Highlight #2: Maroon Dominates the Day
A rivalry is certainly brewing between Soroco's Chloe Veilleux and Telluride's Soleil Gaylord. In head-to-head competition Gaylord has a distinct advantage, but Veilleux has momentum on her side. Gaylord took to the lead from the gun and seemed to be well in control of the race by the mid-point. Veilleux went out more conservatively, but her relaxed yet powerful stride indicated that she might have a few cards up her sleeve. The question became when would she play them. At some point on the far end of the loop around the lake at Confluence Park Veilleux overtook Gaylord and finished in a quick 18:43. Gaylord maintained second place with teammate, Maya Ordonez, rounding out the top three.
In a mad dash for the finish, Hotchkiss' Kaiya Firor out leaned Meeker's Julia Eskelson and Crested Butte's Maria O'Neal. Less than one second would separate their times.
Another Crested Butte runner, Sydney Petersen, crossed the finish next and then Alyssa Pack closed the scoring for the Lady Miners - with 9 points. Paonia, Mancos and Crested Butte also punched their tickets for Colorado Springs. Veilleux will have teammate Kourtney Bruner at the start line next week and Colorado Rocky Mountain's Linnea Sherman and Rangely's RaeLyn Norman earned their individual passes across the divide.