TCA Rumbles
Mason Norman may have won the race, but it was the TCA pack that nailed down a league title.
Although there were two meets going on on the course at the same time, with a bit of a practiced eye, you could sort things out fairly well this time. There were no especially tight races.
The Classical Academy started patiently, almost deliberately, in both races, content to let the fields do whatever they wanted to do but holding any substantial breaks until about 3000 meters in. This course almost never yields a PR, anyway, so it's a great meet to work on racing skills and understanding in advance of bigger meets to come.
The strategy worked well for the TCA boys. It worked even better for the girls. Sorting out, and setting aside for the moment, the shirts of Doherty, Coronado, Liberty, Rampart, Palmer, and Fountain-Ft. Carson, the Titans ran to substantial margins of victory.
TCA bested Widefield, 24-58, to claim the boys league title. The TCA girls opened a larger gap, running to an 18-60 margin over Elizabeth.
Mason Norman, after shedding the dogged pursuit of Ben Conlin, ran to the 4A and overall meet boys title. Sawyer Wilson broke from Lauren Boutelle at 3000 meters and ran to the 4A and overall meet girls title.
For the boys, places two through five in the 4A league standings were taken up by Jon Cabrera Santos (Widefield), Brandon Williams Jr. (Widefield), Chandler Wilburn (TCA), and Ryan Flaherty (TCA). Mesa Ridge's Edward Moreno finished well back in the pack. Had Moreno enjoyed a more normal outing, it's possible Mesa Ridge could have challenged Widefield for second. They'll get another opportunity at regionals next week.
For the girls, places two through five in the 4A league standings went to Kennedy McDonald (TCA), Sophia Mena (Widefield), Kotryna Obergfell (TCA), and Rebecca Thompson (TCA). Elizabeth's four in the top 15 definitely bear further watching as their regional meet approaches next week.
Next Page: Liberty And Pine Creek Split 5A Titles