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Runners push uphill during the 2A state cross country championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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St. Joseph's James Cook crosses the finish line during the 1A state cross country championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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UMA Hill Field's Paige Mills pushes on during the 2A state cross country championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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The UMA Hill Field boys team warms up during the 2A state cross country championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Runners take off during the 1A state cross country championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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SALT LAKE CITY — Two Northern Utahns ran inside the top 20 of their respective classes at the first day of the high school state cross country championships on Tuesday at Sugar House Park.

St. Joseph junior Alysia Pinchak’s team-best time of 22:52.52 put her at 19th individually in the 1A girls race. The other top-20 finish belongs to junior Cruz Webb of Utah Military Academy-Hill Field, finishing 20th individually with 17:40.63 in the 2A boys race.

In 1A girls, the Jayhawks finished sixth overall with four runners inside the state’s top 40: senior Samantha Russo (27th, 23:36.24), sophomore Ava Volpe (32nd, 23:53.56), senior Campbell Jones (33rd, 23:55.79), and sophomore Caitlin Jones (41st, 24:38.38).

In 1A boys, St. Joseph freshman James Cook led the 14th-place Jayhawks with 18:57.69 (28th individually), followed by Junior Mason Keith (63rd, 20:57.67), sophomore Landon Wolf (82nd, 22:34.24), freshman Noah Hilliard (83rd, 22:34.82), and sophomore Keihan Miller (100th, 25:04.44) in the top 100.

In 2A boys, the 11th-place Thunderbirds featured five more runners on Tuesday: Freshman Sebastian McBridge (53rd, 19:07.45), freshman Legend Armstrong (67th, 19:30.11), sophomore Parker Miller (10th, 21:52:06), freshman Jaxon Carrier (110th, 22:13.76), and sophomore Nicolás Córdoba (118th, 23:56.27).

Senior Paige Mills finished 62nd individually for UMA in the 2A girls race. The Thunderbirds did not qualify for a girls team score.

In 4A boys, Bear River finished 17th overall with senior Kelson Hale posting the team’s best finish of 17:18.23 in 66th place. On the girls side, the Bears finished 19th among the field with senior Katie Hamson leading the way with 20:57.05 and finishing 73rd individually.

INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS

1A boys: Daniel Draper, Manila, 16:37.70

1A girls: Lyda Taylor, Rich, 19:14.64

2A boys: Cruze Hallows, North Sevier, 16:19.04

2A girls: Kenidee Glazier, Kanab, 18:51.11

4A boys: Peter Mecham, Orem, 15:20.78

4A girls: Madelyn Reeder, Highland, 17:28.20

Connect with reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.