KEARNS: Coach Jim Flanagan's boys are a little thin on the depth chart but they're solid runners. They'll have a shot at the region if injuries don't hit the squad. Flanagan is in his fourth year of coaching at Kearns but he's got some 30 years of coaching under his belt and believes this is his most talented team. "We're young — I think we'll be a surprise," Flanagan said. Seven of the top ten runners are sophomores including Josh Shrewsbury, Tanner Smedley and Aaron Quilter. Juniors Anthony Chavez and Elvis Machado will be strong contributors. Flanagan believes the only thing they lack is experience in the big races. Injuries have been the main problem for the girls' team. Emily Benson is one of the top runners for the Cougars but she's out with a fractured foot. Junior Jamie Duffy is going have to carry the team until some younger runners can step up.

WEST JORDAN: Looks to be a few years away from contending. Coach Jana White is taking a wait-and-see approach. The improved Jags will look for Walker Bickmore and sophomore Jeff Walker to keep the team on track. Junior Randy Carsey is also going to have an opportunity this season. The West Jordan boys don't have the overall depth of Bingham and Riverton but they could be gaining momentum for next year. The girls lost a lot of seniors from last year which will keep them down this season. White does return some bright spots in Anna Willis and Emily Lund. The girls will be battling Kearns and Hunter to stay out of the basement.

HUNTER: Coach Jeff Martsen is encountering a heap of trouble trying to revive Hunter's cross country program. Right now he's having a tough time getting a team together let alone being competitive. "I'm expecting we'll take last place," Martsen says. "Last summer we had 10 kids — this summer we had two," he said. He plans to step up his recruiting process with the junior high schools but this season appears to be a wash. Junior Kenny Jackson and Derrick Orr have potential for the boys' team. The girls' team is non-existent. Getting girls to come out for cross country has been very tough this year. Many of them have turned to soccer or cheerleading.

Coaches predictions

Boys: 1-Bingham 2-Riverton 3-Kearns 4-Copper Hills 5-West Jordan 6-Hunter

Girls: 1-Copper Hills 2-Riverton 3-Bingham 4-West Jordan 5-Kearns 6-Hunter

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E-mail: tpeterson@desnews.com