Ogden finished one point shy of the top three at the Region 12 championships last weekend and now looks ahead to Provo, where they could land medalists across multiple events.

In fact, four Tigers are coming off one or more individual wins at the Region 12 meet and are pushing into state in strong fashion to make their case among the 3A field.

“It’s heavy,” senior hurdler Jackson Turner, the son of hurdlers coach Daniel Turner, said.

Jackson is qualified for the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the 4×100 relay.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

“It’s a big event and there’s a lot of good teams. … I’ve just worked really hard for this. I’ve run 300 repeats, where we just run 200-meter hurdles over and over and over until I get the right step length in between (the) hurdles.”

It’s been an especially tough season on Turner, who just won the 300-meter hurdles at the region meet after spending his final season of high school track dealing with a shin fracture.

The process of treating the condition while still competing involves scraping the bone with what Turner described as “similar to a butter knife.” It’s actually quite common, too, and navigating an injury to compete has helped motivate the senior ahead of the big weekend.

Last year, Turner placed second in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. This fall, he took up multiple positions for the football team, including kicker.

“I think coming into this season, starting out kind of peaked, I’ve just improved from there,” Turner said. “Being so close to the finish, I’m just getting a little injury-prone. So right now, I’m just in the slow phase of trying not to get injured.”

‘I do feel like a coach’

Megan Beus has split her season between hurdles and high jump, and it’s the former that she’s going for this weekend at the state meet. She’ll also be doing so with her younger sister, freshman Madison Beus, for the first and only time.

The hurdles are hard work, where top speed meets explosive verticals, and it’s tested Beus across her prep career, which includes letters in basketball and soccer.

But it’s the challenge, Beus said, that keeps her in check.

“It definitely pushes me a lot harder,” Beus said. “Just having that competition, and definitely Jackson, he’s a great hurdler, and of course he’s a guy so he’s going to be faster than me — it pushes me to work harder and stay committed.”

She, too, has played a role in lifting those around her, including her younger sister, who finished second in the 300-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles at the region meet.

“I think it helps her a lot,” Beus said. “Sometimes I do feel like a coach in that I’m encouraging her and stuff. … Track has treated me very well so I’m content with it and I’m ready to move on with it, too. And, not going away either; I have younger siblings and I can always watch their track meets.”

At last year’s state meet, Beus placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 100-meter hurdles. Her junior trip to state also included a top-14 finish in high jump and top-25 in long jump.

The scope of the state meet isn’t lost on Beus or any of her teammates, but it’s also a symbolic stepping stone of what’s to come. After school, Beus is slated to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile.

“Now that I’m a senior, it’s definitely a big deal to me but I would say that I’m more prepared for it, too,” Beus said. “It’s definitely sad, but I’ve definitely worked hard for this.”

Barton makes first state trip as a Tiger

Avery Barton is coming off a fairly successful junior campaign.

Ogden’s distance star has won 11 different individual races in the 800-meter, 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter. She’s also helped Ogden’s sprint medley team win twice, including last weekend’s region meet.

Barton transferred to Ogden from Bonneville as a junior following her runner-up finish in the 1,600-meter at state last year’s state meet. This fall, Barton finished as the 3A girls cross country state runner-up.

“I know my competition super well,” Barton said. “I think that doing a lot of different races with them over the last couple of weeks and months, and it’s given me confidence going into state.”

Ogden distance and cross country coach Merrilee Blackham, a three-time winner of the Top of Utah Half Marathon, as well as a competitor at the 2016 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles, is a family friend of Barton’s.

Having that contact eased the transition of running for a new school, Barton said.

“I’ve known Merrilee for a long time, many years,” Barton said. “My mom used to coach here and Merrilee coached at the same time, and I feel like I’ve definitely kind of grown up around her. … She’s a really good coach and she’s coached a lot of top athletes. I feel like I’m in good hands.”

Barton placed third in the 1,600 meters at the Simplot Games earlier this year in Pocatello, Idaho.

Campbell ready for one last send

Ogden’s Adrien Campbell is one tough dude.

Coming off an ACL tear as a junior, Campbell stepped up and nearly cleared 46 feet to place third in shot put at last year’s state meet. This spring, he’s headed to state for shot and discus — and not alone this time, either.

“It just excites me seeing that many people, and it makes me want to throw even further,” Campbell said. “Sadly, last year, I was like the only guy throwing. But this year, I should hopefully have some of my friends there to support them and have them support me.”

His plans aren’t final, but Campbell is currently considering an offer to continue throwing at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, roughly an hour and a half outside of the greater Des Moines area.

Campbell lettered in football and track while at Ogden High.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.