This article recaps a segment from The Rush's Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 episode. Watch the full show.
Cedar Reds junior Eliza Johnson won the Region 9 title and then had the fastest girls time at the 4A divisional meet on Oct. 14, running 18:10.4 at Lakeside Park in Orem, according to the Deseret News. Cedar's girls won Region 9 again and took third in their divisional race to qualify for state.
She did not expect to win at divisionals. "Those other girls went out really fast, which is just how they race. It's a little scary at first," she said. "I definitely race different than a lot of people because I like to start out slower and then kind of just ease into it. As the race went on, I just slowly started catching up." She said that style has always come naturally.
Asked why Cedar keeps winning, Johnson pointed to the team itself. "I think as a team, everyone gets along really well and we're all friends," she said. "Having people who encourage you is really helpful."
Senior Kendee Corry keeps the group focused. "She's very good at keeping everybody in line," Johnson said. "She's the one in the workouts who's like, come on, don't slow down." Junior Macie Mitchell is "kind of the goofball of the team," Johnson said, in a good way.
Johnson said coach Harris is "serious, but he's funny at the same time." What the runners like most, she said, is how he treats them after a tough race. "He'll always make sure that we're doing okay. And then he's just very encouraging."
Cedar often runs as a pack early in races. "Racing alone is so hard," Johnson said. "It's a lot harder to PR and to race your fastest. But running as a pack, even at least for one mile, it makes it so much easier because you know that your teammates are running with you."
She is also friends with many of the runners she competes against. "During the race, we are always encouraging each other," she said. "When you start to feel like you can't do it anymore, there's someone who's your friend and will help you."
The state meet is Wednesday, Oct. 28. Johnson's plan is to keep it fun. "If I get too serious or stress myself out and think too much on it, I don't race as well," she said. "When I'm just excited and get myself pumped up, I race a lot better. So that's my plan. Just be happy to run."