The Miners girls cross country team established a dynasty in the 2000s and 2010s, winning every state title but 2007 from 2002-14.
Park City’s 2025 girls team picked up right where the 2014 team left off, returning the program to the mountaintop and winning the state championship. The Miners top two runners on that team were then-sophomores Tatum Flach and Rhys Weidenhamer, who finished in second and 16th place, respectively, at the state meet.
With Flach and Wiedenhamer back in the fold this season, Park City is looking to defend their girls state title and improve on the boys team’s finish of 14th place at state last year.
The Miners began their season with the Park City Twilight meet in Quinn’s Junction on Aug. 20, when the girls team finished in eighth place and the boys team in 13th. Park City welcomed competition from larger classifications at the Twilight meet.
“It was a big meet for us,” said Miners Head Coach Steve Cuttitta. “We had a lot of new runners and also a fair amount of returners. And for the first meet, I think the coaches were pretty pleased with our results.”
Cuttitta said a few girls missed the first meet of the season.
The head coach believed the Twilight meet was a good stepping stone toward the second meet of the season, the UIAAA Invitational in Spanish Fork on Saturday. Park City’s girls team finished in ninth place on Saturday and the boys team in 23rd. There were again teams from all classifications in Utah the meet.
“We have got some work to do,” Cuttitta said after the Twilight meet. “We’re not there right now, but just like last year, I think we’ll get stronger as the season goes on.”
The Miners’ next meet is the Wahsatch Rendezvous in Millcreek on Sept. 19.
Park City’s main goal during the regular season is for everyone to slowly improve their times while also remaining healthy. They want to be ready to peak at the state meet on Oct. 28 in Salt Lake City.
“That’s a slow process,” Cuttitta said. “It happens at practice, and the races are good checkpoints for us.”
Cuttitta said he often has a good mix of runners who spend the summer building up their endurance base and relaxing. Those who trained hard in the summer can often hit the ground running and find success in the early season meets, while those who didn’t train as often need to work toward the same base during the season.
To continue following along with the Miners’ team and individual results this season, see their SportTrax page: sporttrax.com/teams/206.
“Obviously, for the girls, we’re hoping to repeat,” Cuttitta said. “I think if we can get everybody healthy and training that’s definitely in the cards. … I talked to the boys at camp this year, and we think top 10 is achievable for us.”