The Scoop: Arria Minor Pockets Two State Records In Colorado

May 20, 2018

The First Day Of Action At Utah's State Championships Were On Fire

* Lehi senior Ryan Raff captured his first 3200m title in Utah on Thursday on the first day of action in Provo

Utah's performances were simply on fire on the first day of action.

1. Lehi senior Ryan Raff had an epic performance on Thursday in the Class 4A 3200m. Not only did the the Northern Arizona recruit win his first 3200m title in a state and US No. 10 best of 8:54.09, but he also accomplished that feat at altitude. 4500 feet, to be exact. He was so dominant, the next closest competitor was 36 seconds behind. The conversion at sea level equates to 8:49.7, which would Raff's performance up there with the very best, only behind Dustin Horter at US No. 2. Raff has now gone under 9 minutes twice, last accomplishing that mark at Arcadia in 8:54.65. He finished fourth in the same race in 2017. Oh yeah, and Raff added another title in the 1600m in 4:15.96.

2. One of the state's big matchups took place in the Class 5A 1600m pitting Springville's Grant Gardner against Timpview's Aidan Troutner. But it ended up being Gardner's day, as the junior kicked past Troutner for a winning time of 4:10.90. Springville had three runners inside the top eight finishers. Troutner, however, got the nod on Gardner, and Springville senior Brandon Garnica, in the 3200m, winning in 9:03.94. Garnica was second in 9:10.01 and Gardner was third in 9:17.19.

3. Meanwhile, in the Class 2A girls 1600m, North Summit senior Sadie Sargent put on an otherwise dominant display, cruising to the line in a leading time of 4:55.02, roughly 26 seconds faster than the second-place competitor.

4. Provo's Meghan Hunter, who finds herself now ranked US No. 3 in the 400m after a few efforts have leaped her in recent weeks, won the Class 5A finals in 53.14. She also claimed wins in the 100m (12.08) and 800m (2:09.26) and moved to the finals of the 200m (24.67).

5. Delta senior Dallin Draper, hoping for his third state championship at 100 meters, set a wind-legal best of 10.56 (+0.5) in the prelims in Class 3A.