On Thursday, the Miners boys and girls track and field teams claimed Region 10 titles at the regional meet at East High School.  The boys team dominated the field, winning with 206 team points. Highland finished in second place with 101 points.  The girls team also edged out Highland with 1 73 points. Highland finished with 150 points.  Park City will now compete in this week’s state meet at BYU Thursday through Saturday.  Miners Head Coach Dave Yocum had preached all season that he wanted his teams peaking toward the end of the season.  “Our region is not the strongest region in the world,” Yocum said about his teams’ wins. “But Highland and East are both pretty good teams; Murray is a decent team as we found out. We went into the meet thinking, ‘Let’s win this, but let’s be smart.’” Park City wasn’t chasing many especially fast times at regionals, with most of their team already qualified for state from earlier races. Regional race winners did get bids to state. “Region kind of took a place on the back burner,” Yocum said. “For some (of the Miners’ athletes) it kind of helped them. Ethan Cunningham in the discus was on the bubble coming in, and he probably would have qualified by his place in the state, but he was also region champion.” Park City senior Ben Souza also punched his ticket to state at regionals, winning the shot put. Junior Josh Hofer won the javelin at regionals, punching his ticket to state as well.  Yocum is optimistic his teams can compete this week atop the state, even with the girls team battling some injury issues.  The Miners are practicing at North Summit High School, getting in their final reps with Dozier Field under construction this spring. The team has held most of their practices this season at the University of Utah. “It’s been a very difficult season not having a track and having to commute,” Yocum said. “It has put a lot of stress on the athletes and the coaches. … It’s long days, and the kids have managed it extremely well.” Yocum said that running well in the relay, sophomore Mallory Carter and senior Eli Warner’s races will be key for Park City’s success this week. Warner, a running back for the Miners football team, is the favorite in the 100m and 200m races.  Warner and a few other state returners’ experience will be critical this week. Park City competed in the May 1 and 2 BYU Invitational to help prepare for the environment of state.  “Regardless of whether we podium or not, I’m probably the most proud I have ever been of any team that I’ve been associated with,” Yocum said. “This team has overcome a lot. The coaches have been there and sacrificed with them. It’s hugely emotional for me. I think the older you get, knowing that you have more years to look back on what has happened versus years ahead of you, you want to make the most of what’s going to be ahead of you because there’s not a lot left.” Results at state can be tracked on UHSAA’s website. The Miners finished in second place on the boys side and third on the girls last season.  Park City’s last state title on the girls side came in 2014, and 1992 on the boys side. The post Miners track and field teams claim regional titles  appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less