San Juan cross country teams qualify for state with strong performances in region meet

by Jessica Walker
Contributing Writer
The tension was palpable and the stakes high for the San Juan High School cross country team at the Region 15 Championships in Blanding on Monday, October 14.
The Broncos’ performances could mean a ticket to the 2A State Championships or an early end to their season. For the team to qualify for state they would need to place in the top three.
For individual team members to earn a trip to state, the team would need to qualify and team members would need to earn a varsity spot.
The boys team kicked off the races. With overcast weather and fierce competition from the top-ranked North Sevier Wolves, it was a battle to the finish.
Although the top five Bronco harriers ran as a pack for much of the race, Senior Austin Pincock broke away to clinch sixth place overall. Pincock’s relentless hard work and dedication have been evident this season in his consistent, outstanding performances.
Two more runners joined Pincock in the top ten: Abe Lyman (eighth), and Platte Lyman (ninth). Both Lymans have demonstrated tremendous growth throughout this season.
Next to finish was Rosendo Martine. Although battling illness, Martine still crossed the finish line barely out of the top ten (in 11th). Showing significant progress this season, Noah Begay came next in 13th.
Jack Kartchner and Keegan McCullough rounded out the varsity team in 22nd and 23rd in thrilling fashion just one second apart.
In the girls race, every varsity member ran faster on the challenging course than they had just two weeks before, an incredible feat.
Brittany Jensen led the team with her 11th-place finish. Sincere Nez came in only two places later in 13th. Jensen and Nez have been top contributors this season and have shown remarkable skill and commitment. Both runners have the potential to earn top-ten finishes at state.
Brinley Jones finished 19th, followed closely by Ada Lyman in 21st. Both of these girls are strong, consistent competitors for the girls varsity team.
Newcomer Ariana Adams was next to cross the line, finishing 25th in an impressive showing for the freshman in her first high school cross-country race. Harmony Oshley and Sierra Black followed Adams in 32nd and 35th.
With a second-place finish for the boys and a third-place finish for the girls, both teams earned the coveted state qualifications, a much-deserved honor, and the culmination of many months of hard work.
Previously held at Rose Park, the State Championship race will be switching venues back to Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City (which was the location until 2020).
The 2A State Championships will be held Tuesday, October 29th with the boys taking on the course at 3 p.m. and the girls at 3:30 p.m.