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MHS XC runners place in California race

Dec 30, 2022 02:48PM ● By Liisa London Mecham

The XC team enjoyed time at the beach while in California for the race.

Since 2017, the Morgan High Cross Country teams have been traveling to Walnut, California for the Champs Sports Cross Country Championships to give their athletes not only an opportunity for national-level competition, but also an opportunity to build stronger bonds and unity with their teammates.  This year’s trip succeeded on both levels as two Morgan runners placed and several others PR’ed on one of the “toughest cross country courses in the country,” and the team grew closer as a result of their time spent together on the trip.

The Champs Sports Cross Country Championships are sponsored by Footlocker. Four regionals, West, Midwest, Northeast and South, are held in different states late November/early December, and the top 10 qualifiers from the Regionals advance to the National Championships.  Morgan’s boys’ and girls’ teams ran at the West Regional December 3, 2022.  At the event, there were several different races: championship, open and senior, junior, sophomore and freshman races.  Morgan’s top 25 cross country athletes, ranging from freshmen to seniors, traveled to the event and raced in the senior, junior, sophomore and freshman races.

Coach Brennen Fuller was thrilled with his team’s performance.  “We had some great PRs on one of the toughest, if not THE toughest cross courses in the country! There is a huge set of switchbacks up a mountain, then a super steep vertical climb up a mountain, and then lastly, a long slow incline up the last mountain all finishing back on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC).” Although some cross country courses include inclines and hills, the Utah State Cross Country Championships are held on a flat course at Rose Park which would make it easier for athletes to get a PR (personal record).  

Fuller explained, “We had the chance to race some of the best runners in the nation, and it was an amazing experience for our athletes to keep striving to improve and compete with the best!”

“Out of the big PRs, we had two athletes bring home medals as top finishers in their age groups! Senior captain Clara Compton had her best race of the year, passing 22 runners in the last mile and a half to finish 30th place overall, snagging the last medal earned!!

“Sophomore phenom EJ Lee finished 11th place and brought home a big Championship Medal!” Fuller proudly shared. 

Lee ran a personal record of 17:11 finishing 11th out of 255 sophomore runners, and Compton completed the course in 21:46, 30th out of 160 senior runners.  Senior Josh Nicolaides ran in the championship race and finished in a time of 17:15 placing 103/180 in the fastest race of the day. If Nicolaides had run in the Senior Boys race, he would have finished fourth. Senior girls, in addition to Compton, who competed in the senior race were Alexis Weiers, Sharon Gunn, Melanie Bybee, and Paitlee Dorius.  Senior boys in the senior race included Hunter Belinski, Ian Wilde, Dylan Gines, Samuel Edwards, Tyson Adams, and Benjamin Poll.

Fuller, along with co-coach Bryan Weir, dedicate hours of time away from their families and other responsibilities to provide this opportunity for their athletes, but they certainly feel that the time spent is worth it to build their team and program.  Fuller concluded:

“We love this trip and the effect it has on our team, the culture, and the bond that exists between these kids. It is something they have to earn, and then being there, they spend so much time, make so many memories, and truly become family.”

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