Like every girl's classification in Colorado, the top returner in 3A is the defending state champion.
Basalt's Katelyn Maley is a clear favorite - she is the defending state champion. This year she ran 18:39, which was a 34-second victory.
The Classical Academy's Kennedy McDonald was the runner-up this year, and she's the No. 2 returner. She ran 19:13 this year. While this list only covers who competed at the 2020 state meet, it's worth noting that TCA's Sawyer Wilson - who ran as their No. 1 runner much of the season, did not race at State. She definitely deserves a mention in reference to top-returners for next year.
Leah Hill finished sixth last year, and she's the No. 3 returner for next year. She ran 19:27, which was just ahead of TCA's Cassidy McDonald, who is the No. 4 returner.
The 3A field looks just as loaded next year as it was this year - six of this year's top-10 return, and 15 of this year's top-20
Top Returners
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18:39.00 | Basalt High School | 2023 | |
| 2 | 19:13.40 | The Classical Academy | 2022 | |
| 3 | 19:27.10 | DSST Montview | 2022 | |
| 4 | 19:35.10 | The Classical Academy | 2024 | |
| 5 | 19:37.50 | The Classical Academy | 2022 | |
| 6 | 19:43.30 | Eaton High School | 2024 | |
| 7 | 19:44.20 | Basalt High School | 2023 | |
| 8 | 20:07.40 | Alamosa High School | 2024 | |
| 9 | 20:11.60 | Berthoud High School | 2022 | |
| 10 | 20:20.60 | The Classical Academy | 2023 | |
| 11 | 20:21.60 | Jefferson Academy | 2024 | |
| 12 | 20:22.10 | Salida High School | 2023 | |
| 13 | 20:26.70 | Liberty Common High School | 2024 | |
| 14 | 20:29.60 | Berthoud High School | 2024 | |
| 15 | 20:41.70 | Faith Christian Academy | 2022 | |
| 16 | 20:45.30 | St. Mary's Academy | 2023 | |
| 17 | 20:46.40 | Holy Family High School | 2023 | |
| 18 | 20:51.80 | Aspen High School | 2023 | |
| 19 | 20:54.20 | Liberty Common High School | 2024 | |
| 20 | 20:58.90 | Elizabeth High School | 2023 | |
| 21 | 21:07.70 | Holy Family High School | 2022 | |
| 22 | 21:10.20 | Aspen High School | 2023 | |
| 23 | 21:11.70 | Frontier Academy | 2023 | |
| 24 | 21:14.70 | Liberty Common High School | 2022 | |
| 25 | 21:16.20 | Faith Christian Academy | 2023 | |
| 26 | 21:18.70 | Liberty Common High School | 2024 | |
| 27 | 21:21.50 | Holy Family High School | 2022 | |
| 28 | 21:25.50 | Faith Christian Academy | 2022 | |
| 29 | 21:33.80 | Berthoud High School | 2022 | |
| 30 | 21:34.80 | Kent Denver School | 2024 | |
| 31 | 21:36.80 | Basalt High School | 2024 | |
| 32 | 21:40.20 | Moffat County High School | 2022 | |
| 33 | 21:40.80 | Holy Family High School | 2022 | |
| 34 | 21:48.90 | Moffat County High School | 2022 | |
| 35 | 21:50.80 | Prospect Ridge Academy | 2022 | |
| 36 | 21:53.00 | The Classical Academy | 2024 | |
| 37 | 21:54.00 | Machebeuf High School | 2023 | |
| 38 | 21:57.50 | D'Evelyn High School | 2023 | |
| 39 | 21:59.00 | Jefferson Academy | 2024 | |
| 40 | 22:05.30 | The Classical Academy | 2022 | |
| 41 | 22:07.20 | Faith Christian Academy | 2023 | |
| 42 | 22:11.50 | Salida High School | 2023 | |
| 43 | 22:17.40 | Liberty Common High School | 2024 | |
| 44 | 22:17.90 | Liberty Common High School | 2022 | |
| 45 | 22:20.20 | Prospect Ridge Academy | 2023 | |
| 46 | 22:26.30 | Salida High School | 2023 | |
| 47 | 22:30.60 | Kent Denver School | 2024 | |
| 48 | 22:36.00 | Kent Denver School | 2024 | |
| 49 | 22:53.90 | Frontier Academy | 2023 | |
| 50 | 22:57.70 | Prospect Ridge Academy | 2024 | |
| 51 | 22:58.70 | Frontier Academy | 2023 | |
| 52 | 23:01.50 | Frontier Academy | 2022 | |
| 53 | 23:05.20 | Jefferson Academy | 2024 | |
| 54 | 23:11.80 | Moffat County High School | 2022 | |
| 55 | 23:14.30 | Berthoud High School | 2022 | |
| 56 | 23:23.00 | Salida High School | 2022 | |
| 57 | 23:40.40 | Kent Denver School | 2024 | |
| 58 | 23:45.90 | Kent Denver School | 2024 | |
| 59 | 23:55.10 | Salida High School | 2022 | |
| 60 | 24:01.50 | Berthoud High School | 2023 | |
| 61 | 24:08.60 | D'Evelyn High School | 2023 | |
| 62 | 24:14.10 | Basalt High School | 2023 | |
| 63 | 24:19.20 | Faith Christian Academy | 2022 | |
| 64 | 24:35.90 | Elizabeth High School | 2024 | |
| 65 | 24:39.30 | Jefferson Academy | 2023 | |
| 66 | 24:44.70 | Elizabeth High School | 2023 | |
| 67 | 24:57.60 | Elizabeth High School | 2023 | |
| 68 | 25:20.90 | Elizabeth High School | 2022 | |
| 69 | 25:38.70 | Prospect Ridge Academy | 2023 | |
| 70 | 25:49.90 | D'Evelyn High School | 2024 | |
| 71 | 26:46.60 | Prospect Ridge Academy | 2024 |
Like every girl's classification in Colorado, the top returner in 3A is the defending state champion.
Basalt's Katelyn Maley is a clear favorite - she is the defending state champion. This year she ran 18:39, which was a 34-second victory.