Mike Cernoia wins the intermediate boys 5K title with a time of 17:31.
What do you do when the desire to race outlasts the state-sanctioned season?
For many the answer to that question involves a trip to Arizona or Wisconsin to run at the NXN or Foot Locker regional meets. For others, the answer to the question lies in competing at the USATF state Junior Olympic championships.
The advantage of state JOs lies in the fact that the commitment is smaller--only one week after the state meet. The disadvantage, if you will, lies in the fact that you have to prepare yourself for a slower course. Although the deKoevend Park course is by no means a brutal course, it is clearly slower than many of the courses that produce the fastest times in the state.
In any case, several athletes who ran at last weekend's state meet found themselves in singlets and flats once again on Saturday.
Michael Claflin of Liberty HS (Liberty XC) won the youth boys 4K in a time of 14:21, nearly 40 seconds ahead of second place. In the intermediate boys race, Michael Cernoia of Pueblo West (paradoxically running for the Brush-based Digger Dashers club) breezed to a relatively easy individual title in 17:31, while Team USA Colorado, comprised mostly of Greeley West athletes, won the team title. The young men's title went to Garrett Wilson of Highlands Ranch (Kryptonite Speed Team) in 17:20.
On the girls side, Jamie Anderson of Grandview (unattached) ran away with the title in 20:59. The intermediate girls and youth girls ended up a Boulder (Fairchild Flyers) sweep with Kelsey Lakowske, at left, winning the intermediate race in 19:57 and Sam Lewis winning the youth 4K race in 15:31.
Many of the athletes competing in Saturday's races will advance to the USATF JO regional meet in Albuquerque on November 15. While Colorado Track XC will probably not be able to cover that meet, results will be posted on this site.