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Provo • It wasn't exactly a surprise when American Fork senior Casey Clinger added yet another gold medal to his pile with a victory in the Class 5A boys' 1,600-meter race, the opening event of the state meet Friday at BYU.

It was just another day at the office for one of Utah's most decorated track athletes of all time, along with fellow seniors, best friends and training partners Patrick Parker and McKay Johns, who finished second and fourth, respectively.

The early hour and cold temperatures didn't allow any record-breaking marks, but Clinger's 4 minutes, 8.17 seconds was just a fraction of a second off his state record and good enough for third place on the all-time, all-class list.

His teammates, along with third-place finisher Talon Hull of Weber, all had times that will add them to the list as well, so it was a very fast field. And that's just the way Clinger likes it.

Speaking of his teammates, Clinger said, "They've played a ginormous role — bigger than anything else — in my success. I look up to them, and it's been a blessing to run every day with these guys for years. I wouldn't be what I am today without them."

Clinger played soccer until deciding to try track as a freshman.

"American Fork was just down the road, and I knew the reputation of the program," he said. "I loved the team and the sport, so I stuck with it."

However, after achieving so many individual superlatives, Clinger's focus at the state meet was squarely on his team.

"The goal here for the three of us was to run well and place high so we can get as many points as we can for our team," Clinger said.

The strategy worked. With their substantial contribution, the Cavemen are in first place in the 5A boys' standings after the initial day with 35 points, followed by Davis at 27 and Syracuse at 19.

In the 4A ranks, Salem Hills tops the list at 24 points with a boost from a 1-2 finish in the boys' discus throw by seniors Talin Mortensen and Hunter Morganson. It's a close race for second with Springville at 17.5 and Olympus at 15.75 heading into Saturday's finals. —

Boys' state champions

1,600 meters

5A • Casey Clinger, American Fork, 4:08.17

4A • Haden Penrod, Springville, 4:11.66

3A • Caleb Armstrong, Hurricane, 4:18.69

2A • Conner Cox, Millard, 4:27.10

1A • Carson Belnap, Altamont, 4:42.68

Medley relay

3A • Snow Canyon 3:42.58

2A • South Sevier 3:51.21

1A • Milford 3:44.73

Pole vault

5A • Justin Harmon, American Fork, 15-0

High jump

5A • Xakai Harry, Davis, 6-8

4A • Traycer Wilson, Box Elder, 6-6

3A • Dallin Snyder, Morgan, 6-6

2A • Taylor MacDonald, Beaver, 6-4

1A • Acey Orton, Panguitch, 6-4

Discus

5A • Kayden White, Syracuse, 176-2.25

4A • Talin Mortensen, Salem Hills, 165-3.5

3A • Dillon Petty, Morgan, 143-0.5

2A • Jantsen Manis, Delta, 152-3.5

1A • Carson Duncan, Monticello, 141-4.75

Team scores

5A • 1. American Fork 35; 2. Davis 27; 3. Syracuse 19; 4. Lone Peak 11; 5. Fremont 10; 6. Bingham 8; (tie) Weber 8; (tie) Pleasant Grove 8; 9. Riverton 7; 10. Viewmont 5; 11. Copper Hills 4; (tie) Northridge 4; 13. Lehi 3; (tie) Sky View 3; 15. Herriman 2; 16. Taylorsville 1; (tie) West 1.

4A • 1. Salem Hills 24; 2. Springville 17.5; 3. Olympus 15.75; 4. Box Elder 13; 5. Ogden 11; 6. Maple Mountain 9.25; 7. Timpview 8.75; 8. Orem 7; 9. Bountiful 6; 10. Hillcrest 4; 11. Skyridge 0.75.

3A • 1. Hurricane 32; 2. Desert Hills 27; 3. Stansbury 20; (tie) Morgan 20; 5. Richfield 12; 6. Cedar 10; 7. Logan 9; 8. Park City 6; 9. Juab 4; 10. Bear River 3; (tie) Dixie 3; (tie) Tooele 3; (tie) Grantsville 3; 14. Pine View 2; 14. Snow Canyon 2.

2A • 1. Delta 33; 2. Millard 20; 3. Beaver 18; 4. Manti 13; 5. Grand County 12; 6. Summit Academy 11; 7. Maeser Prep 10; 8. North Sevier 8; 9. Kanab 6.5; 10. San Juan 6; 11. North Summit 5; (tie) South Summit 5; 13. Emery 3; (tie) Gunnison Valley 3; 15. Enterprise 1.5; 16. South Sevier 1. 1A • 1. Panguitch 29; 2. Valley 20; 3. Monticello 16; 4. Bryce Valley 14.5; 5. Altamont 12; 6. Milford 10; (tie) Parowan 10; 8. Duchesne 9; 9. Rich 8; 10. Piute 6; (tie) Wayne 6; (tie) Tabiona 6; 13. Tintic 4.5; 14. Saint Joseph 4; 15. Manila 1.