Taylor James was the top 8th grade finisher at last year's middle school state meet and is already a big contributor for a vastly improved Niwot team this fall.
The progression from middle school to and through high school has long fascinated me.
And, while the top 20 girls at last year's middle school state meet represent probably only a crude measure of last year's top 20 8th grade girls in Colorado overall, it's as good of a starting point as we have. So, this article follows the through to high school and checks to see what their cross country season looks like this year.
First, though, here are your top 20 (well, actually, 21 as you shall see as you step through the pages) 8th grade finishers from the girls championship race in last year's state meet by time and place:
