Like a lot of other folks, Veronica Brtek found herself battling for elbow room 500 meters in to last year's state race, but her progression from this spring may have her running closer to the front of the field this fall. Colorado Track XC file photo by Paul Jaeger.
It should be an interesting season ahead. Cheyenne Mountain has long held a stranglehold on this region, but there's a stirring in Canon City that makes the regional outcome a little less of a given than it has been for a few years.
Make no mistake, Cheyenne Mountain still brings a strong team to the table. Madison Lambros, daughter of head coach Stan Lambros, and Vernoica Brtek are the top two returners. Lambros struggled some at last year's state meet, but rebounded nicely with solid performances in a couple of post-season meets, then saw very limited action in the spring, so we await seeing what the fall campaign holds. Brtek had a solid season last fall and another this spring, running mostly the 800 an...