Taylorsvilleโs Boys Cross-Country Team Wins Historic State Title
Taylorsville, UT โ The long wait is finally over for Taylorsville High School, as their boys cross-country team achieved a remarkable feat by winning the 5A state title at Sugar House Park on Wednesday. This victory not only marks the schoolโs first cross-country championship, but it also stands as the first title in any sport for Taylorsville in the last 22 years.
Under the guidance of Coach Guy Mackay, the Warriors finished the race with 66 points, narrowly defeating Viewmont, which came in second with 80 points. Mackay expressed pride in his team, noting that this victory is a win for all schools on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, many of which are struggling to bring home titles.
โWeโve been building for four years with this group,โ Mackay said. โThey run for each other. None of them want to let each other down. Thatโs kind of been the key all year long.โ Throughout the past three years, the team made steady improvements, finishing 17th in 2021, 10th in 2022, and fourth in 2023.
Meanwhile, in the girls race, Timpviewโs team dominated with a score of 72 points, led by Jane Hedengren and Lily Alder, who finished first and second respectively. Hedengrenโs winning time was an impressive 16:21.48, making it faster than 773 of the 878 boys who competed. Alder also performed extraordinarily well with a time of 17:21.86.
As for individual performance, Bountiful junior Hayden Hooper claimed the 5A individual title after jumping from a 12th-place finish last year to a winning time of 15:07.26. Taylorsvilleโs Edward Stout followed in second place with 15:34.71.
In summary, Taylorsvilleโs cross-country teams put in hard work and determination, leading to a historic victory that will be remembered for years to come. Coach Mackay noted, โItโs been a goal obviously, but not having ever done that before itโs a lofty goal and no one expects it from Taylorsville.โ This win shines a light not just on their school, but also offers inspiration to the surrounding community.
