Mustang cross country hopes to place top three in state

The Herriman High cross country team won’t be sneaking up on anybody this year.

Last season the Mustangs stayed under the radar, quietly training themselves in a powerhouse of runners that stunned the competition with young but fast athletes. The girls team capped the year off with a region title – the first in the school’s history.

“Last year I said, ‘we’re going to surprise a few people and turn a few heads,’” coach James Barnes said. “Well this year, I think everybody knows we’re coming.”

The boys team began this year ranked fourth in the state in its new 4A division.

“We’re returning pretty much everybody from last year,” Barnes said. “We’re still pretty young but we’re going to be good and the boys team is fairly deep, too.”

Barnes said there are about 12 kids fighting for the seven varsity spots.

The team is led by juniors Chuk Mitchell, Braden Bronson, Jesse Drury and sophomore Connor Jones, who are all returning from last year.

“You can tell they’ve all matured and gotten stronger, faster, and smarter,” Barnes said. “I’m expecting a lot bigger things out of them this year.”

Bigger things include taking one of the top three places in the state so they qualify for the Southwest Regional Championships in Tempe, Ariz. in November.

“I think we’ll do it,” Barnes said.

The girls team graduated top two runners, Rylie Jex and Kenzie Hillier, last year, so will be led this year by all sophomores.

Kami Hartley, Taylor Crowton, Rachel Briggs, and Emily Hill ran behind Jex and Hillier for the Mustangs at state last year and are expected to lead the team this year. Barnes said the girls have their work cut out for them to repeat another region championship.

“We’re up against Skyline in our region, which is ranked number one in the state so they’ll have to work pretty hard to stay with Skyline,” he said. “But they’ll have some good competition to chase.”

Barnes said the girls are talented but are young and lack experience. Hartley, as a sophomore, is the team captain.

“They’re still going to be dangerous this year,” Barnes said. “And next year, and the next for sure.”

The Mustangs began the season Aug. 26 at the Highland Invitational, where they were able to run the 4A state course for the first time. The team will host its first annual invitational, Sept. 24, on a course Barnes designed located behind the new Providence Middle School, 4795 Mt Ogden Peak Dr., Herriman. The course includes steeplechase jumps and is one of a kind.

“Nobody else does anything like it,” Barnes said. “The course is nicer than any college course around here or around most of California even. I’m pretty excited about it.”

The race will be open for spectators and there will be a spectator/middle school race immediately before the high school race, as well as a kids’ two mile race. Barnes can be contacted for more information at j.barnes@herrimanhigh.com.

Barnes is also the new athletic director for Herriman High this year, taking the place of Jim Freeland, who is principal of the newly opened Providence Middle School.