Colorado runners double up with overall wins for first time since 2013; Cole Sprout becomes the second male athlete to earn repeat wins
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
For the first time since 2013, both individual winners at the Nike Southwest Regional represented Colorado, and for the first time in five years, both team champions were from Utah, highlighting an impressive showcase for both states Saturday at Grande World Sports Complex in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Cole Sprout became the first two-time boys regional champion since former American Fork UT standout Casey Clinger prevailed on the 5-kilometer course in 2015-16, and he might not have been the best story involving Valor Christian CO athletes, as the girls team finished second behind Lone Peak UT to earn an automatic berth for the first time in program history.
Lone Peak, fourth the past two seasons, rallied from sixth place at the mile mark to pull even with REAL Training, representing Niwot CO, after 2 miles and eventually surged in the final kilometer, relying on a second-place individual finish from junior Eliza Arrington in 17 minutes, 18.9 seconds to prevail with 95 points.
Valor XC and Distance took second with 119 points and REAL Training placed third for the second year in a row with 130 points.
Cherry Creek, competing as the Colorado Bruins, were fourth with 171 points. Sophomore Riley Stewart was the individual winner for the Colorado Bruins, clocking 17:03.8.
Corner Canyon UT, competing as Draper XC, was in control from the outset of the boys championship race, winning its first regional title with 89 points.
Utah achieved its first sweep of the team titles since American Fork captured both crowns five years ago.
Two-time regional champion Mountain Vista CO, competing as Vista Nation, took second with 131 points, atoning for a setback at the Colorado 5A state final to rival Dakota Ridge, which ran as Hogback XC.
Dakota Ridge, last year’s boys regional champion, benefited from a fourth-place individual effort from senior Connor Ohlson (14:55.1) to place third overall with 173 points. Timpanogos UT was fourth with 238.
Read more at: https://www.dyestat.com
And check out the results at: https://nxrsw.runnerspace.com