American Fork UT sweeps NXN SW team titles

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

American Fork didn't just get its top-ranked boys qualified for the NXN Championships in Portland. This year the AF girls are going as well.

RESULTS

The boys team from Davis UT and the girls from Desert Vista AZ also qualified automatically for the national championship on Dec. 6. Left on the bubble after Saturday's action at Grande Sports Academy is a high quality third-place team in Davis UT.

Individually, junior Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy CO outkicked Fort Collins sophomore Lauren Gregory 17:11 to 17:15.

"We were going though the mile with a good group that included me, Lauren, Lucy (Biles), Alyssa (Snyder) and Dani Jones," Rainsberger said. "Lauren and Lucy pushed it to two miles and then Lauren started to get about 50 to 75 feet on me."

With about 800 meters to go, Rainsberger started to go after Gregory and finally caught her with about 100 left.

The matchup of Colorado's top two female runner this fall came nearly a month after the state meet. Rainsberger (4A) and Gregory (5A) both won their respective class championships.

Despite a month off from racing, Rainsberger said that extra time was good for a solid, uninterrupted training block.

"(Winning) is an amazing feeling, knowing that ll the hard work and practices through the season are coming to an end and it's not for nothing. The end-game is in two weeks and it's exciting and rewarding," she said.

With 800 to go, Rainsberger knew it was time to move or that Gregory wouldn't be caught.

"At that point I just wanted to give it everything I had," she said. "I was worried she was going to come out with the win. Lauren is national-class. She's the real deal."

On the very quick 5K course, seven boys broke 15 minutes, led by Josh Collins of Wasatch UT.

Collins made headlines back on Oct. 22 when the doggedly pursued Conner Mantz in the Utah 4A final and burst past him to win the race as the two-time Foot Locker finalist fell to the track with 50 meters to go.

But Collins' performance was eye-opening then and indication of toughness that showed again Saturday.

Collins finished in 14:55 to beat a group that included Carlos Villareal (14:55), Eric Hamer (14:56), Casey Clinger (14:56), Paul Roberts (14:57), Alek Parsons (14:59) and Zac Jacklin (14:59).

Even with three of the top five team scorers in the boys championship (2-3-5), American Fork only managed to beat its Utah rival Davis by three points, 72 to 75. Davis, led by Josh Ward, had a 23-second spread from 1 to 5.

Third-place Timanagos finished with 149 points.

The depth in the girls team race showed in the scores. American Fork won it with 118 points thanks to a 9-13-14 trio up front -- Cami Squires, Sammy Hollingsworth and Nikki Smith. Desert Vista, led by Jones, finished with 122 points. Davis was third with 145 and Monarch CO was fourth with 155 and Fort Collins CO was fifth with 158.