Right on track

Year in and year out, Utah County's high schools produce some of the top prep distance running talents in the state. This spring, they've got the sprinters to match.

The indoor season showed promise for the young athletes from Utah County, with records being broken and many Happy Valley sprinters posting some of the top times in the country.

And while the sprinters are an up and coming crew, it's hard to forget about perennial powers and reigning cross-country state champions Provo and Mountain View for the boys. Along with Spanish Fork's girls squad and a blazing quick Timpanogos sprint crew, the preps of Utah Valley are ready to make an impact in the state and national rankings this outdoor track season.

Region 4

For the 5A girls, any challengers for the state crown will have to go through Spanish Fork. Or, more specifically, through the Stewart household. The Dons' superstar front of Diane, Nachelle and Natalie Stewart tallied seven individual state championships last year, along with 99 overall points at the state meet to lead their team to the title. The point contribution from those three alone would have been enough to defeat all other teams competing.

Now the Dons are loaded and raring to make a run at a championship in their first season in 5A. Though the oldest Stewart, Diane, is nursing a knee injury, her sisters will have plenty of help from sprinter Amanda Morse, Becca Rowley in the throws and Leah Walters in the high jump.

Mountain View traditionally fields a strong team, and 2006 should be no different. The Bruins are led by Kim Scott, Sarah Yingling and Emily Benson in the distance events, while high jumper Heather Eldridge posted the second best high jump mark in Utah for the indoor season.

Lone Peak's Chelsea Kaplar ran the 10th-fastest time in Utah history in the 60-meter indoor hurdles, and she leads the Knights' charge for a region crown. Jumpers Melisse Creery and Christie Carpenter could gather points, and Lacey Cramer is a top returner in the 400- and 800-meter races in only her sophomore year.

Coach Jody Benson of Timpanogos will rely on young talent, with sophomore Kim Bringhurst in the 800 and freshman Brooke Hodson in the 1,600 meters.

Other region four standouts include Sarah Goodrich and Jessica Kernan of Pleasant Grove in the field events and relays, and American Fork's Leslie Rose (distance) and Lindsey Voorheis (sprints).