Colorado individuals double up for first time since 2013, with Utah teams sweeping championships for first time in five years; Sprout becomes second male athlete to repeat, joining Casey Clinger of American Fork in 2015-16

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.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

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.

Sprout led six Colorado athletes in the top seven, clocking 14:41.4 to hold off Stansbury UT senior Carson Belnap in 14:42.1.

It marked the first time since Elise Cranny of Niwot and Cerake Geberkidane of Denver East both prevailed six years ago that Colorado produced both individual winners.

Niwot senior Cruz Culpepper, representing REAL Training, was third in 14:54.6 and Thompson Valley CO senior Dylan Schubert finished fifth in 14:58.1.

With Dakota Ridge expected to receive an at-large berth to compete Dec. 7 at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., Ohlson would represent Hogback XC, allowing sixth-place finisher Yasin Sado from Gateway CO (14:58.5) to also advance individually.

Behind Stewart and Arrington, sophomore Samantha Blair from Eagle Valley CO placed third in 17:19, with Woods Cross UT junior Carlee Hansen (17:19.3) finishing fourth and Cherokee Trail CO sophomore Cameron McConnell (17:20.7) securing fifth.

Since Arrington is representing regional champion Lone Peak, sixth-place finisher Lauren Ping of Desert Vista AZ (17:22.1) is also advancing as an individual. The freshman has already competed twice at NXN representing Winona Cotter MN.