5A boys Niwot are head and shoulders above the rest, which we knew.Valor looking like a #2. Could be a NXN dark horse *if* they can have someone emerge in the #5 role. Unless they were holding something back, Mountain Vista looks like they’re in for a down year. Watch out for Castle View.
5A girls Mountain Vista, by quite a bit. Air Academy #2. Niwot #3, then Heritage?!? Heritage wasn’t even ranked in pre-season but crushed pre-state. Good for them.
4A boys Coronado swept at the Elmwood 9. They’re a clear #1 with Cheyenne Mountain and Thompson Valley close behind if they falter (as they did last year at state).
4A girls I have absolutely no idea on this one. Summit didn’t run their full team. Pueblo West was the top 4A finisher at pre-state, and they weren’t ranked in the coaches’ poll. Timnath was close behind PW. Conifer looked fine at the Standley Lake Race. If TCA were still 4A, they’d be the clear favorites in this class, too.
3A boys TCA and Jefferson Academy both looked solid. I’d give a slight edge to Jefferson Academy, based on first week’s results. Salida didn’t race, but I think they’ll be in the mix too. No one else looks ready to contend 3A 1-5, but Coal Ridge and Prospect Ridge both looked surprisingly good 1-4.
3A girls TCA by a landslide. Salida and Gunnison are ranked 2 and 3, and neither raced this weekend. Of those that did race, Prospect Ridge looked second-best to TCA.
2A boys Golden View Classical Academy represented their class well in the championship race. Clear favorite here. Thomas McClaren won the boys small school, in a surprise result. Crested Butte won’t be racing for another couple of weeks.
2A Girls Don’t think Heritage Christian ran their full squad at pre-state, but Lake County looked solid. Centauri wasn’t far behind. Still think that Heritage Christian has their edge with their full squad but we’d be naïve or stupid or both to count out Lake County.
Does Lisa have beef with CMHS? Ducking pre state to pulverize bad XC teams seems like poor form.
Does Lisa have beef with CMHS? Ducking pre state to pulverize bad XC teams seems like poor form.
The past two years, Coronado has started the season like gangbusters but struggled at state. Going low key early on could help set them up for a different outcome this year.
Some of the biggest programs in the state have never gone to the Stampede. Lots of them were at the Mountain Vista meet yesterday. Although the level of competition at that meet is high they try and keep everything low key there as well.
Coronado got moved into the Pueblo region this year and the course they ran yesterday is the regional course.
CM doesn't attend Coronado meets either. They used to, but stopped at the same time as Coronado's last coaching change. Could be a coincidence but who nows.
It seems there could be many reasons other than beef why Coronado may have chosen to go to Pueblo.
Well….if she really was injured while she ran a 11:07, she will be very hard to beat at NXN if healthy
I don't think Addy Ritzenhein is currently injured. If someone did say that they must be mistaken. Her coach wouldn't make her run an unimportant early season race if she was injured. No point in doing that.
Hopefully the weather cooperates at NXN this year so we can see a fast race instead of it being a test on who has experience running in the mud.
Hopefully the weather cooperates at NXN this year so we can see a fast race instead of it being a test on who has experience running in the mud.
Seriously, I've read this over and over on LRC, but how much experience do CO or UT kids actually have racing in the mud?! It's VERY rare to have a muddy meet in either state. Personally, I think the mud simply makes it a strength course, which can benefit those training at altitude. And there's the mental approach. No offense to kids growing up in certain states, but kids that endure longer, harsher winters are probably less phased by less than ideal conditions than those growing up in mild climates unaccustomed to inclement weather. Finally, why should the race to determine the best cross country teams and individuals be a fast race?
Rock Canyon boys' run at pre-state should not be overlooked. They were without their returning #2. If he returns and is healthy, I'd place them somewhere between Valor and Castle View.
Vista will still be strong if they see some improvement from their 4-5; their top 3 is stronger than anyone other than Niwot.
5A girls Mountain Vista, by quite a bit. Air Academy #2. Niwot #3, then Heritage?!? Heritage wasn’t even ranked in pre-season but crushed pre-state. Good for them.
You actually have Chaparral, Fossil Ridge, and Cherry Creek all with strong teams. In any region not named SW or California, all 3 of them would be competitive for an AQ spot to NXN.
Chap keeps their entire team, and adds a #1 in Sky St Louis. The 2-5 all ran sub 18:30 last year. Kaylee Ellsworth had a strong track season, breaking 4:57 1600 at RL.
FR only loses #3 from a team that was runner up at State and won RL. Yesterday at the Lobo Invite their top 5 averaged nearly a minute faster than last year (same course, similar conditions.). Tatum Berg and Mia Williams are coming off strong track seasons (both ran sub 4:54 1600s).
Depth for CC could be a question, but Emily Cohen and Kinley Wolfe give them a very strong top 2. And their returning 3-5 will put them right with Chap and FR.
Heritage is an interesting sleeper pick as they return a strong top 2 in Schwalm and Fender. And if they found some pieces to fill in behind they could be competitive.
I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those teams surprises and breaks into the top 3 at state.
Hopefully the weather cooperates at NXN this year so we can see a fast race instead of it being a test on who has experience running in the mud.
Seriously, I've read this over and over on LRC, but how much experience do CO or UT kids actually have racing in the mud?! It's VERY rare to have a muddy meet in either state. Personally, I think the mud simply makes it a strength course, which can benefit those training at altitude. And there's the mental approach. No offense to kids growing up in certain states, but kids that endure longer, harsher winters are probably less phased by less than ideal conditions than those growing up in mild climates unaccustomed to inclement weather. Finally, why should the race to determine the best cross country teams and individuals be a fast race?
