top of page
Search

PREDICTIONS: Timpanogos XC Invitational (Morning Section)

  • Writer: Donald Speas
    Donald Speas
  • Aug 28, 2024
  • 4 min read

Predictions & analysis by Donny Speas, additional edits & commentary via Garrett Zatlin

Each year, the Timpanogos XC Invitational acts as the unofficial start of the cross country season in Utah. It's also the biggest regular season meet in Utah with a good number of different squads ranked in TSR's High School Top-25 XC Team Rankings toeing the line.


One quick note: We are writing about the morning section of this meet as it is the much more competitive section (sorry to two of our "Honorable Mention" teams, the Riverton Silverwolves and Skyridge Falcons)

Girl's Team Race

  1. Lone Peak Knights

  2. Timpview Thunderbirds

  3. Herriman Mustangs

  4. Orem Tigers

  5. American Fork Cavewomen


Analysis: There's no beating around the bush here: The Lone Peak Knights are the favorites in this race. After all, they are ranked at TSR #7 in our preseason rankings for a reason. The Knights have yet to field their varsity lineup this fall, but the sheer talent that they have on their roster should help propel them past any lingering rust from the summer.


While the Knights are the highest-ranked girl's team at this meet, they aren't the only team in our rankings who can be found in this field. That's because the Timpview Thunderbirds (TSR #24) will also be racing on Friday.


So far Timpview has only raced once, at the Pre-Region 7 XC Championships...where they won by a whopping 70 points. Luckily for the Thunderbirds, Jane Hedengren's low-stick value becomes infinitely more valuable in larger fields like this weekend. And if Lily Alder has a good day, then it's entirely possible that Timpview comes away with 1-2 individual finishes.


It would also be foolish to completely count out the Herriman Mustangs as they've looked sneaky-good so far this season, especially their top-three of Maci Woolf, Claire Hoenes and Lindsey Gerhart.


Boy's Team Race

  1. Herriman Mustangs

  2. American Fork Cavemen

  3. Mountain View Bruins

  4. Lone Peak Knights

  5. Viewmont Vikings


Analysis: This year's boys team race is a loaded one with five teams ranked in our top-25 rankings including the Viewmont Vikings (one of our preseason "Honorable Mention" squads), the Lone Peak Knights (TSR #23), the Mountain View Bruins (TSR #15), the American Fork Cavemen (TSR #4) and the Herriman Mustangs (TSR #2).


The Herriman boys look like the clear favorite in this race after scoring 18 points to win the Premier Invitational over the Skyridge Falcons (one of our preseason "Honorable Mention" squads. They also scored 17 points to earn a win against the Riverton Silverwolves (8th place at last year's NXN meet) at the UIAAA Invite earlier this season.


Expect to see the Herriman low-stick duo of Tayshuan Ogomo and Jonah Tang challenging for top-five individual placings, giving the Mustangs a lethal 1-2 punch.


While I believe that Herriman is a step above the rest of the field, the battle for 2nd place will be fierce as both American Fork and Mountain View have had some positive signs at early-season rust-buster meets. As such, it would be foolish to count out an untested Lone Peak squad that is full of potential.


Girl's Individual Race

  1. Jane Hedengren (Timpview) - 17:33

  2. Lily Alder (Timpview) - 17:55

  3. Maya Bybee (Lone Peak) - 17:58

  4. Boston Bybee (Lone Peak) - 17:58

  5. Madelyn Embly (Orem) - 18:09

  6. Anna Bybee (Lone Peak) - 18:10

  7. Brooklyn Tarr (Mountain Ridge) - 18:20

  8. Zoey Nilsson (Lone Peak) - 18:23

  9. Addie Dangerfield (Stansbury) - 18:30

  10. Leah Larsen (Stansbury) - 18:31


Analysis: Once again, we have a massive favorite in this category: Timpview senior Jane Hedengren. The veteran has already raced once this year, posting a 17:14 performance for three miles. Hendengren hasn't lost a cross country race since 2022 and I don't see that changing this weekend.


Behind Hedengren, it gets "messy" with names who will be battling each other for that runner-up position. Lone Peak's Bybee sisters are a pair of excellent distance talents and have both finished inside the top-100 at Nike Cross Nationals. However, it's something of a toss-up on who will finish as the top Bybee on any given day.


The other main contender to keep an eye on is Lily Alder who had a wonderful 2024 outdoor track season and has a top-20 finish at Nike Cross Nationals underneath her belt.


Boy's Individual Race.

  1. Kaden Evans (American Fork) - 15:09

  2. Kyle Steadman (Mountain View) - 15:10

  3. Bridger Jaggi (Pine View) - 15:13

  4. Tayshaun Ogomo (Herriman) - 15:15

  5. Jonah Tang (Herriman) - 15:15

  6. Kaden McGovern (Summit Academy) - 15:20

  7. Edward Stout (Taylorsville) - 15:21

  8. Micah Tang (Herriman) - 15:24

  9. Deiderik Witt (Timpanogos) - 15:30

  10. Takashi Shipp (Orem) - 15:31


Analysis: Out of the four different races I'm covering in this article, this one seems to be the most intriguing as it's the only race without an overwhelming favorite.


Don't get me wrong, there is a favorite -- RunningLane 3200-meter champion, Kaden Evans of American Fork. However, Mountain View's Kyle Steadman hasn't lost to Evans since the 2022 cross country season and he holds the fastest 5k personal best (14:56) of any athlete toeing the line on Friday.


While Steadman and Evans are my picks to go 1-2 on Friday, they aren't the only two athletes who could challenge for the win. I'd argue that Herriman has three contenders (Micah Tang, Jonah Tang and Tayshaun Ogomo) who could win if everything breaks perfectly for them. In addition to the Herriman trio, Pine View's Bridger Jaggi and Summit Academy's Kaden McGovern are a couple of other names worth watching out for.

bottom of page