PCHS takes top ten at Cross Country Running State Championships

Park City High School Cross Country Running Team competes at the Utah State Championships in Salt Lake City. Photo: Leah Hetteberg

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah —  The Park City High School cross country running team concluded its Utah season Saturday at the Rose Park Sports Complex in Salt Lake City.

The girls ran admirably against a really tough field. Sonja Preston led the female Miners at her first state meet, finishing with her best time of the year, placing 29 overall. Paige Wagner and Maddie McHenry, also competing in the state meet for the first time, were right behind, coming in 38 and 39 overall. Kaylee Hale battled to finish 56. Hailey McGuire had the best race of her life, coming in right with Hale in 57 place overall.

Ava Coccaro ran her fourth state meet, an accomplishment in itself. Lilly Hunt rounded out the team by running her best 5k of the season. Three girls were in the 19s and two in the low 20s. Springville High School came in first place, the Park City girl’s ended up in seventh place overall in the state.

“These were great accomplishments and impressive results, congrats to the whole group for a great season,” Coach Steve Cuttitta said.

Although Mountain View High School took the top spot overall, the Park City boy’s team ran with the best in the state and stepped up to the challenge with PRs all around. Chris Henry challenged the top runners throughout and came in 6th place overall with a spectacular time of 15:17. Will Shuflit was equally dominant, finishing 11th overall at 15:38. Those are the second and third fastest 5k times in Park City Miners history.

Will Fleming fought for places all the way and came in at 24. He was followed closely by Calvin Crossland, who had his best race of the season, clocking a time of 16:11. Truman Hansen stepped up in a big way to be our final scorer at 16:26.  Nick Johnstone finished off his season with a PR as well at 16:46. And Van Talbott came all the way back from injury to beat his state meet time of last year coming in at 17:11. The boys finished third in the state, but were in the mix all the way to the line. It’s the highest boys’ finish in eight years.