A Look At The Top Returners: 4A Boys

The boy's 4A field looks just as competitive as it was this year...

Three from the top-six return, and 10 of the top-20.

Niwot junior Zane Bergen is the defending state champion - he ran a 15:29 4A state record this year. While he is the top returner, and defending state champ, one thing he'll likely want next year is the experience of crossing the finish line first.

He'll have another rematch with Jackson Shorten, who is the No. 2 returner. Shorten finished second this year just eight-seconds behind Bergen in 15:37.

Add Erik Le Roux into the conversation - he's been a on the radar throughout his high school career, and next year looks no different. Le Roux is the No. 3 returner. He finished sixth this year in 15:46 after leading much of the early race.

While this article is looking more at individuals than teams - we'll save that for another date - it's hard not to glance at Cheyenne Mountain. They have five runners within the top-13 returners.