Ali Walker

On a very rainy Saturday morning the final day of the 2013 UHSAA state track championships kicked off with the 3A Girls on the track for the 3200. After the race Park City team members could be seen calculating exactly what needed to happen for the Miners to secure a team title. Whatever those calculations were, they were spot on as the Miners won the state championship with 93 points over Cedar High School who grabbed 76 points.  Megan Glasmann was one big keys to Park City’s success as she won the Javelin and grabbed second in the Discus.

  The BYU High School Invitational is likely the biggest meet of the year. With nearly all the best competition from around the state converging in Provo, this year could be the best BYU invite ever. It comes just one weekend after Davis hosted their invitational that saw 4 State Records, a mark that would be hard to beat.  

2013 outdoor national rankings. The state of Utah has 25 athletes ranked in the top 50 in the nation in their respective events. Here is the list of those athletes, with there best mark, and their national ranking. In order of highest ranking.

Ben Saarel Runs 4:08 to win Mt. Sac Relays boys 1 mile run. Alyssa Snyder and Ali Walker also of Park City place 4th and 6th in girls 1 Mile. 

It was another successful trip to Arcadia for the girls of Utah. Winning countless heats and a few overall events, the girls really proved that they can run with the best of any state. None of the Utah athletes impressed more than Shay Martinez. She won both the 1600m and the 800m and led her fellow Utahns  to a great weekend.

This week’s featured athlete of the week is one of Park City's stars, Ali Walker. Recently she signed to run at the University of Wyoming under the tutelage of Bryan Berryhill. While some distance runner do not tend to race a lot in winter for fear of over racing, Walker has run a few select races to help shake off the dust and gear up for her final year wearing red and white. Recently Milesplit Utah had a chance to catch up with her and ask her about the upcoming season and her college selection.

After a few athletes opened up their indoor seasons last weekend at Utah State, many others will head to Provo for the BYU Invitational to start their own seasons. We preview some of the races and individuals we are excited to watch.

Ben Saarel crosses the finish with the second-best Utah 3A state time in history. Photo by Kyle Perry.

Any way you look at it, Ogden figures to be a major player in tomorrow's 3A state championship, but orange and black aren't the only colors to consider.

Study these faces well. If they run at the Desert Twilight this weekend, you'll want to know who they are. Photo by Margot Kelly.

Os and ahhs. Ogden celebrates their team titles in the late evening light at Sugar House Park. Contributed photo.

Summer Harper battles with the leaders late in last fall's NXR-SW race. Photo by Alan Versaw.

On one of the deepest girls' rosters the state has ever known, Melissa Garrett is one of the best. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Conventional wisdom says you can't win a state title on distance, but conventional wisdom hasn't met Sarah Feeny and company. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Jamie Lee started the season strong for American Fork, finishing third at the Premier Invitational in Tooele. Colorado Track XC file photo.