On track for a field day

Year in and year out, Utah County teams are competing for the 4A and 5A state track championships. This year is no different.

But, in 2006, there are some new faces in the chase for state supremacy.

On the boys' side, Timpview and Springville look strong against powers Cottonwood, Box Elder and Mountain Crest in 4A. The Bruins of Mountain View lead the Happy Valley hopefuls in the 5A race.

For the girls, the usual suspect list is headlined by Mountain View, who will compete with 5A powers Davis, Viewmont and Bingham. But Spanish Fork comes in looking to crash the party and claim the school's first 5A track title after winning the 4A crown last season. And in the 4A classification, Orem is in the hunt for its first girl's title since 1980, with Springville not far behind.

5A girls

Barring any more injuries, Spanish Fork has to be the favorite this weekend as they work for their second consecutive girls track title. Davis looks to be the main challenger, followed by Fremont, Bingham and Riverton.

Although they finished second to Mountain View in the Region 4 race, the Dons were competing without some of their top scorers. When the Stewart sisters are at full strength, they can take over a track meet. Sophomores Nachelle Stewart and Natalie Stewart currently hold top rankings in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints. Senior Diane Stewart, still recovering from a knee injury, is qualified in the 400m and high jump.

As if those three weren't enough, Spanish Fork boasts loads of depth in the sprints. The Dons swept the top three spots in the 100- and 200-meter races at region, with McKenna Money, Marianne Weight and Amanda Morse each qualifying for state. With Becca Rowley (discus) and Kelli Roach (javelin) covering the field events, the Dons may have too much firepower to overcome.

Mountain View enters the state meet in the unfamiliar role of challenger but is looking strong after their win at the Region 4 meet. Sarah Yingling and Kim Scott will score well in the distance events. All-American basketball player Michelle Harrison is among the favorites in the high jump, and Brittany Harvey is coming off an individual region title in the javelin.

The Knights of Lone Peak are resting their hopes on the able shoulders of Chelsey Kaplar in the hurdles and Kacee Hildebrandt in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Other individuals to watch for are Ofa Fotu of Pleasant Grove (shot put), Timpanogos' Sydney Gardner (long jump) and Lone Peak's Lacey Cramer (400).

5A boys