Top Moment of the Meet (1)
Arapahoe's James Logan has been improving weekly as the season has progressed. A recent 3rd place finish at the Metro State/Mountain Vista Invitational demonstrated his potential. Nevertheless, not many would have picked him as the favorite for the Centennial League Championships held Thursday at deKoevend Park -- ablaze in the colors of autumn.
It's likely the "experts" would have picked Cherry Creek's Kyle Moran or Rylan Wallace of Cherokee Trail, both of whom have been victorious on the Colorado XC circuit this fall.
Unbeknownst to Logan and Wallace was that Moran was sitting this one out. It might not have mattered as the two set off on a torrid pace, covering the first mile in well under five minutes, with several in tow including Kyle Kennedy of Arapahoe, Smoky Hill's Jemil Kassahun, and Daniel Hamson from Cherry Creek.
Soon thereafter, Wallace and Logan opened a gap on the others as they entered the concrete sidewalk section of the course…about the only thing disappointing about racing cross country at deKoevend. Logan seemed content to sit on the shoulder of the more decorated CT athlete. Several times Wallace attempted to surge along the sun-dappled, yellow leaved, Cottonwood lined Highline Canal in an effort to rid himself of Logan. Logan had a little extra motivation, given that he was competing on his home course.
The stiff early pace, coupled with the warm day and James Logan covering his every move, ultimately took its toll on Rylan Wallace as he lost a full 18 seconds to Logan over the final 500 meters. The Arapahoe senior crossed the finish line in 15:52, his first cross country victory. Wallace hung on for second, ably leading his Cougars to a bit of an upset 49-56 over the Kyle Moran-less Cherry Creek Bruins and the highly touted Arapahoe Warriors.
Individually, Creek's Hamson, Arapahoe's Kennedy, and Mullen's Bryce Medaris rounded out the top five.