As winter settled in, one sport remained in full swing—indoor track! The season ran from January through early February, culminating in the state indoor track meet.
A standout moment for SVHS this season was XC track athlete senior Jase Burton signing with BYU to join their cross-country team. Much like SVHS, BYU is known for its strong athletic program, ensuring that Jase will feel right at home.
First, we caught up with sophomore Hayden Morgan, who reached the podium in hurdles and helped his team secure third place in the state. Before the competition, Hayden shared his thoughts: “I think we will compete well and, hopefully, reach the podium in most of our events. My season has gone well so far, and I’m hoping to place at state. Our goal is for the boys’ team to finish fourth or higher.” Little did he know, they would surpass that goal, finishing even higher than expected. After returning from state, Hayden reflected on the experience: “I was really happy with our performance—we did even better than I expected.”
Senior David Howe made remarkable progress this season, setting a personal record at state. He shared, “My season has gone great. I’ve improved a lot in my events, which I honestly didn’t expect. I’ve also stayed largely injury-free, which has been a blessing and a big help to my performance. I’m hoping to do well and PR at state, but all I can do is give my best—there’s no point in expecting more than that! I’m grateful for our coaches and the fact that they’re not just mentors but also our friends.”
Jase Burton’s committed to Brigham Young University’s cross-country team, a national-championship-winning program and one of the top cross-country teams in the nation. Securing an athletic scholarship there was no easy feat, making Jase’s achievement all the more impressive.
Before heading to state, Burton shared his excitement: “The opportunity to run for BYU is a dream come true. They’re the reigning national champions in cross country, so there’s no better place to be right now. I’m thrilled to have the resources of a college program and a team that’s just as driven to succeed as I am. It has taken a lot of belief in myself to get to this point, and I hope to carry that same mindset into college as I continue progressing. As for state, I always go into a race with a school record in sight, and this weekend is no different. I’ll be aiming for both the mile record of 4:14.80 and my record of 9:00.38. It’ll be great to compete against the best in the state—these athletes work incredibly hard and deserve the platform that a state event provides. I’m feeling fit and determined to bring more hardware back to the valley.”
And he delivered—Jase broke the state mile record and was named Gatorade Player of the Year! His success was a testament to his hard work and dedication as continued to serve as role model and inspiration at SVHS.
SVHS Girls Placers
Sprint Medley: 6th ( 4:28.47) – Alexis Angell, Caty Nichols, Paylan Merritt, Clara Pieper
4 x 800 Meter Relay: 7th (10:25.13) – Alexis Angell, Tylita Bond, Macy Kennington, Gracey Visser
800 Meter: Alexis Angell 7th (2:27.55)
Shot Put: Abigail Carrillo-Zarate 3rd (38’ 3.75”)
SVHS Boys Placers
3200 Meter: Jase Burton 1st (9:04.64)*, Habi Wetzel 2nd (9:34.08), Sullivan Wilson 4th (9:39.69, Colton Cranney 7th (9:45.16)
400 Meter: Preston Ross 7th (52.28)
55 Meter Hurdles: Hayden Morgan 8th (8.25)
4 x 800 Meter Relay: 3rd (8:19.27) – Jase Burton, Matthew Heywood, Habi Wetzel, Brigham Hahn
High Jump: Sam Gaskell 5th (6’ 0”)
4 x 200 Meter Relay: 8th (1:35.10) – Teagan Barclay, Cash Bazil, Hayden Morgan, Preston Ross
1600 Meter: Jase Burton 1st (4:12.01)*, Habi Wetzel 2nd (4:27.58), Sullivan Wilson 3rd (4:29.73)
4 x 400 Meter: 8th (3:39.81) – David Howe, Hayden Morgan, Preston Ross, Paxton Beebe
