Big crowds at John Thornton race

Hundreds of spectators converged on the USU-Eastern-San Juan Campus last Wednesday to watch the John Thornton XC Invitational.
San Juan High School hosted nine other teams at its annual race including Mancos, Cortez, Monument Valley-UT, Monticello, Dolores, Whitehorse, Navajo Mountain and South Sevier high schools, as well as 80 runners from Albert R. Lyman Middle School.
The Broncos boys varsity and junior varsity teams both took home top trophies. Led by Christian Sherrow (17:29), Cole Chamberlain (17:48), Chase Chamberlain (18:19), Brandon Deschene (18:27), the Broncos boys varsity team placed first as a team but only due to several disqualifications from last year’s 1A boys champions, Monticello.
Three of the top Buckaroos accidently cut the course short and had to be scratched from the overall points. San Juan coach Steve Hiatt announced at the awards ceremony that though the course was well-marked and a volunteer was at the turn-around calling to those first three runners that they hadn’t gone far enough, the boys still turned at an earlier cone, thus a tough decision had to be made.
Monticello coach Jeff Hunt and his varsity boys should be commended on their impeccable sportsmanship as they complied gracefully with the decision of disqualification.
San Juan’s J.V. team placed second overall with 35 points led by Patten Black (19:45) and Adam Ward (19:48) while Monticello’s J.V. team won the J.V. race with 25 points.
In the girls’ races, Monticello’s Bailey Goodwin (20:44) led the Buckaroos to a first place team finish. Cortez’s Rachel Demby was the first place individual (20:23) leading her team to a second place team finish.
San Juan Broncos placed third overall with an 11th individual finish by Alexia Stash (22:48), followed by teammates Kira Simpson (23:41), Katrisa Ward (24:00), Brittany Bleak (24:57), and Ann Pugh (2:02).
San Juan’s J.V. team, led by Sierra Monson and senior Autumn Warren, won the first place trophy in the J.V. division.
Coaches Stephen and Kimberly Hiatt wish to thank all the parents and school staff who volunteered to make the race a success as well as J.L. and Mary Thornton who made a special appearance this year.
The Broncos race in Richfield on Tuesday at 4 p.m. for the Region 15 Championships.