This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As Sky View's Conner Mantz entered the final stretch of Wednesday's Class 4A state cross country meet at Sugar House Park in his familiar first-place spot, few expected one of Utah's best-ever long distance runners to be caught.

But Wasatch's Josh Collins suddenly appeared in the Highland High football stadium and began chasing the heavy favorite down. In the final few yards, as Mantz struggled mightily to keep the lead and eventually fell to the track, Collins used a vicious sprint to pull the day's major upset.

Mantz, who was the defending champion, struggled to his feet to finish second in one of the day's most exciting finishes.

Timpanogos captured the 4A boys' championship while Mountain Crest captured the girls' title on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Collins finished 16th a year ago, when Mantz captured the title. He credited the Wasps' three cross country coaches for helping him improve greatly in a single season.

"I had never beaten Conner before," said Collins. "I knew I had worked hard. I stayed on his heel and I thought I could outkick at the end, so I did. It was awesome."

Timpanogos used top-10 finishes from Will Handley, Koy Moore, Joe Benson and Bo Farrer to earn a relatively easy Class 4A team title over second-place Woods Cross.

In the girls' title race, Provo sophomore Kate Hunter outlasted Mountain Crest's Miranda O'Very to win the individual title, while O'Very, Emily Liese and Kacie Labrum led the Mustangs to a team title win over second-place Timpanogos.

Hunter, who finished 14th as a freshman a year ago, said she knew she had a chance to earn the win but didn't think she would be as far ahead of the second-place runner as she finished.

wharton@sltrib.com