Morgan Boys Claim Region 13 XC Title Girls finish third
Oct 14, 2024 03:26PM ● By Liisa London Mecham
The Trojan XC team runs as one family, running for each other. Coach Brennen Fuller said: “We have a pretty amazing culture among these kids this year. They are very close and would do anything for each other.” Photos Courtesy of Brennen Fuller
The Morgan boys raced to a first-place title at the Region 13 Championships, Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Cottonwood Complex. Four Trojans finished in the Top 10 giving Morgan the victory with 41 points. Grantsville edged out Ogden 52 to 53 for second place while Union took fourth (91) and Ben Lomond fifth (130).
Senior EJ Lee (15:20.0) claimed first place overall with junior Jonas Archibald (16:13.3) clocking in fifth and senior Maverick Guymon (16:18.5) sixth. Junior Henry Rose (16:28.4) claimed 10th place by photo finish over two Grantsville runners by .1 second. Senior Esplan McClellan, Morgan’s final scoring runner, finished 19th (17:06.7) with junior Enoch Johnson (17:11.5) 20th, and sophomore Caleb Lewis (17:35.7) 25th.
“We knew our boys had a really good shot at the title as we had seen our times against Grantsville and Union and finished ahead of them the last couple meets,” said Coach Brennen Fuller. “Our legs probably weren’t as good as they should’ve been for Region, but the boys left it all on that course for each other.”
Anytime you finish with four in the Top 10, you have a pretty good chance of winning, he said. “EJ took it a little easier and paced with the top boys most of the race before pulling away to win the individual title.”
Rounding out the top 10 was Henry, said Fuller. “He passed two Grantsville boys AT the finish line. It had to be pulled up by video to check how the kids finished. We preach to the kids that every moment, every inch, every place matters.”
Fuller and Bryan Weir, who also coaches the teams, teach the importance of teamwork and family, running for each other and the team. “We have a pretty amazing culture among these kids this year,” Fuller said. “They are very close and would do anything for each other.”
In the girls race, Union runners finished 1st, 2nd, 5th, 16th and 19th to lead their team to a first place finish (39), just two points, in front of Ogden (41) who had runners in 3rd, 4th, 11th, 14th and 15th. Morgan took third (62) and Grantsville fourth (80). The Trojans’ Alexis Cox, a sophomore, finished in the Top 10 at eighth (20:26.4), earning First Team All-Region Honors along with senior Brooke Williford who finished 10th (20:42.1). Senior Brooklyn Hill (21:41.9) placed 12th. Completing the race 20th, 21st and 22nd were freshman Ingrid Campbell (22:27.1), sophomore Brooklyn Guymon (22:30.0), and junior Resse Richardson (22:30.9). Freshman Allison Farnsworth (24:51.6) completed the varsity team times.
“Going into Region, we knew our girls would be a top three team with a chance at 2nd or even first with a perfect day,” Fuller said. “They have improved by SO much over the season to even give themselves a chance at being up there.”
The Trojans will race at Divisionals Tuesday, Oct. 15, running to advance to the 3A State Championship Meet, Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake. λ