The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The 2026 Region 5 boys cross country season begins with defending champion Fremont Silverwolves firmly established as the team to beat. Their depth and balance make them the early favorite to repeat, but the chase behind them is wide open.

The West Field Longhorns return every top scorer, giving them rare continuity and a legitimate chance to climb into contention. Box Elder reloads after heavy graduation losses but retains senior leadership and promising sophomores, while the Roy Royals bring a tightly packed group ready to surge into podium territory.

The Bonneville Lakers return all five top-scoring runners from last year’s region championship meet, while the Clearfield Falcons boast front‑pack firepower and a strong core. The Northridge Knights deserve mention as having one of the state’s elite frontrunners. Together, these programs set the stage for one of Utah’s most competitive cross-country landscapes.

Once the team battle is framed, the individual storyline comes into sharp focus. Northridge senior Jeff Hazard, last year’s runner‑up at both region and state championships, returns as the clear favorite to claim the individual crown.

The chase pack features seniors Beau Jenkins and Noah Malan and sophomore Kael Jenkins of Fremont; juniors Braxton Aschliman and Patrick Kirschman of West Field; and Jack Phippen of Clearfield, all legitimate threats to push into the top five.

With Hazard setting the standard and a deep group of contenders pressing close behind, the individual race promises to be just as compelling as the team battle.

Beau Jenkins

Fremont Silverwolves

The Fremont Silverwolves didn’t ease into Region 5 last fall; they stormed in and claimed the boys’ region championship in their debut season. As the 2026 campaign approaches, the Silverwolves return a lineup that may be even stronger, deeper, and more seasoned than the group that captured the title a year ago.

Beau Jenkins, last year’s fifth‑place finisher at the region meet, steps confidently into the role of team leader. He has been the program’s model of consistency, and his ability to stay composed and close hard in the final mile makes him one of the early contenders for the individual crown.

Sophomore Duncan Judkins, who placed eighth as a freshman, brings youthful firepower to the front of Fremont’s pack. His breakout potential gives the Silverwolves a legitimate second scorer capable of pushing into the top five.

Malan, a 14th‑place finisher last season, is aiming to break into the top ten, a jump that would give Fremont three dangerous scorers in the front half of the standings. Behind them, Keal Jenkins and juniors Alex McDaniel, Crew Syme, and Mathis Richards round out a deep, reliable scoring group that has already shown it can handle championship pressure.

What makes Fremont especially dangerous is its balance: veteran leadership at the top, energetic underclassmen rising fast, and a culture built around toughness and teamwork. The Silverwolves enter 2026 not just as the defending champions, but as the clear early favorite to repeat.

Braxton Aschliman

West Field Longhorns

The West Field Longhorns enter their second season in Region 5 with something most programs rarely enjoy: every top scorer returning. That continuity gives the Longhorns a legitimate chance to climb the standings in a region that feels wide open behind defending champion Fremont.

Aschliman again leads the charge after placing ninth at last year’s region championships. His late‑race strength and ability to stay composed in dense packs make him West Field’s most dependable frontrunner. He’s the clear anchor of this lineup and a realistic candidate to push into the top five.

Kirschman sits right behind him, having finished just outside the top ten last fall in 13th place at the region championships. With several Region 5 programs reloading this year, Kirschman is positioned well to break into the top ten. His steady progression and competitive edge give West Field a strong one‑two punch.

Juniors Mitchell Shepherd and Colter Rasmussen provide depth and stability in the scoring pack. Both have shown the ability to close gaps late in races, and both are poised to climb several spots with another year of development. Senior Daxton Chipp rounds out the top group, bringing leadership, experience, and the toughness coaches rely on during the championship stretch.

What makes West Field particularly intriguing is the balance across all five scorers. There’s no weak link, no major question mark, and no shortage of experience. If the Longhorns tighten their pack and shave time off the middle of their lineup, they could emerge as one of Region 5’s most improved teams.

Max Rupper

Box Elder Bees

The Box Elder Bees enter the new season facing one of the most significant roster transitions in Region 5. Last year’s group powered its way to a second‑place finish at the region championship behind a senior‑heavy lineup led by overall individual winner Parker Lattin.

With Lattin and the rest of the top four scorers now graduated, the Bees move into a true reload year, one centered on leadership, development, and discovering which new athletes will rise to fill the gaps left behind.

Even with the turnover, Box Elder retains a strong foundation.

Seniors Kamden Singleton, Max Rupper, and Lincoln Raymond step into the spotlight as the anchors of this year’s roster. Singleton is the team’s most aggressive racer, known for getting out fast and immediately establishing position. When he holds his form through the middle miles, he becomes one of the most compelling climbers in the region standings, capable of turning early momentum into late‑race strength.

Rupper and Raymond bring a different kind of value, running with a steady, controlled rhythm that keeps them competitive from start to finish. Their consistency gives Box Elder a reliable scoring core and ensures the team maintains stability even as younger runners take on larger roles.

The sophomore class adds a layer of intrigue to the Bees’ lineup. Caleb Grant mirrors Singleton’s fast‑starting style, often pushing the pace early and forcing the field to react. His challenge will be learning how to manage that speed over the full 3 miles, but his natural ability makes him one of the most promising breakout candidates on the roster.

