This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Three Utah cross country runners turned in fine performances Saturday at San Diego's soggy Balboa Park when competing in the 36th annual Foot Locker Cross Country Championship.

Sky View's Conner Mantz, who could not train for six weeks while recovering from an injury, finished 10th in the event with a time of 15 minutes and 27 seconds.

"It went well considering that I had been injured," said Mantz, who has been a dominating Utah distance runner for three years. "I did better last year."

Mantz, who hasn't committed to a college program yet, said he was chasing a top five finish in the event over a 5,000-meter course at a park made slightly soggy by the rain.

Mantz did gain a bit of revenge by beating Wasatch's Josh Collins by a second. Collins nipped Mantz in the 4A state title run at Sugar House Park in October.

"It felt good," said Collins, who finished 11th in the meet that invited the top 40 male runners in the U.S. "I started slow and took it out easy in the first mile. I ran by myself awhile. It rained a lot and it was pretty muddy and a little soft, but they did a good job of fixing the course."

Collins plans to run for Southern Utah University next season.

East junior Garek Bielaczc finished in 27th place with a time of 16 minutes.

He said he hopes the experience helps him if he gets a chance to compete in this event next year.

"I learned a lot," he said. "I hope I can come back."

Michigan's Grant Fisher won the boys' title.

— Tom Wharton