Kaitlyn Mercer ran away with the victory Saturday morning.
It was clear from the start that it was, Grandview high school race to lose.
With the last race of the day set to start at 11:45 a.m., ninety-six girls took to the starting line looking to beat their competition and the heat above.
While the boys race was neck and neck until the end, the girls race didn't play out that way.
The dynamic duo of Kaitlyn Mercer and Anna Swanson dominated their competition and the heat. Giving Grandview a 1-2 punch.
Mercer took the final turn with no one in sight giving it all she had through the finish line. She had separate herself from everyone and even left her teammate Swanson who was with her stride for stride for the majority of the race.
Mercer gasped at the air trying to catch her breath, sweat dripping down her face, legs weak from running 5k in 19:45.19.
"It felt good to win," Mercer stated, as she bent over trying to recover.
Mercer was weary of her fitness, after enduring two tough weeks. But her win proved she was ready to go. "I feel like I'm back now."
Back she is.
While Mercer wanted to just stay in the top group of runner for as long as possible, the excitement and positive energy she had in the morning helped propel her to victory.
Swanson lost a little gas at the end, but had enough left in her tank to pull out a second place finish.
Mercer and Swanson's 1-2 finish, along with Grandview pumping five into the top 10 made them unbeatable. Grandview took a dominating 21 point win, leaving Salida and Gunnison in a hotly contested battle for second. Salida took the runner-up spot with 78 points, just ahead of Gunnison's 79.