The Hive Sports

by James Tate

With the Region 5 Championships returning to Brigham City on May 6, the defending champion Box Elder Bees enter the meet with momentum, depth, and a clear path to another title run. From a dominant distance squad to a powerful throwing group, the Bees have positioned themselves to score heavily across multiple events.

But with new challengers entering the region and several events tightening throughout the spring, the battle for the championship is far from settled. The stage is set for a compelling showdown on the track and in the field.

Distance event races that could tilt the title race

For the second straight year, the distance events appear poised to deliver Box Elder a major share of its potential championship points. The Bees not only return proven scorers, but they also enter the 2026 Region 5 Championships with the deepest and most balanced distance group in the field.

With the meet being held on their home track, the defending champions have positioned themselves to make the distance races a foundation of their title defense.

800m

The Bees have a solid group of runners that will crack the top five in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events. Senior Maya Lee leads the region with a season‑best and state-qualifying time of 2:17.92. Getting under the 2:20 mark will not only be a goal for the runners, but also a qualification requirement for the state championship meet. The state qualifying time is 2:19.07.

Macie Lee, Maya’s twin sister, is just behind at 2:20.54. Northridge senior Sarah Hammond has the next best time of 2:21.10, and Box Elder senior Izzy Rupper is close with a personal best time of 2:22.45. That trio gives the Bees a rare advantage, three legitimate title contenders in a single event, but the race will not be uncontested.

Fremont brings immediate pressure with Claire Hall at 2:23.14 and Kennedy Hansen at 2:24.26, both capable of breaking up a Box Elder and Northridge top finish. Still, the Bees enter as the clear favorites to pile up points.

Kennedy Hansen (l) Claire Hall (r)

1600m

The 1600 meters features many of the same names, and once again, Maya Lee sets the standard. Her 5:10.31 leads the region by the slimmest of margins, with Northridge standout Evelyn Cook right behind her at 5:10.90. The state qualifying mark is 5:09.15, so look for these two to crack into the state meet.

Macie Lee sits third at 5:15.43, giving Box Elder another strong scoring presence near the front. Behind the top three, the race becomes a battle for crucial mid‑pack points. Fremont’s Hansen has run 5:19.49, Rupper follows at 5:20.24, and Box Elder adds even more depth with Leilanna Castillo‑Rivera at 5:26.49 and senior Katie Agren at 5:32.12.

Bonneville senior Kestle Eames at 5:27.61, Allie Nicol of Clearfield at 5:33.55, and Hammond at 5:34.21 round out a field that is both deep and unpredictable. With so many athletes clustered within seconds of each other, the 1600 could become one of the most consequential races of the meet.

Sarah Hammond

3200m, 4×800 relay

If the 800 and 1600 lean toward Box Elder, the longest race of the day shifts the spotlight to Northridge. Cook has been dominant this spring, posting an 11:05.53 that not only leads Region 5 but also qualifies her for the state championship meet. She enters as the clear favorite and the athlete most likely to interrupt a Bees scoring surge. Box Elder, however, is far from absent. Macie Lee has clocked 11:13.99, Maya Lee has run 11:18.62, and Rupper adds another strong mark at 11:37.55.

Eames from Bonneville is coming on strong, with a time of 11:27.65. The Bees trio and Castillo-Rivera (12:02.38) are a powerful scoring block, even if Cook claims the individual title. With four athletes inside the top six on the season list, Box Elder is positioned to turn the 3200 into another high‑value event in the team standings.

The ever-exciting 4×800 relay event looks to have the Bees as the heavy favorite, with the best time of 9:50.90. Northridge has the next-best time of 10:13.29, followed by Clearfield and Roy.

Field events: power, precision, and points on the line

As strong as the track events will be on May 6, the field events may ultimately determine whether Box Elder can defend its Region 5 title on its home turf. The discus and long jump, in particular, feature state‑qualified athletes, emerging stars, and tightly packed leaderboards that could swing the team race in either direction.

