Brighton High's own Bridget Smit won the Timpanogos Invitational in early September with a time of 17:54 in the 5K race edging Highland’s Maddie Reeder, who finished second in 17:57.9. Smit beat out the fastest 243 varsity runners from 49 Utah high schools of all classifications. Sixty-eight Brighton High School girls and boys competed in the Timpanogos Invitational and are improving every week in hopes of winning Region in October. 

“She has consistently improved in performance,” said Brighton cross country coach Angie Welder. “For example, last year, as a freshman, she finished the Timpanogos Invite in 18:56, finishing in fourth place. This year, at the same race on Aug. 29, she finished in 17:54 winning the highly competitive varsity girls race.” 

A year ago, Smit was the fastest freshman in the Pocatello 2025 Simplot Games girls’ 1600 meters with a time of 5:07.20. “Bridget, as a freshman, was very close to breaking the 1600m school record of 5:03 set by Lia Belle Selander (BHS ‘23) and the 3200-meter school record of 11:00 set by Caroline Rupper (BHS ‘22),” said Annie Selander, assistant track team coach. Last spring at State, Smit ran to third place in 1600m and fifth place in 3200m. 

Smit holds the Brighton school record for the 3 mile and 5K races. Her 3-mile personal record is 17:54 which was her time at the cross country state championship last year. That time was the fastest finishing time by any freshman girl in the entire state. The previous BHS record was held by Caroline Rupper with a time of 18:42.  

She is currently poised to break her own record this year at region and state.