Dean Christensen races with patience, staying composed through the opening miles before making his move in the final stretch. His late‑race strength gives Box Elder a valuable closer, especially in meets where tight scoring spreads can swing team results.

This season may not begin with the star power of 2025, but it carries a different kind of excitement. Box Elder has leadership at the front, upside in the underclassmen, and a program identity built on disciplined training and pack cohesion.

If the seniors provide the stability expected of them and the sophomores continue their upward trajectory, the Bees have every reason to believe they can remain a factor in the region race and grow into a team that peaks when October arrives.

Ben Brenchley (l) Havrick Hansen (m) Zachary Jackson (r)

Roy Royals

If there is a team poised to make a major leap this fall, it’s the Roy Royals. Despite graduating their top two runners, Ben Verhaal and Henrik Hulbert, the Royals return a tightly packed group that was already closing the gap by the end of last season. What Roy loses in star power, it replaces with depth, experience, and a sophomore class that showed maturity well beyond its age.

Senior Isaac Guerrero, sophomore Ben Brenchley, senior Zachary Jackson, and sophomore Harvick Hansen all finished within ten seconds of Hulbert at last year’s Region 5 championship, a sign that Roy’s second wave was already surging forward. By the time the state championships arrived, Brenchley emerged as the top Royal finisher, delivering a breakout performance that positions him as one of the most intriguing underclassmen in the region.

The path to a top‑three team finish is clear: if all four returning runners land inside the top 25 at region, Roy becomes a legitimate podium threat.

For context, Hulbert placed 26th last season, and this group has already demonstrated that they can match and potentially surpass that benchmark. With two seniors providing leadership and two sophomores rising fast, the Royals have the balance and momentum to become one of Region 5’s surprise teams.

Jeff Hazard

Northridge Knights

The Northridge Knights enter the 2026 season with one of the most formidable frontrunners in the state, Jeff Hazard. Hazard, last year’s runner‑up at both the Region 1 and 5A state championships, returns with unfinished business and a clear goal: to climb to the top of the podium.

Hazard’s consistency and competitive fire have already established him as one of Utah’s elite distance runners, and this fall he will be the centerpiece of Northridge’s push for team success.

Hazard won’t be alone in the chase. Juniors Landon Strong and Zachary Carnett bring valuable experience and depth to the Knights’ lineup, giving the team a reliable scoring trio capable of contending with the best in Region 5. Strong has shown steady improvement across his first two seasons, while Carnett’s toughness and ability to deliver in big races make him a key piece of the Knights’ scoring strategy. Together, they provide the support Hazard needs to turn individual brilliance into team victories.

With Hazard leading the charge and Strong and Carnett reinforcing the lineup, Northridge has the foundation to challenge for the region trophy. The Knights know the competition will be fierce, but they also know they have the talent, experience, and determination to rise to the occasion.

Collin Farnsworth

Bonneville Lakers

Bonneville enters 2026 as one of Region 5’s most interesting teams, returning all five scoring runners from last year’s championship meet. That continuity gives the Lakers a rare advantage: experience, cohesion, and a lineup that already knows how to compete together under pressure.

Sophomore Collin Farnsworth steps forward as Bonneville’s frontrunner after placing 27th at the region meet in 2025. Farnsworth is a classic strength runner; he grows more dangerous as the race progresses, and if he can sharpen his opening mile this fall, he has the potential to push well inside the top twenty.

Behind him, the Lakers bring a tightly knit scoring group with junior Jacob Messina, senior Mason Keller, junior Marek Nocas, and sophomore Alexander Jones. All five contributed points last season, giving Bonneville a foundation that few teams in the region can match. Messina and Keller provide steady veteran pacing, while Nocas and Jones offer the developing upside that could reshape the Lakers’ pack.

Bonneville’s path upward will depend on compressing that scoring spread. If Farnsworth takes a step forward and the rest of the lineup tightens behind him, the Lakers could emerge as one of Region 5’s most improved teams by mid‑season.

Jack Phippen

Clearfield Falcons

Clearfield returns a strong core from the squad that finished fourth at last year’s Region 5 Championships, and the Falcons have the pieces to keep climbing.

Junior Jack Phippen leads the way after an outstanding spring on the track, highlighted by his role on the Region 5 champion 4×800 relay team. Phippen’s combination of speed and late‑race toughness makes him one of the most reliable front‑pack runners in the region.

Sophomore Tyrus Massey and senior Colton Wright give Clearfield a solid middle‑race presence. Both showed flashes last fall and are poised to be stronger in the second half of races this season. Senior Eli Squire adds veteran stability after closing 2025 with a strong performance at the JV Fall Classic, signaling he’s ready to contribute meaningful varsity points.

The Falcons’ biggest storyline will be identifying a consistent fifth scorer. With four dependable runners already in place, finding that final piece will determine whether Clearfield can challenge for a top‑three finish in 2026. Depth development, especially among younger athletes, will be the key variable in their season trajectory.

photos courtesy of James Tate