Monticello High All-State Track & Field

The San Juan Record is honoring 11 track and field athletes who represented San Juan County and finished third or better in their respective state competitions.
In the coming weeks the Deseret News will release its lists of All-State baseball and softball teams based exclusively on coaches’ votes from a list of nominated players from each team.
This week the Record is proud to present the All-State honorees for San Juan and Monticello track and field along with photos and comments from their coaches.
The Monticello All-State golf athletes will appear in the June 19 issue of the paper with the remaining honorees appearing in an upcoming issue.

Below are Monticello High Track & Field Athletes:

Robert Morrison Monticello Senior
1A Boys Long Jump State Champion
1A Boys Javelin Runner-up
Long Jump: 21 Feet – Third in Monticello High School History / Javelin: 154-7.0

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “Robert has more talent in his pinky finger than I have ever had in my life.  The only question for Robert is figuring out where to put him to maximize his abilities. He was our top point scorer at state, accounting for 31 of the team’s points. He medaled in all four events with his long jump state title, two runners-up finishes in the javelin and 4x100, and fourth in the shot put. But he also qualified for state in the 100 meter, 200, and discus. It’s too bad you can only compete in four events. I still wonder how he would have done in the decathlon if that was a high school event. He is simply a master of all trades.”

Nial Reay Monticello Senior
1A Buys Discus State Champion
147 Feet, 1 Inch Monticello High School Record

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “Nial is a math wizard. He understands that focus + determination = domination. Nial was simply dominant in the discus this year. For most of the season, he was leading the rankings by 20 feet and in the end, at the state meet, he won by more than 14. “The only questions we had going into the state meet was how much he was going win by and could he get close to Ben Semideni’s state record, Monticello’s only remaining state record. Well, he didn’t quite get that state record, but he definitely captured gold. “We even had to switch long jump pits this year because Nial’s discus throws kept threatening to take jumpers out. He is a fantastic student and has even started an arm wrestling club at school.”

Kyleigh Adair Monticello Junior
1A Girls Shot Put Runner-up
32 Feet, 11 Inches Monticello High School Record

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “Kyleigh had the ultimate big finish for the team this year. The early part of the year seemed to be a struggle as she fought to get back to last year’s form. Competing in the shot put is an underrated talent. Almost everyone thinks they can do it. But once you get started you realize how difficult it really is. It definitely takes a combination of skill and strength. As we hit the state meet, it was really unclear if Kyleigh was going to be able to get on the podium. With a few teachable moments at the meet that she took to heart, she exploded to a school record and a second-place finish. It takes a lot to adjust what you’re doing at the state meet and make it work, but she made those adjustments she needed to, resulting in a spot on the podium.”

1A Boys 4X100 relay - State runner-up
45.48 – Second in Monticello High School History
Team members-
Seniors: Soren Welch, Robert Morrison
Juniors: Carter Rogers, Tavon Black

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “Tavon is the best example I have ever seen as far as how putting in the work in the offseason and the weight room will pay off on the track. He was able to cut his 100 and 200 meter times by a significant margin this year. You could see it in the way he looked and the way he ran. You could see it in his confidence and his leadership as well. It was amazing to watch him grow. Last year Carter seemed to be running against the ghost of his brothers. This year, with some physical growth and a lot of mental toughness, he was running with and even surpassing them.  Carter and Tavon became the 1-2 punch we needed to compete again the best the other schools had to offer. We put a ton of weight on their shoulders and they rose to the occasion. When I put together the 4x100 team of Robert, Soren, Tavon, and Carter, I wasn’t sure that Soren was the right fit. Yes he was fast, but I wasn’t sure he was sprinter-fast as I had always had Soren in the middle distance category. Well, I was wrong, and I am glad I was. We were at Emery when I put that team together and they destroyed everyone, including a talented Emery team that had a couple of the fastest kids in the state. I’m glad I ate those words and gave those four a chance to take on the best at state.”

Jesse Pettit Monticello Senior
1A Boys 3200 Meter Third Place
10:54.48

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “Jesse is the consummate professional when it comes to medaling at the state meet. The only time he didn’t find his way to the podium at state was when he was a freshman.  He was the leader of the distance group and kept everyone going and coming to practice. He was definitely the leader of the group and helped others see the vision when it comes to what we are trying to accomplish as a team. He understood his role and was able to help everyone else accomplish their role as well. This is definitely the end of an era as it may be a while before we see another Pettit on the team.”

Marah Long Monticello Junior
1A girls 3200 meter Third Place
11:51.55 Second in Monticello High School History

Head Coach Jeff Hunt: “If determination directly translated to money, Marah would be a millionaire one day. When she lines up on the starting line her competitors are thinking, ‘Oh no.’ She is never truly out of a race and if you want to beat her, you have to go the whole 1600 meters. For that reason she is fun to watch. She becomes an assassin on the track. I have watched her on several occasions take on kids with more talent and she has slowly reeled them in before moving in to take them out with 500 meters to go. She also excels in the classroom, with her acting (genius), and music. When she sets her mind to something, look out."