5A Boys: Sprout, Dakota Ridge, Storm To Victory

Cole Sprout ran away with the state title, and a new course record of 15:16.

The Norris Penrose Center was quiet for a brief moment. The stands were packed, but everyone occupying a seat held their breath, waiting. Among them was Cole Sprout's mother, Beverly, who anxiously eyed the opening where she hoped her son would emerge without a shadow. 

Just outside the stadium the Valor Christian junior was pumping his arms like a prize fighter as he bound up the final dirt hill. His eyes were squinting in concentration and nearly everyone he passed cheered for him.

"Go Cole!" they screamed, even if they weren't on his team, or never met him. The fastest runner in the country has earned a following of the masses, and Saturday morning everyone was cheering for him.

While Sprout was running free from a field that had likely thrown in the towel chasing him and decided to run for second, he wasn't satisfied - not yet. Sprout was chasing Charlie Perry's 5A course record of 15:36 set last year.

Ever the competitor, a win alone wasn't enough for Sprout. 

When Sprout turned right and headed into the stadium, the stands erupted. The clock ticked, but his powerful stride brought him closer the finish line, and to breaking the record. The crowd cheered him on as it was clear nearly everyone was a fan. 

All eyes went back and forth between the clock, those bright red numerals moving on, and Sprout, who chased them across the line in a full flex of his domination. But it was clear the record would be his. 

15:16.10.

Not only was the time a new 5A course record, but it was an all-classification record. 

In the wake of Sprout's dominance the Dakota Ridge duo of Connor Ohlson and Austin Vancil were running stride for stride, clear of their chasers in second and third.


Just as they had all season long, Ohlson and Vancil came sprinting into the stadium just feet apart. The 2-3 finish would play an important piece in the team race, though we'll come back to that...

Ohlson and Vancil nabbed big performances of their own. While Sprout was rewriting the record books, they ran 15:40, and 15:42, with Ohlson taking the runner-up finish. The times were only behind Perry and now Sprout's record on the 5A course record list.

Cherry Creek sophomore Parker Wolfe capped his impressive season with another big run, finishing fourth in 15:56, while Yonas Mogos saved one of his biggest performances for last, finishing fifth in 16:10. 

And one of the biggest leaps among the front pack came from Palmer's Gus McIntyre, who finished 67th here a year ago. The junior nearly set a personal best, running 16:11 to finish sixth. Ian KellyRyan S JohnsonCole Nash, and Jacob White rounded out the top 10. 

White's 10th-place finish would play a huge role in the team race, as he was Dakota Ridge's third runner in the top 10.

RESULTS 

VIDEOS (more coming...)

 PHOTOS (more coming...)

Next Page: Dakota Ridge runs away...