In the discus, Fremont sophomore Charleigh Hawkins has emerged as one of the region’s fastest‑rising talents. Her personal best of 113 feet 5 inches leads Region 5 and marks a dramatic leap from her fifth‑place finish at last year’s Region 1 Championships. Hawkins’ growth this spring has positioned her as one of the breakout throwers in northern Utah and one of the Silverwolves’ best scoring opportunities. Just behind her is West Field senior Allie Jones, whose 107 feet 9.5 inches has also secured a state‑qualifying mark.

Jones has been consistent all season and gives the Longhorns a reliable contender near the top of the standings. Box Elder senior Emma Nelson sits close behind at 105 feet 6.75 inches, giving the Bees a crucial presence in an event where every point will matter. All three athletes have punched their tickets to the state meet, and their showdown at region should be one of the most competitive throwing events of the day.

If the discus is defined by steady improvement, the long jump is defined by pure explosiveness. Three athletes have already surpassed the 17‑foot barrier this season, and all three have qualified for the state championships, setting up one of the marquee field‑event battles of the meet.

Meleah Conger

West Field sophomore Meleah Conger leads the way with a season‑best 17 feet 9.25 inches, a mark that has made her one of the most dynamic jumpers in the classification. Box Elder junior Kassidee Kidd sits at 17 feet 9 inches, giving the host school a legitimate contender in an event that could swing valuable points toward the Bees’ championship push.

Bonneville’s Kaliah Hodgson follows closely at 17 feet 5 inches and brings the speed and consistency to challenge for the title. With the top three separated by four inches, the long jump promises to be one of the most dramatic moments of the Region 5 Championships. In this event, a single well‑timed jump could decide not only the individual title but also the direction of the team race.

The shot put adds yet another layer of intrigue, and once again, Box Elder enters with a clear advantage. Maycee Hales leads the region with a throw of 37 feet 5 inches, placing her comfortably above the state‑qualifying standard and establishing her as the favorite. She is followed by teammate Emma Nelson, whose 33 feet 3 inches gives the Bees the strongest one‑two punch in the field.

West Field’s Kalli Bremser sits third among the contenders with a throw of 31 feet 7 inches, keeping her within striking distance of the leaders. Box Elder’s Kelie Palmer, Fremont’s Dallas Dahl, and Box Elder’s Grace Dooley have all surpassed the 30‑foot barrier, with Palmer (31’.5″), Dooley (30’6″), and Dahl (30’2″), positioning them as legitimate threats to hit the state‑qualifying mark of 34 feet 4 inches.

In the javelin, Box Elder appears poised for a complete sweep of the top five spots. Kynzlee Miller leads the region with a season‑best throw of 119 feet 2 inches, a mark that puts her well ahead of the field and firmly in state‑qualifying territory.

Behind her, the Bees stack the leaderboard with Helayna Smalt at 108‑1, state qualified, Keisha Anderson at 101‑11, Londyn Wright at 99‑3, and Kelsie Palmer at 92‑10. It’s the kind of depth that not only makes Box Elder the overwhelming favorite in the event but also gives them a major scoring advantage heading into the region meet.

The pole vault event looks to be a two-team race with Clearfield having two vaulters who have cleared 10′, with seniors Maycie Pearce (10’6″) and Avery Edwards (10’5). Box Elder has the next best vaulters with Hailey Fisher clearing 9’3″ and Breelle Merrill clearing 8’6″. Kloe Johnson from Box Elder is another vaulter with experience, with a personal best vault of 8’3″.

The high jump event looks to be the tightest event of the region championships, with Clearfield senior Amoree Scholer with the best jump of 5’4″. Next best jump is from West Field freshman River Haslam at 5’3″. Two jumpers at the 5’2″ mark: Morgan Hale of Northridge, and Kassidee Kidd from Box Elder. Also clearing the 5′ mark are Aria Putnam from Box Elder (5’1″), Abbie Baird from Fremont (5′), and Layla Oliver from West Field (5′).

all times and marks courtesy of sporttrax.com

photos courtesy of James Tate