Two PHS Cross Country Runnerss Break School Records

By Erika Gee

Payson High Cross Country is starting the season off big. After five races, the girls team is ranked 1st in the region and the boys are 2nd behind Richfield. On September 11, the Lions faced multiple teams including the 5A school Copper Hills. Freshman Alison Pray came in first for the girls and helped the girls take second place trailing Salem by six points. The boys took fourth.

On September 18, the Lions had a home meet. Alison Pray and Tiana Argyle (both freshmen) came in first and second place overall on the girl’s side. The girls placed second, while both Alison and Tiana beat the school record for the home cross-country course.  Alison had a time of 18:22.5 and Tiana had a time of 18:56.0 (The old school record was 19:19.0). The boys were missing some top runners and managed to take third. Malachi Dinkins had a pretty good race with a time of 17:36.

 The team lost several key runners this season such as Nick Hindes and Dalyn Lowe due to graduation, Brigham Flint who moved to Bingham High School and Dakota Lange who moved to Virginia. Losing Dakota was unfortunate, said Coach Rockwood.

 “Dakota was one of the top-ranked runners in the state,” Rockwood said.

Despite losses, the team is really stepping up and working together in hopes to once again claim the region title.

 “We’re always lifting each other up,” said team captain Corinne Facer.

This year there are 20 people on the cross country team. The captains are Jordan Bailey, Malachi Dinkins, Ariane Keele, Heather Reid and Corinne Facer. The coaches are David Rockwood and Stan Peck.