Timpview, Orem easily run away with titles

OREM — When all was said and done at the Region 7 track and field championships Thursday, not many in attendance were surprised at the results.

For the second consecutive year, Timpview's boys and Orem's girls took the team titles. Orem notched an overpowering 194 points to second-place Springville's 110. Timpview's victory was a little closer than it might have expected, coming out on top with 154 points over Orem's 133.

With Orem matching the Thunderbirds in nearly every boys event, the difference was made by Timpview's sprinters in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

"All the way through the meet, it was really close. It was kind of a washout," said Timpview boys' coach Brian Kuhlmann. "It was just those two events that separated us. They (the Tigers) did an impressive job."

Timpview swept the top three spots in the 100, with Tyler Goodwin, Chris Page and Beau Healy providing the needed boost. Goodwin and Page came back to take first and second in the 200, edging the T-Birds out in front.

Besides the help in the sprints, Timpview won thanks to all-around depth, as it qualified athletes for the state meet in every event. Sophomore standout Nathan Fletcher helped lock up the team win with his victory in the 3,200-meter run (9 minutes 50.80 seconds). Timpview's 4x100 squad topped the region with a top-notch time of 42.86. Laurence Glazier rounded out the individual winners for Timpview with his victory in the discus (143 feet 11 inches).

Orem kept things close with individual wins from Tom Steele (300 hurdles) and the 4x400 meter relay team. The field events were also big for the Tigers, as high finishes in the javelin, discus and shot put provided needed points.

Other individual winners for the boys included: Provo's Eric Brassfield (800m); Lehi's Andrew Heer (long jump); Provo's Isaac Robison (400m) and Kiefer Collins (high jump).

For the girls, Orem rode senior standout Mindy Robins and a host of throwers to their region title.

"They stepped up and did what we asked them to do," said Orem co-head coach Andy Jacobs, whose girls won 10 of the 16 events. "Our field events are what made the difference. That doesn't take anything away from our awesome distance runners or our awesome sprinters, but this year we're going to state as a full package."

That package wouldn't be complete without Robins, the state's top hurdler who branched out and dominated the sprint events Thursday. "It's kind of weird doing different races, but it's been fun and I'm feeling good about it," Robins said.