The Lehi boys cross country team captured the 6A state championship on October 27, 2026, according to a report by the Daily Herald. The Pioneers secured the title through a collective team effort, finishing with a total of 61 points.
Lehi's victory was driven by a tight grouping of runners rather than a single top finisher. Coach Chris Dorton noted that while no runner placed higher than ninth, the team's first and fifth runners finished with only 14 seconds between them. The top three finishers for Lehi were Owen McMullin in ninth place with a time of 15:32.65, Brayden Barlow in 10th with 15:39.04, and Evertt Quist in 11th with 15:39.26.
American Fork finished in second place with 66 points. While American Fork had three players in the top 10, including David Webb, who secured a second-place finish, and Chase Hejny, Lehi managed to edge out the program by five points. The final team standings included Riverton in third with 82 points, Herriman with 103, Davis with 111, Westlake with 180, Lone Peak with 183, and Mountain Ridge with 238.
For coach Chris Dorton, the championship marks a significant milestone for the program, representing a state title not achieved in approximately 30 years. Dorton cited the team's ability to overcome various challenges, including the split between Lehi and Skyridge, as key to their success. He credited the achievement to the hard work and dedication of the athletes, specifically highlighting team captains Everett Quist and Brooks Christensen for maintaining a strong team culture throughout the season.
The championship win was described by Dorton as immensely satisfying, noting that the team's belief grew as the season progressed and they realized they could compete with top programs like American Fork.
