Isaac Burton, Lisa Anderson win Blue Mountain 5K race

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
Isaac Burton cruised into Monticello from Grand Junction, CO this past Saturday, July 26 to pace the field of 64 and win the annual Blue Mountain Pioneer Day 5K, crossing the line in 18:29.5.
Burton’s time was nearly four minutes quicker than the 2024 champion’s run and was also tops among males age 15-29.
Right on his heels was Monticello High School runner Eli Carling with a very impressive 18:32.2, finishing second overall and first among boys age 1-14.
Carling just finished his freshman season at MHS and his run on Saturday was faster than the personal best he set this past season at the 2024 Utah Cross Country Championships.
Justin Hunt crossed the line third with a time of 19:02.3. Benjamin and Samuel Sorensen from South Jordan were next in 19:24.9 and 19:32.8, taking fourth and fifth overall.
Brad Sweeney finished in sixth place with a solid run of 19:51.7. Monument Valley High School cross country and track standout Josiah Gipe crossed the line in 20:03.8 to take seventh.
Mark Beh was eighth overall with his run of 21:09.7 and Lisa Andersen won the female division, crossing the line in 22:43.5 for ninth overall and first among ladies age 30-44.
Linden English rounded out the top ten with a fine effort of 23:03.3. The runners in the top eight all finished faster than the winning time in the 2024 race.
Speaking of the 2024 race, last year’s champion, Devan Radle, finished in 11th place overall with a time of 23:08.1, winning the men’s 30-44 division.
Lucy Burton of Grand Junction was first among girls age 1-14 with a run of 23:17.2, good enough for 13th overall. Her sister Hannah won the women’s 15-29 division in 14th overall with a time of 23:54.5
Monticello’s own Robert Hatch was fastest among men age 60-99 with a 23rd-place overall finish in 26:49.1. Tandy Olsen won the men’s 45-59 division, crossing the line 25th overall in 27:25.1.
Jamie Carling took the women’s 45-59 title in 29th overall with a time of 28:18.2. Bonnie Hansen of Elk Ridge, UT came across the line just three seconds later to win the women’s 60-99 division in 30th overall.