Best of DyeStat: Chuck Utash's top photos of 2017

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Chuck Utash is a guy with a regular job and a talent for photography that began shooting meets for DyeStat in 2013 when his daughter, Charlotte, was a Simi Valley teammate of Sarah Baxter.

He has been a stalwart of our coverage in California ever since. He doesn't travel outside of the state for meets, but he doesn't need to with so much happening in his vicinity. He shoots almost anything for us from Sacramento to San Diego. 

Here are Chuck's picks for his 10 best photos from his 2017 portfolio.  

Chuck: Claudia Lane. Just being able to follow along on her special year, I was able to shoot all but two of her races. In a lot of ways it mirrored Sarah Baxter's great junior year, like breaking the course record at Mt SAC.

Chuck: With all of the taking a knee in the NFL it was great to see the salute. It was a very patriotic gesture. I loved it and he won. 

Chuck: This is from one of David Torrence's final races. I chose this one because of the great loss we all felt of him leaving us this year, and all the love expressed by the running comminuty, and how many lives he touched.

Chuck: Lexi Watkins from La Jolla Country Day CA at the Foot Locker West Regional. I just liked her intensity in this one, and floating through the air.

Chuck: Watching Ryan Crouser throw, I'd never seen anything like it. Epic!

Chuck: Just a shot I liked from the boys championship race at the Clovis Invitational. 

Chuck: Tara Davis, with her hair flying, was always a great subject in long jump photos.

Chuck: Brenda Martinez, I just love her humility. She was very proud to finish third and excited to represent the U.S.A.

Chuck: Kashon Harrison from the Foot Locker West Regional, killing it. 

Chuck: The epic race between Claudia Lane and Brie Oakley was a pleasure to watch, and shoot!