TEAMS
This one could be closer than it seems...
And I write "could" with a lot of caution, because it could also be a runaway train.
We'll know more Saturday...
On paper Niwot looks to be in a great shape to reclaim the state title. They're coming in hot off a 16-point region title, where they pack-ran for most of the race. Additionally, they dominated at Desert Twilight XC Invite, and at the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational.
When they've run anywhere near full-strength, they've proven to be one of the favorites, if not The Favorite.
But they'll likely have competition from Coronado...
They've been on fire in recent weeks, sweeping the Southern Colorado Springs Metro League with a stellar 15-points, winning Pat Amato Classic & Front Range League Championships, and the Coronado Cougar Classic.
What makes Coronado somewhat hard to read is the fact that they haven't exactly run insanely fast - but they've won when they needed to.
And on race day, that's all that matters...
Eagle Valley could be an Upset Team - they've definitely got the potential. They finished a close-second to Niwot at the Warrior Lincoln Park Classic (SWL Championships). Though, it's of note that Niwot ran without a few of their varsity runners.
Regardless, Eagle Valley has perhaps the best 1-2-3 of any squad in 4A.
INDIVIDUAL
There are multiple storylines to consider here, so I'll do my best to condense them...
Battle Mountain's Porter Middaugh and Will Brunner own the two-fastest time run in 4A this season, with a 14:38 clocking for Middaugh, and a recent 14:47 (region title) for Brunner.
A year ago Middaugh and Brunner finished 2-3 at the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships, making them the top-two returners.
Middaugh owns three victories (out of four races) this season, including that state-leading 14:38 from the Warrior Lincoln Park Classic (SWL Championships). His one loss came at the Colorado 4A Region 1 Cross Country to Brunner, and Mullen's Jacob Sushinsky - we'll come back to Sushinsky.
Brunner's only losses this season have come at the legs of Middaugh. He's coming off his best race of the season - a 14:47 regional title.
Battle Mountain has the potential to go 1-2 here, though you can't look beyond Mullen's Sushinsky...
He recently finished second (to Brunner) in a personal best of 14:49 - that's his best performance this season, which tells us he's sharpening up right in time...
And then there's a slew of what could dub "Dark Horses."
Coronado freshman Oliver Horton has put together an impressive fall. He ran 15:10 at Liberty Bell, making him the fastest freshmen on the course - ever. He finished ninth there. Excluding that race, he hasn't finished outside the top-three of every other race.
Rocco Culpepper is yet another runner who could upset the field. The Niwot sophomore is coming in off a 4A Region 3 victory.
The boy's 4A Championships are scheduled for 9:40 a.m.