2 lead Bingham to region title

KEARNS — Tyler Conrad and Brooks Measom share a lot of similarities. Both Bingham athletes played at the same positions — namely receiver and defensive back — for the Miners football team. And both excel at short distance races — like the 100 meters, the 200 and the 4x100 relay — for the Bingham track team.

Conrad likes the similarities, mainly because he feels like competing head-to-head against Measom is the factor that has enabled him to enjoy a breakout season.

"It helps a lot," Conrad said. "If you don't really have someone pushing you in practice, then you're most likely going to dog it. It almost becomes like a competition in practice."

The junior took a huge step toward putting his name among the state's elite track athletes after sweeping the 100 and the 200 on the final day of the Region 3 track championships at Kearns High last Thursday. His 100 time, 11.43 seconds, just eclipsed Measom, who finished second.

Conrad did more than simply one-up his friend and teammate. He also proved he could compete at a high level again, after a hip flexor injury stripped away nearly all of his sophomore season.

He injured the hip in Bingham's first meet of 2006 and did not return to action until last year's Region 3 championships.

"I ran one race and I was out for the rest of the season," Conrad said. "I didn't run at all until region last year."

Now Conrad looks to carry his championship form into the 5A state meet at BYU. He'll have his work cut out for him running against elite sprinters such as Alta's Colin Mower and Timpagnogos' Silas Pimental.

Conrad appears strongest in the 200, where his best time of 22.34 seconds is second to only Pimental in the state. But the senior knows getting faster is still a priority.

Adding speed has been his main goal for this weekend. Conrad wants to trim additional tenths off his times to create a more realistic shot at a state title in either event.

Buoyed by first place finishes from Conrad, Brock Ward, Ryan Barrus and Nate Jewkes, Bingham easily claimed the boys team title from Region 3.

Ward, in particular, made quite a splash in the high jump. His winning jump of 6 feet, 4 inches was two inches better than his previous high mark for this season.