Faith Christian's Evan Fortney held off the late charges of TCA's Joshua George and Conner Wilburn to claim the 3A individual title. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Leaving the pursuit in her wake, TCA senior Shelby Stableford ran to a winning time of 18:26. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Kiah Leonard, Mercy Bowen, Betzabeth Garcia, Victoria Milano, and Birdie Hutton stake out an early lead at the Wiggins Invitational. In the end, Hutton would lead them all. Photo by Mario Garcia.

A lone runner (who may be Evan Fortney--the form looks like his--but I'm not certain about that) negotiates the trails of the Pat Amato Classic on Friday. Photo by Cliff Jurgens.

At 2.5 miles, Faith Christian's Evan Fortney briefly takes over the lead from Anthony Rios of Brush. The move, however, would prove to be premature as Rios would later reclaim the lead to win the small school race. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Gavin Palmer and Diana Miller-ter Kuile rank as the top returning runners in the San Luis Valley. Colorado Track XC file photos.  

Alamosa just missed a state title in cross country, but several of those team members are back for a shot at a state wrestling title this weekend. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Jenny DeSouchet headlines a formidable Alamosa lineup this spring. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Andrew Walton came on strong for Mountain Vista this fall, strong enough to be named the Colorado Track XC Male Freshman of the Year. Photo by Alan Versaw.  

Adam Avischious of The Classical Academy will be next fall's top returning finisher from the 3A state meet. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Late in the race, Josh Simkins and Adam Avischious (partly hidden behind Simkins) made the surge that would overtake Alamosa in the team race. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Check out the final coaches' poll of the season!

The Alamosa boys have consistently produced a great pack time this season, helping to make them a favorite for the 3A title. Photo by Alan Versaw.

New leaders in 4A and 5A girls highlights the changes in this week's rankings.

Some of the year's surprising programs are working their ways steadily upwards in the rankings.

Action from this weekend's Glenwood Springs Invitational, where Durango ran away with the girls' title. Photo by Mike Schneiter.

Let's just say that Eleanor Fulton quickly erased any doubt about the outcome of the Division II girls race. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Boulder brings an excellent pack time and favorite status into the Division I girls race at Liberty Bell. Photo by Alan Versaw.  

Teams are starting to settle into places in the rankings just as Liberty Bell threatens to disrupt it all.

Shelby Stableford surprised a few fans of cross country--and her coach--by cruising to a 12-second victory at the St. Vrain Invitational on Saturday. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Columbine's Will Kincaid made it look easy at the Lori Fitzgerald Memorial. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Brandi Krieg is one of several seniors looking to take ownership of the 3A girls individual title in 2010. Photo by Alan Versaw.  

Following two consecutives years of disappointment at state, Sam Yeager leads Faith Christian in the quest to discover if three really is a charm. Photo by Alan Versaw.

 A quick little tour of the best of cross country and track and field in Colorado for the year 2009. Colorado Track XC file photo.

It will be a new set of legs going by next fall, but it's still the same sport scored the same way. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Scott Fauble of Wheat Ridge finished an unbeaten season with a remarkable run to the 4A Boys title. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Jordan Montera of Pueblo West battles Chad Palmer of Alamosa for position in the final quarter mile. Photo by Eric Flores.

Alamosa's Lauren Martin leads a pack up the hill at the 4A Region 4 meet in Colorado Springs on Thursday. Photo by Eric Flores.

Scott Fauble (Wheat Ridge), David Perry (Niwot), Connor Winter (Arapahoe), and Dusty Solis (Coronado) each rank among Colorado's top male runners. Photo by Cliff Jurgens.

Still undefeated on the season, Boulder's Kelsey Lakowske posted a huge win at the Front Range Conference meet in Loveland. Photo by Jim Lewis.  

Broomfield's Jill Carlson took home top honors at the Arvada West Invitational on Friday. Photo by Cliff Jurgens.

The preseason rankings for the Colorado Track XC Coaches Poll are in!

Can Pueblo West's Anna Marshall become the next individual state titleist from Pueblo? Photo by Alan Versaw.

Castle View's Chris Ganem muscled to wins in the 800 and 1600 meters at the Liberty Lancer Invitational on Saturday. Photo by Alan Versaw.  

Samantha Chamberlin and Kita Alvares give Cheyenne Mountain a formidable one-two punch in the 100 and 300 Hurdles (photo by Alan Versaw).

While Melissa Roberts, far left, figures to skip all upcoming 4A races, the rest of the field from early stages of the Dave Sanders meet looks like a Who's Who of the 4A girls field (photo courtesy of Ken Regan).

A good day to be in purple... Miranda Benzel, Sam Lewis, and Kelsey Lakowske work a small early lead at the Front Range Conference Championships on Friday (photo courtesy of Jim Lewis).  

The leaders of the pack. Left to right, Laura Tremblay, Alicia Nelson, Miranda Benzel, Camille Logan, and Dominique Gerard run in front in the Centerra Division 1 race (photo by Susan Carter).

Santino Apodaca, winner of the Division 2 race at Friday's Kadet Invitational, is key to Rocky Ford's hopes for a repeat state championship.

Boulder's Kelsey Lakowske was one of four girls to finish sub-19 at the St. Vrain Invitational on Saturday. Lakowske's finishing time was 18:52.