Viking track teams make run at the title

BOUNTIFUL — A talented but somewhat overlooked Viewmont boys track and field team was hoping to take a page from the school's 1992 championship playbook.

That year, Viewmont finished second in region to Davis but still managed to win a state title. This time around, the powerful Darts refused to let their rival take the championship from them. Davis dominated the state meet with a convincing title win over Timpanogos and Viewmont.

"They came in and just outperformed what they were on paper ... and we kind of underperformed what we were on paper," said Vikings coach Cory Swenson.

After earning a second-place finish in the region championship, Swenson was hoping his team was ready for a rematch with Davis, but it never materialized.

"We just needed to perform beyond expectations and have Davis falter a bit," Swenson said after the 5A championship. "That combination just didn't come together."

In state competition, Viewmont had some ups and downs. Ryker Morgan won gold in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) and Richie Stapler earned a silver in the long jump. Sophomore thrower Mason Boddy surprised many by taking fourth place in the javelin throw. But Viewmont managed just pair of fourth-place finishes in the pole vault and 1,600-meter run.

A disqualification of the Vikings sprint medley relay team soon followed, taking the boys out of title contention.

Looking ahead to next season, Viewmont should remain a strong contender at the state level despite the graduations of Ryker Morgan, Zach Ferrell, Jordan Pitt and distance runner Kyle McKenna.

Vikings coaches feel another successful season will be ahead of them if they can find more kids who are willing to work hard. The team will center around a strong group of experienced athletes like Levi Ball, Logan Iverson, Seth Fraughton and Boddy.

The girls made tremendous strides this season. After tying Fremont for second place in the region championship, they took home a fourth-place finish at the state meet.

"I don't think, at the beginning of the year, anyone would have predicted a top-five finish for them," Swenson said.

Three-time state champion high jumper Ada Robinson took home the gold again in the high jump. Next year, she'll be looking to win her fourth straight title in this event, something that's never been done at Viewmont.