Connor Ohlson took crisp, business-like strides.
His eyes scanned the freshly cut green grass in front of him, and the two mountain bikers in neon colors that were dancing away on their pedals to make sure they were keeping pace with the Dakota Ridge senior from 50 meters up.
Somewhere around the corner the mile marker awaited Ohlson, but he didn't wait that long to stake his claim on the boy's 4A/5A race at the St. Vrain Invitational.
Saturday morning's are for work, and for Ohlson, this was a business meeting, minus the suit and tie and polished leather boots. It was more of a thin white singlet, half-split shorts, and a spikes kind of meeting.
There would be no lollygagging around in Lyons.
Ohlson completed the feat of a solo 5k, leaving his chasers with breadcrumbs to lead them home - a sprint across the infield of the track. When he crossed the line in 15:40, he had the fastest time of the day, and a 23-second victory.
The win marked his second of the season, and the fifth-fastest time run at the St. Vrain Invite over the past decade.
Ohlson's individual win would be replicated by his team's victory, but we'll get back to that...
Behind him, 3x 3A state track champ and Gateway-transfer Yasin Sado cruised in for the runner-up spot, finishing just over 16 minutes in 16:03, while Ben Morrin and Jacob White gave Dakota Ridge three in the top four. Morrin finished third in 16:11, just ahead of White's 16:16.
Dakota Ridge was clear of the field in the team race, tallying 45 points for the title. Niwot took second with 113, just ahead of Monarch's 126.
It was a cool and crisp morning in Lyons, a lot like Ohlson's strides. It was one of those mornings that scurries up nostalgia, as fall is time for Cross Country, and Saturday morning seemed like the first fall morning of the 2019 season.
Next Page: Johnson Wins The Battle, Niwot Wins The War...