The gradual unfolding of What Could Be became a little more evident after Desert Twilight in late September, where Szuch dropped a 17:34 in the Open Race - that result alongside Taylor Whitfield's 17:34 clocking, and freshman standout Brooke Wilson's 17:47 in the Championship race were more than a subtle hint at what would be.
"It was a dream (to qualify for NXN) in the summer," Reese Dragovich said with her brown eyes beaming with excitement. "After State it became a real goal, not just a dream. We started to believe that it could happen."
Their sixth-place state finish might not have appeared as much, but they saw more between the lines than anyone else.
"We knew what the potential might be," Jones said as the sun dipped behind the mountains to the west. "But I don't think we really knew how big it could be."
Their strength was on full display when the girls from Valor nabbed the second and final automatic qualifier to Nationals at NXR-Southwest, sending shockwaves through the country, as they beat several nationally ranked squads in the process.
"Getting second was pretty phenomenal," Jones explained. "Our program had never experienced anything like this before."
While everyone was scratching their heads, trying to figure out who this squad was, the girls from Valor had a jump on everyone. Colorado's best kept secret knew it all along, and they pulled the curtain back in grand style.
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