Bingham runners are already setting their sights on next year

SOUTH JORDAN — The Bingham boys cross country team won a region championship and had the lead at the state meet but eventually finished in sixth place.

"It was a real close meet going in ... we actually thought we had a chance to win it," says coach Jeff Arbogast.

Battling cross country powerhouses like Davis and Mountain View to the wire, the Bingham Miners were unable to deliver a knockout punch. Early on in the three-mile race, junior Nate Jewkes (third) and senior Ryan Barrus (sixth) finished strong, giving Bingham a chance at victory.

Unfortunately for Bingham, their three, four and five runners finished in the middle of the pack, leaving the Miners with thoughts of what could have been. While Arbogast believes that his boys team has potential to be great, it will have to wait until next year.

"When you're at Bingham and you don't win it, you really don't care," Arbogast said. "What keeps me around here is their work ethic," he says.

The longtime Bingham coach has won championships with his girls and boys teams, and he understands what it takes for teams to succeed. With six of their top seven runners returning next season, Bingham will be one of 5A's favorites to win the title. They already top the list, according to Davis coach Roger Buhrley.

The Miners lose senior Ryan Barrus, but Nate Jewkes is ready to challenge for medalist honors next year. Five other experienced runners return to the team led by Logan Clark, Jason Sara and Sean Bullock.

As inspiring as the boys team turned out to be, the girls stumbled. Led by outstanding senior Kim Quinn, Bingham's girls took third place at the Region 3 Championship but just 16th at the state meet. Arbogast was extremely disappointed with his girls team and hopes to change all that with an influx of youth.

"We'll reload with ninth-graders," Arbogast said. The main problems stemmed from a lack of competitiveness and a social club mentality that took hold.

Rather than working to become stronger and faster runners like Quinn, team practices dissolved into power-walking sessions and socializing.

Arbogast says that must be fixed. Bingham has produced some highly competitive and even nationally ranked teams, and Arbogast would like nothing more than to return to those days.

"There are people who say we need cuts, but we won't do that. We'll work on getting some ninth-graders in that will fight and work hard," the Bingham coach said.

With the graduation of Quinn and a complete overhaul ahead, Arbogast believes the girls team has nowhere to go but up.

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E-mail: tpeterson@desnews.com