Molly Maksin, Layla Roebke, and Taylor James shared the middle miles before James kicked for the win.
It was a Niwot-kind-of-day.
And there have been plenty of those this season.
From the opening mile it was clear the No. 18 team in the country was here on business. Leading the the girls in black were Taylor James, Layla Roebke, Maggie Smith, and Joelle McDonald.
The only runner within the top five not donning black was Molly Maksin from Centaurus.
By the middle mile it was down to three: James, Roebke, and Maksin. The trio ran clear of their chasers. It was evident that the winner of the race would come down to them.
As they inched ever closer to the finish, or perhaps the kick-to-the finish, James and Roebke ran stride for stride as if passing off bars of energy. They had traded intervals and miles many times before this in practice, so it was only natural.
They team race was in the bag, they knew that much, but there was still a kick to be had.
James was quick off her toes, a true trackster. Those 56-quarter and 2:13-half-mile personal bests were oozing from her long stride. It was clear she was preparing to pounce.
With nothing more than a downhill and clear green infield to spring across, James was up and gone.
The Niwot sophomore, who has also got a 5-8.25 high jump PR to her name, added a region title to her already impressive resume. James blasted the final 400 meters and ran away with a 19:14 victory, just ahead of Roebke's 19.17, who was in hot pursuit all the way through the line. Maksin held on for third, running 19:23, and then the sea of black came storming in. Smith and McDonald went 4-5, running 19:38, and 19:43.
Despite running without 17:24 5ker Samrawit Dishon, Niwot claimed four of the top five spots, and easily a team title. They tallied an impressive 26 points.
While their battle was mostly internal, behind them teams were still vying for a state berth.
Centaurus nabbed the runner-up finish with 56 points, while Denver North and Standley Lake booked their tickets, finishing third and fourth, with 75, and 92 points.