Colorado kids looked pretty good in the mud in Oregon and Alabama last fall (even though we almost never run in mud in Colorado). They looked good in Arizona at NXR, and all the other big races around the country they dominated last year.
5A boys Niwot are head and shoulders above the rest, which we knew.Valor looking like a #2. Could be a NXN dark horse *if* they can have someone emerge in the #5 role. Unless they were holding something back, Mountain Vista looks like they’re in for a down year. Watch out for Castle View.
5A girls Mountain Vista, by quite a bit. Air Academy #2. Niwot #3, then Heritage?!? Heritage wasn’t even ranked in pre-season but crushed pre-state. Good for them.
4A boys Coronado swept at the Elmwood 9. They’re a clear #1 with Cheyenne Mountain and Thompson Valley close behind if they falter (as they did last year at state).
4A girls I have absolutely no idea on this one. Summit didn’t run their full team. Pueblo West was the top 4A finisher at pre-state, and they weren’t ranked in the coaches’ poll. Timnath was close behind PW. Conifer looked fine at the Standley Lake Race. If TCA were still 4A, they’d be the clear favorites in this class, too.
3A boys TCA and Jefferson Academy both looked solid. I’d give a slight edge to Jefferson Academy, based on first week’s results. Salida didn’t race, but I think they’ll be in the mix too. No one else looks ready to contend 3A 1-5, but Coal Ridge and Prospect Ridge both looked surprisingly good 1-4.
3A girls TCA by a landslide. Salida and Gunnison are ranked 2 and 3, and neither raced this weekend. Of those that did race, Prospect Ridge looked second-best to TCA.
2A boys Golden View Classical Academy represented their class well in the championship race. Clear favorite here. Thomas McClaren won the boys small school, in a surprise result. Crested Butte won’t be racing for another couple of weeks.
2A Girls Don’t think Heritage Christian ran their full squad at pre-state, but Lake County looked solid. Centauri wasn’t far behind. Still think that Heritage Christian has their edge with their full squad but we’d be naïve or stupid or both to count out Lake County.
Does Lisa have beef with CMHS? Ducking pre state to pulverize bad XC teams seems like poor form.
It is a not so secret secret that the former CMHS coach, Lambros, had considerable animus towards Rainsberger. The scuttlebutt is that Lambros inability to actually coach was highlighted by Rainsberger, not in a small part that CMHS best runners were coming out of her club team, but also in a direct complaint with that districts AD. Also, as we are still seeing, the high number of Kokopelli, including Rainsberger's own child, made and still make the fast core of the AAHS team. I am sure this serves to rankle both sides of this conflict.
It is also well known in coaching circles that the current CHMS coach, who was an assistance during Lambros era, also dislikes Rainsberger, and that Rainsberger reciprocates this.
In a weird way this type of spiciness makes it a bit more fun to watch the SoCo XC and Track. CMHS does not go to the Cougar Classic, CHS does not go the the Stampede.
Impressive results on the girls side at the John Martin Invite yesterday. Delaney Reuter (Eaton) sets the course record (previously held by Isabel Allori) with a 17:15. She’s the real deal, and I don’t think enough people are talking about her. Fossil Ridge takes 7 of the top 11 spots. All 7 cross in 9:16 or better, with the top 2 crossing at 17:36 (Tatum Berg, 4th fastest all time on course) and 18:01 (Mia Williams).
Impressive results on the girls side at the John Martin Invite yesterday. Delaney Reuter (Eaton) sets the course record (previously held by Isabel Allori) with a 17:15. She’s the real deal, and I don’t think enough people are talking about her. Fossil Ridge takes 7 of the top 11 spots. All 7 cross in 9:16 or better, with the top 2 crossing at 17:36 (Tatum Berg, 4th fastest all time on course) and 18:01 (Mia Williams).
Impressive results on the girls side at the John Martin Invite yesterday. Delaney Reuter (Eaton) sets the course record (previously held by Isabel Allori) with a 17:15. She’s the real deal, and I don’t think enough people are talking about her. Fossil Ridge takes 7 of the top 11 spots. All 7 cross in 9:16 or better, with the top 2 crossing at 17:36 (Tatum Berg, 4th fastest all time on course) and 18:01 (Mia Williams).
I agree. 17:15 is extremely impressive and Reuter looks really good.
Impressive results on the girls side at the John Martin Invite yesterday. Delaney Reuter (Eaton) sets the course record (previously held by Isabel Allori) with a 17:15. She’s the real deal, and I don’t think enough people are talking about her. Fossil Ridge takes 7 of the top 11 spots. All 7 cross in 9:16 or better, with the top 2 crossing at 17:36 (Tatum Berg, 4th fastest all time on course) and 18:01 (Mia Williams).
Fast course and conditions. 1:10 - 1:30 faster than Pre-state for most of the girls who ran both. Pre-state is a tough course and was 90 degrees at the start.
Impressive results on the girls side at the John Martin Invite yesterday. Delaney Reuter (Eaton) sets the course record (previously held by Isabel Allori) with a 17:15. She’s the real deal, and I don’t think enough people are talking about her. Fossil Ridge takes 7 of the top 11 spots. All 7 cross in 9:16 or better, with the top 2 crossing at 17:36 (Tatum Berg, 4th fastest all time on course) and 18:01 (Mia Williams).
Fast course and conditions. 1:10 - 1:30 faster than Pre-state for most of the girls who ran both. Pre-state is a tough course and was 90 degrees at the start.
The John Martin course was significantly different this year than in years past, FYI.
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