Mountain View's depth prevails

PLEASANT GROVE — The Mountain View Bruins benefited greatly in the Region 4 track finals Thursday by the fact that they have several runners who excel in long races.

It was the Bruins' depth in both the boys and girls distance events that led both teams to the region team titles. The Bruins, with 184 points, edged Spanish Fork by a mere 5.5 points to take the girls crown. Mountain View topped the Lone Peak Knights in the boys battle 175 -158. Lone Peak finished third in the girls, while Timpanogos took third in the boys.

For the boys, Mountain View's Adam McDonald won the 800-meter and 1,600-meter and took second in the 3,200-meter races. Teammate Derek Zabriske won the 3,200-meter and took second in the 1,600-meter event. The Bruins also took top honors in the boys 4x400-meter relay.

Mountain View's girls were led by Sarah Yingling, who won the 1,600-meter and 800-meter races and finished third in the 400-meter and 3,200-meter events. Teammate Kim Scott took second in both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter races.

Lone Peak gave the Bruins a bigger challenge in the boys title race than most expected - even surprising Knights coach Rod Jorgenson.

"We had several kids who stepped up and went well beyond our expectations," Jorgenson said. "But Mountain View's just got so many good runners in the distance events, and that's just not our strong area."

However, the Knights had several athletes who scored well in field events - with five placing in the javelin. Matt Hurley took second in the javelin and won the discus. Lone Peak also performed well in the hurdles, with Colton Fox winning the 100-meter hurdles and finishing third in the 110-meter race.

"You spread the points out a lot more at state, and we qualified a lot of kids today, so I'm hoping we can even have a better showing there," Jorgenson said.

Timpanogos was the meet's top boys sprinting team, with Silas Pimentel winning the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints and anchoring the Timberwolves' winning 4x100-meter team. Chris Bringhurst won the 400-meter for the T-Wolves and finished third in the 800-meter event.

Spanish Fork made a valiant run at the Bruins in the girls title chase despite its top sprinters hobbling. Natalie Stewart, the favorite to win both sprints and to take second in the 400-meter, sat out with a slightly pulled hamstring. Older sister Diane Stewart, still weakened by the severe knee injury she suffered last fall, competed only in the high jump, 400-meter and ran two relay legs. Before the injury she was the state's top talent in all hurdle events and the long jump - events she did not compete in Thursday.

"We have a lot of points on injured reserve," Dons coach Dave Boyack said.

Nachelle Stewart, however, tried to carry a bigger load for her two injured sisters. She won three events - the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter - and anchored the Dons winning 4x400-meter team.

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E-mail: jimr@desnews.com