COPPER HILLS: Rebuilding on the fly isn't easy but that's exactly what coach Garth Rushforth is trying to do. The boys team has made strides in September. Led by John Coles, Ryan Summers, Bryce Woolsley and Emillio Zumudio, the Grizzlies have been the most improved team in the region. If things keep going their way, they'll have a great opportunity to reach the 5A championship meet. Rushforth's normally stout girls team isn't getting the athletes they used to, but they should still reach their goal of qualifying for state. Clarissa Rawlins and Marcelina Greyer are solid runners but the team lacks depth, especially after losing two athletes to graduation and one to a transfer. Megan Wood and Tiffany Garcia will help but it's a down year for Copper Hills girls.

KEARNS: After taking third place at last year's region championship, hopes were high for the Cougars this season. Top runners Josh Shrewsbury and Tanner Smedley returned but they haven't been able to put it all together, in large part, because life got in the way. Working late hours has zapped the strength of both runners and low numbers has hurt the team's ability to compete. Daniel Rodriguez and Brandon Mitchell are a big part of the Kearns effort, but with only 12 runners on the squad it's been a difficult and frustrating season.

The girls team has just two runners on the squad. Soccer and volleyball have been the sports of choice at Kearns.

RIVERTON: The largest school in the state has one of the best cross country runners in Trevor Sharp. The senior will have a showdown with Bingham's Jewkes in October. Andrew Markus, Garrett McMullen, Chris Brady and Chris Sanders are all close to cracking the region's upper echelon. Riverton has been up and down this season. After starting the season quick, the team appears to have tapered off a bit as the season winds down.

Alisa Sheffer is the girls top runner, but, like the boys team, there aren't many Riverton runners keeping pace with Sheffer. Jennica Carpenter, Kellie Wolfley, Kathy Oman and Dailee Perucci will keep the Silverwolves near the top in the season-ending meets. They'll likely battle West Jordan for second place at the region championship.

HUNTER: New coach John Peoples is trying to turn the culture around at Hunter High School, but he says it will take time. In fact, the coach lives just across the street from Bingham High School and he joked that it might be time for him to walk across the street and see how the Miners get things done. The Wolverines coach knows it will take hard work and patience to convince students at Hunter to get more involved with cross country. The boys have some good runners but not enough to be a contender. The main goal is to try and qualify individual runners for the state meet. Kenny Jackson, Avery Richardson, Josh Burton and Spencer Holliday are the key runners on the boys team. The girls team won't be a factor at the region championship as senior Kali Wall has been the program's lone bright spot.

---

E-mail: tpeterson@desnews.com