HILDALE — The boys cross country team from Water Canyon High School ran into the record books.
The Wildcats placed three runners in the top 10 finishers and went on to win the 1A cross country state championship Tuesday at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex.
As reported in St. George News, it is the first state title in any sport for Water Canyon, which first opened in Hildale in 2016.
“They are super excited,” Water Canyon Athletic Director Launa Williams told St. George News via telephone after the victorious Wildcats drove back from the state meet Tuesday night and were rewarded with a parade and police escort into Hildale.
“It was so exciting, it didn’t really hit them until they drove in and saw sirens and people lining the streets to cheer,” Williams added. “That’s when they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is real!’”
Water Canyon junior Theil Cooke placed second overall in the race, with a time of 17 minutes, 29.0 seconds, just over 10 seconds behind winner Ashton Arnold of Altamont.
Cooke’s teammate David Barlow placed sixth with a time of 17:49.3, while Rulon Barlow finished 10th in 18:03.3. Both Barlows are also juniors.
Water Canyon’s fourth-place finisher (team calculations include just the top four spots in 1A) was sophomore Leroy Allred, who finished in 18th place with a time of 18:31.3.
“We’ve got a good young team, we’re already looking forward to next year,” Williams said.
Water Canyon tallied 36 team points, nine points ahead of runner-up Monticello’s 45. Piute finished third with 52 points.
“They’ve worked super hard for this,” Williams said. “They did take the region first, and they were hoping for this, but you never know until the time comes.”
The state champion Wildcats team includes the previously mentioned Cooke, Allred and the two Barlows.
Rounding out the group of history makers are John Wayne West, LeeRoy Barlow and Lester Barlow.
Williams said that coach Hunter Wixom is in his seventh year leading the Wildcats. Water Canyon has never had any other cross country coach.
Wixom can now add the first-place trophy to go along with the program’s second-place finish in 2020 and four other fourth-place finishes at state.
“Coach has been there since the beginning,” Williams said. “Just a super coach.
“As an administration, it’s so exciting we just can’t put it into words. The students and the community came out tonight and supported the boys and drove them into town. It was memorable for everybody involved.”
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