Fremont girls run past Davis for 5A crown

Last cross country season, Fremont and Davis began what has developed into a pretty good rivalry. Region One foes during the regular season, the Silver Wolves and Darts battled it out at state in 2002, with Fremont edging Davis by five points for its second straight 5A title (Fremont won the 4A crown in 2000 as well).

So it was no surprise the two duked it out again Wednesday at the state high school cross country championships in Sugarhouse Park. This time, Fremont was even better. Running without the services of all-stater Jerrica Hall, who was out with a stress fracture, the Wolves bested Davis by 14 points to make it three straight 5A crowns.

Fremont joined Mountain View, Park City, Richfield and St. Joseph as team winners on an incredibly hot race day.

Bingham's Kit Zeigle took the individual 5A title easily, but it was the team race behind her that looked too close to call early. Seven of the first eight finishers represented different teams. Fremont sophomore Lexie Meyer took fourth, followed by fellow soph teammate Cassie Ricks in sixth. But Davis junior Shaylee Marler took seventh and Dart senior Lynette Purdy ninth, keeping everyone guessing. It wasn't until Sunnie Hansen of Fremont, the team's fifth scoring runner, finished in 24th that the Silver Wolves knew they'd won again.

"The girls really came through again," coach Art Hansen said. "Jerrica was a cheerleader for us today, and I have to give a lot of credit to Davis. We really push each other in our region, and I think it makes each of us better at state."

Though disappointed that her team finished second again, Marler of Davis praised Fremont's efforts. "I take my hat off to them. We really worked so hard that for them to beat us, they must be a pretty good team." Jordan's Erin Fuller, a sophomore, was second behind Zeigle, with Northridge senior Stacie Lifferth in third. Zeigle, just a junior, finished her fine season without a loss in an invitational.

The 4A trophy went to Mountain View, which scored an amazing 44 points to easily defeat defending champ Orem. Bruins' coach Dave Houle said his girls were focused on beating the Tigers, who won last year.