San Juan cross country runners set a number of season, career highs at UIAAA Invitational in Spanish For

by Jessica Walker
Contributing Writer
The annual Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (UIAAA) Cross Country Invitational in Spanish Fork is usually a favorite among runners and it’s easy to see why.
Grassy and flat with lots of competition from 1A-6A schools, the Spanish Fork Sports Park course is the perfect setting for crushing personal bests. The Broncos did just that on Saturday, August 26.
On the boys side, senior Edward Lyman led the Broncos with a time of 16:40. It was his season best by over two minutes and within two seconds of his career best.
Lyman was followed by his brothers Abe and Platte, who are both excellent runners in their own right. Abe finished in 17:33, just seconds away from a career best and almost two minutes better than his previous season best.
Platte finished in 18:24, a career best by over a minute for the young runner. Ryan McCullough crossed the finish line next. He did so in 18:25 which is a season best.
Next to complete the course, within a second of each other, were Austin Pincock in 18:33 and Noah Begay in 18:34. Both times were season bests.
Toby Ward rounded out the top seven performances on the team with a time of 18:40 which bested his previous fastest season time by over two minutes.
Other notable performances included Rosendo Martine with a time of 19:22, Jack Kartchner with a time of 19:30, and Tatum Begay with a time of 20:31.
Kartchner set a career record with his performance while Begay and Martine both set season bests.
For the girls Sincere Nez was the first Bronco across the line. Her time of 22:28 gained her a sizable career best. Nez was followed by Brinley Jones in a strong performance and a time of 24:35.
Next, four San Juan girls finished within just over a minute of each other. Ada Lyman completed the course in 26:19, Leah Johnson in 26:20, Rose Kartcher in 27:16, and Sierra Black in 27:28.
Kartchner’s time was a season best and Black set a new career record. Rounding out the runners on the girls team were Kinsey Bake (31:30), Brittany Jensen (31:35), Evie McCullough (31:50), and Megan Black (34:24).
Following the successful showing at the UIAAA Invite the Broncos will race closer to home at the Loyds Lake Invitational in Monticello this Friday, September 1.
For those looking to support the teams, the middle school races begin at 3:10 p.m., JV races begin at 4:00, and varsity races begin at 5:00.