Five collegiate athletes race to a blistering pace in Pioneer Day 5K race at Loyds Lake

The annual Pioneer Day 5K in Monticello on July 22 provided some good competition, both for local and visiting athletes alike.
Jagger Zlotoff, who’s a First Team All-American for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs cross country team, won the event when he completed the course in 16:44.
His teammate Jack Donze finished fourth with a time of 17:24.
The top finisher among local athletes is 2019 Monticello High School graduate and current Utah Valley University runner Adam Bunker.
Bunker crossed the line in second place overall just six seconds behind Zlotoff in 16:50.
Jacob Francis, who is a 2016 Grand County High School graduate and Southern Utah University cross country alum, grabbed third place with a time of 17:08.
Current San Juan High School All-State runner Edward Lyman rounded out the top five, completing the course in 18:12.
Other notable finishes include Cory Bunker (who will run for Southern Utah University beginning this fall) and Curtis Bunker of Monticello in sixth and eighth respectively. Monument Valley’s Josiah Gipe came home tenth.
Among the females, Ayla Carling brought home the top spot and 16th overall, finishing in 23:05. She just completed her sophomore year at Monticello High School, earning All-State honors.
Visiting runner Naomi Wells was right behind Carling in second, finishing in 23:37.
A 2022 San Juan High School graduate, Ella Lyman, took third among the females and 20th overall with a 26:05 performance.
Marilyn Tobler, hailing from Mapleton, UT, came home in 27:20 to finish fourth. And Ayla’s mother Jamie Carling rounded out the female top five in 28:10, also taking 20th overall.
Top finishes in other divisions included Phineas Zlotoff, who won the boys 1-14 division in 13th overall with a time of 22:47.
Devan Radle won the mens 30-44 division with a time of 22:50 in 14th overall. Drew Zlotoff took the men’s 45-59 division and 19th overall in 25:35.
Marilyn Tobler’s fourth-place finish among the females was also good enough to win the women’s 30-44 division.
Bonnie Hansen took the women’s 45-59 division and 27th overall with a time of 31:25.
Monticello’s Laurie Randall won the women’s 60-99 division and finished 29th overall with a time of 32:53.
And Brenna Baxter, also hailing from Monticello, was the top finisher among girls 1-14 in 38:12.