Can Pueblo West's Anna Marshall become the next individual state titleist from Pueblo? Photo by Alan Versaw.
It looks like it should be time for a changing of the guard in 4A girls. Thompson Valley, which finished first, second, and first over the last three years, graduated more talent than you will find in an entire summer at the movie theater.
Looks, however, can be deceiving.
Thompson Valley will be back in the thick of things this fall. Whether they can make it three of the last four remains to be seen.
Alicia Randall played a big role for Thompson Valley last fall and is the most experienced big meet runner returning for TV. But, this could also be the moment for names like Katie Biedron, Karina Ernst, and Emma Howard to step up and shine. A lot has to happen between now and October 31, but write these names on a slip of paper and tuck it away for future reference. Rumors that Coach Norton has been working the pipeline are well-substantiated.
On paper, Cheyenne Mountain and Greeley Central should be waging the battle for the state championship this fall, with Alamosa and Mullen also having some say in things.
Cheyenne Mountain graduated one from last year’s state team and had a sizeable lead on Thompson Valley at state until the fifth runner. The Indians, behind Dani Grossman, should be for real once again this fall. Honestly, however, Cheyenne Mountain comes back after track season as a little bit of a mystery. Many of the girls were playing other sports this spring, and Dani Grossman slipped a place or two in the 3200 to girls she finished ahead of in cross country.
Greeley Central returns the 1-2 punch of Allie Parks and Janelle Martinez. With some solidification of the lower half of their lineup, the Tigers could create problems for just about anyone.
Alamosa gets to find out what life is like without Lindsey Sowards. Can the sisters DeSouchet, Shelby Rushing, and Lauren Martin make it happen this fall? How much magic is left in Larry Zaragoza's wand (Interestingly, Alamosa is likely to drop to 3A in the next cycle. This is not a school that is drawing their success from large numbers.)?
Mullen has their eyes set on redeeming themselves from a subpar performance at state last fall. After a string of sizzling performances, things simply didn’t go well for the Mustangs at state. Ryan Russ and Bryn Morales have one more opportunity to chase the gold trophy.
These teams, initially at least, must be considered the favorites. Teams that could easily be heard from as the season wears on are Niwot, Summit, Greeley West, Roosevelt, Evergreen, and Vista Ridge.
The individual race will definitely feel the departure of Alicia Nelson and Laura Tremblay. Athletes like those two don’t come around very often.
Greeley West’s Erica Hinchcliffe has been running well over the summer and returns as the top-placing individual from 2008. For now, at least, Hinchcliffe wears the metaphorical yellow jersey. Is it purely coincidental that her literal jersey is yellow as well?
If Hinchcliffe checks back over her shoulder for a second, however, she’s likely to see Allie Parks and Janelle Martinez, Dani Grossman, Alex Will (Rock Canyon), Maddy Jourgensen (Moffat County), Rikka LaBere (Fossil Ridge), Jenny and Nikki DeSouchet, Anna Marshall (Pueblo West), and maybe even her own teammate Sarah Swenson. Almost all of these runners have a substantial team interest at stake as well, which should only add to the motivation and intrigue at the state meet.
While it does not appear at this point that Anna Marshall’s team stake at state will be large, her personal stake could very well be. Not only does Marshall bring three solid years of experience to the starting line, she was the top non-graduating finisher in the 4A girls 3200. It’s been a few years since Pueblo girls were leading the pack in cross country, but Marshall is the next best hope to resume the tradition.