State's track crowns at stake this weekend

If the weather forecasts are accurate, Utah's best prep track and field performers may actually enjoy good conditions during the state high school championships that open Friday at BYU. And that would be a welcome change from much of this wet spring.

So if weather is not a factor, some intriguing questions will finally be answered during the two-day event that concludes Saturday afternoon. Will Davis win both 5A team titles this year? Can Spanish Fork's girls team end Mountain View's 11-year title streak and capture the 4A crown? Will it be a year of parochial school dominance with teams like Judge Memorial, Juan Diego and St. Joseph's of Ogden taking home titles in their respective divisions? What about state records?

Here's a breakdown of what to look for in each classification this weekend:

CLASS 5A

Davis and Viewmont should battle Jordan for the boys title. Viewmont's Trevor Heiner is already the state record holder in the high jump at 6-11, but he may not best that. In state meets, athletes tend to be more focused on scoring team points than on setting personal bests. Still, Heiner will score plenty for the Vikes, along with discus star Tyler Hansen, hurdler Zach Nyborg, sprinter Marshall Milligan and distance ace Brian McKenna. Davis will counter with Spencer Hall in the shot and discus, hurdlers Tim Hughes and Cabel Heder, sprinter Cameron Simonsen and distance standout Josh Adams.

Jordan will rely on distance runners Jared Bienlein and Matt Batty, two of Utah's best, along with long jumper Ken Damron and hurdlers Preston Frazier and Houston Cassita. The Beetdiggers also have an outstanding 400-meter sprint team, and middle distance standouts in Ryan Bingham and Jacob Wagstaff.

Other individuals include long jumper Ryan Kozack of Kearns, shot-putter Matt Hoagland of Cyprus, hurdler Chris Carter of Roy, Weber sprinter Brock Rose, Riverton's Tyson Higgins and Jason Vickers, and Alta speedster Trevor Muhlestein.

The Davis girls are hoping to repeat. Hurdlers Ashlee Cannon and Jennifer Schiess will be challenged by Bonneville's Ally Dean and Fremont's Kristen Petersen. Schiess can also score in the high jump, and Tara Anderson should be a factor in the long jump. Shot-putters Krista Larsen and Alayna Ferrin give the Darts strong hopes there as well, and Cannon will score in sprints, along with distance runner Shaylee Marler.