Fossil Ridge
Fossil Ridge returns five of seven from the 2018 state squad, and three of their top five. But what makes them a threat this fall is that their top three from that day, Lena Fogarty, Olivia Dickinson, and Caitlin Hunt, were all freshmen.
Add the fact that Fogarty and Hunt have run 18:21 and 18:41, and that Ellie Black - who finished seventh for them at State, is actually their third fastest returner with an 18:53 best. Dickinson nearly gives them four under 19, as she returns with a 19:01 season best. Dylan Luciani makes five returning with season bests of 19:15 or faster.
Their 1-5 pack could be an edge in a big race, making them quite dangerous at the state meet.
Broomfield
It seems inevitable that the girls in blue return to the big stage...
A year ago Broomfield finished sixth at the State meet, though like Cherry Creek, they return everyone from that squad. Everyone.
Sub 18 5ker Sydney Swanker leads this squad, and she's flanked by Lauren Felknor, Allison Leister, Sierra Parks, and Sarah Stussi. On paper, using a massive Power Merge from the 2018 state cross country championships, Broomfield returns the fourth best squad from the state meet.
Monarch
And one step back in that Power Merge is Monarch, who returns six of seven from their 2018 state squad, and four of their top five from that day.
A year ago they finished fifth at state, though they could challenge that finish this year.
What makes Monarch a threat is how compact they are - they've got a 50-second 1-5 split from the 2018 state meet. Leading the way is Anna Wexler, who was their top finisher at state last year, and is their fastest returner with a 18:32 PR. Julia Mainland, Chloe Smith, Ginger Harrington, Arianna Le round out a top five that is one of the best returning to the course this fall.