Seth Bruxvoort capped his high school cross country career with a state title.
Seth Bruxvoort 's blonde curls shimmered underneath the golden Colorado sun. With each stride they rippled out behind him like waves going backwards in time. But he moving forever forward, onwards towards a finish line that awaited his arrival.
With the line just a few feet in front of him he cracked a smile, knowing that the state title was finally his.
It was an inevitable ending for the Heritage Christian senior, who picked up his fourth consecutive win of the season. Bruxvoort ran to new heights this fall, and it only seemed fitting that he cap it with a state title.
But it wasn't always a sure thing.
When the gun shot off 16 minutes and nine-seconds earlier, 125 runners stormed the open field and quickly engulfed Bruxvoort, who donned a bright yellow singlet. But the senior was patient. He knew what a strength-oriented course this was, and how a quick start could spell doom, so he sat back, way back early on.
Up front and racing in his first high school state championships was Ellicott freshman Jodzuel Juarez, who set a hot early pace. Juarez ran most of the opening mile without anyone breathing down his neck, though as the race progressed the pace cooled, and soon he found himself with company.
Ellicot's Jodzuel Juarez set a hot early pace.
Micah Zeller and Jaden Evans reeled the high-flying freshmen in, and they cruised through the mile in a trio just over 5:13.
Bruxvoort stalked just over three seconds back, while teammate Levi Kilian was six seconds back, and Isaac Roberts was 11 seconds behind the leaders.
But as the race wore on, the patient approach proved to be the difference.
Bruxvoot continued to hold his cards through the second mile, as he gradually ran himself up onto Zeller's shoulder while passing Juarez and Evans. Zeller led through two miles with Bruxvoort one second back, while Roberts ran nearly even through the second mile.
With one mile between him and a state title, Bruxvoort no longer played the waiting game. The Heritage Christian senior let his hair down, and ran free from the shackles he had restrained himself with through the opening two miles.
With every powerful, loose stride, he opened up precious real estate over Zeller. Soon he was racing on without a shadow, and on into the familiar territory of running solo. With no one in front of him, Bruxvoort enjoyed the moment he had been working for all summer, and all season long.
The senior finally had his well-earned state title, running 16:09.
Behind him the pace was hitting nearly everyone who didn't hold back early, as Roberts and Kilian made huge gains.
Zeller held on for the runner-up spot, crossing in 16:25, while Roberts kicked hard to finish third in 16:36. Kilian cruised in for a fourth place finish, just dipping under 17 minutes in 16:55.
Micah Zeller tallied an impressive runner-up finish.
Paonia's Ethan Bartlett was the next to cross the line, finishing fifth in 17:01, while Noel Lopez and Max Saliman found themselves in a kick for sixth, with Lopez taking 'win' in 17:13, just ahead of Saliman's 17:14.
Rounding out the top 10 were Evans, Cooper Rondinelli, and Andre Stablein.
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