lot more when she was talking about her team than when she talked about her own accomplishments.
“I have the best team,” Hedengren said. “I’m just so glad I’ve been able to spend my four years here at Timpview High School. We have some really strong athletes and I think Jaimie’s done a really great job of developing us over the years and just believing in us. We’ve been able to kind of see the work and determination pay off.”
Timpview finished with 72 points, 60 points in front of second-place Box Elder. Springville ended up third, Salem Hills came in fifth and Maple Mountain was sixth. Red Devil junior Maya Boyer was the only other Utah Valley runner in the Top 10 as she finished 10th.
Area athletes also had some solid success in the 5A boys race, which was held prior to the girls race at Sugarhouse Park.
Wasatch senior Alexander Spencer got fifth overall, while Maple Mountain senior Aidan Cope was ninth and Timpview senior finished 10th.
The Golden Eagles had the best team finish, coming in fifth overall. Taylorsville was able to edge Viewmont for the state title, while Bountiful senior Hayden Hooper won the individual title.
