Once he crossed the finish line, Jacob Barton seemed to be on the verge of passing out.

The Ogden senior could not lift his legs or so much as walk a few steps. Someone past the finish line had to help Barton go forward, just so he could get his timing chip removed. Measured on any scale, Barton's pain was off the charts.

"I was a little bit scared back there," Barton said. "When I finished, I just wanted to die. I hurt so bad."

What Barton gained made up for all of that temporary pain.

The Tigers distance runner claimed his second straight individual cross country state title at Sugar House Park on Wednesday afternoon. A year after finishing as the top 3A boys runner, Barton added a victory in the 4A boys race to his running resume.

Barton crossed the line in 15 minutes and 41 seconds, coming in 8.7 seconds ahead of Pine View junior Trevor Thompson.

Coming in as a defending state champion was a much different experience for Barton than when he claimed victory as an underdog last fall. The senior admitted he pushed himself beyond his limit because it felt unfamiliar to be one leading the pack in the three-mile race instead of overtaking it.

"It was a little bit easier to be chasing them last year," Barton said. "This year, I just had to rely on myself. I had to hold (the lead) the whole time."

Ogden teammate Avery Calton joined Barton in the winner's spot on the podium. Calton, a freshman, claimed the 4A girls individual title. She finished in 18:35.3, edging out Orem runner Summer Harper – another freshman – for the top spot. Harper took second with a time of 18:39.8. Mountain View senior Ashley Robison placed third after crossing the line in 18:41.1.

Mountain View swept team titles on both the girls and boys side. The Bruins were the first 4A team to accomplish that feat since they did it in both the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

They scored 38 points to win the girls team title. Ogden finished a distant second with 85 points and Timpanogos claimed third place with 98 points. In the boys team competition, Mountain View claimed first place with 55 points. Timpanogos placed second with 79 points and Pine View took third with 97 points.

Robison was the top finisher for the Bruins in the girls race. Four other Mountain View runners – Ashleigh Warner, Kelsey Brown, Jennica Redd and Taylor Jolley – also finished in the top 12.

Nicholas Harrison was the top finisher for Mountain View in the boys race, taking fourth place.

EMAIL: jcoon@desnews.com

4A BOYS

Team scores