Katie McLaughlin leads a strong Rock Canyon team into a tough regional meet--4A Region 3. Photo by Alan Versaw.
4A Region 1
If there were such a thing as an automatic berth, Evergreen would get it out of this region. Mullen looks to be in a strong position as well.
Behind these two, however, things get very interesting. Centaurus, Golden, D`Evelyn, and Wheat Ridge are the favorites to take the remaining slots to state. A lot could depend on how many complete teams show up on race day. Right now, it looks as if the region only gets four teams to state.
4A Region 2
In this wickedly tough region, it looks like six teams will get bids to state. And that would be a good thing, too, because you'd have a difficult time looking down the list of teams in the region and trying to pare it down to five or fewer state-worthy teams.
Greeley Central has had the best season to date within the region, but Thompson Valley is always a threat. Behind them, it's a logjam between Greeley West, Niwot, Broomfield, Roosevelt, Berthoud, and Windsor--all looking for state bids. Much could depend on who has the healthiest set up seven on the starting line at the regional meet.
McKayla Gray of Mountain View is a strong candidate for an individual qualifier to state.
4A Region 3
This region should send four teams to state, with some hope of sending five.
Right now, Castle View, Rock Canyon, Cheyenne Mountain, and Lewis-Palmer are laying claim to being the chosen four, but woe to the team that counts on getting to state before running the race! Last year, Cheyenne Mountain dominated the region, but new years have a way of shuffling the deck and this year Castle View seems to be holding the top cards. Rock Canyon may yet have something to say about that, though.
Ellen Jackson of Palmer Ridge seems a solid candidate to get an individual qualifier if her team doesn't make it.
4A Region 4
Alamosa absolutely hammered this region last year, but it won't be nearly as simple this year. Perhaps stung a little by the domination of Alamosa last year, the rest of the region has been training up to a new level this year. Vista Ridge and Pueblo West, in particular, are fielding sharply improved teams while Alamosa has struggled a little with consistency, and perhaps some with health as well.
After the big three, Pueblo South appears to be the next strongest entry. The region will probably advance four teams to state.
4A Region 5
Until Glenwood Springs showed up big at the Dakota Ridge Invitational, this looked like a region with a wide-open state berth behind the regional powers of Moffat County, Montrose, and Summit. Now, Glenwood enters the region looking like the top pick for #4, with Palisade and Eagle Valley ready to sieze upon any lapses up front. Four teams to state is all this region can hope for.
Amelia Ortiz of Battle Mountain should finish high in the field and qualify for state as an individual.
5A Region 1
Behind the big three of Chaparral, Smoky Hill, and Arapahoe, there's a lot of room for oppotunistic teams to win a trip to Fort Collins to go trick-or-treating. Columbine and Littleton have posted the best times, but Ponderosa has been hiding out on tough courses and is not to be discounted. This one provides as much intrigue as any region. Five teams should advance to state.
Likely individual qualifiers, should their teams fail to qualify, would be Bre Hemming (Ponderosa), Tobi Kroskob (Ponderosa), Kelsey Slauson (Grand Junction), and Lillie Toaspern (Denver East).
5A Region 2
Behind Cherry Creek, newly invigorated by the return of Clare Gallagher, lies a logjam of teams vying for this region's state qualifying berths. Grandview probably ranks as the number two team. Beyond that, however, things are tighter than industrial strength spandex on a sumo wrestler's hindquarters.
In a region that probably only advances four teams to state, Denver South, Dakota Ridge, Heritage, Cherokee Trail, and Chatfield are each strongly in the running for the reamining state qualifying positions. Running smart early in the race will be crucial at this regional. This one is worth tracking.
5A Region 3
This one is the toughest of the 5A girls regions. There are five legitimate top ten possibilities at state in this region and, fortunately, the region should get to send five teams to state. This will be where Boulder, Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge, Green Mountain, and Fairview collide. And, there could be some cat-and-mouse games going on as teams try to decide how hard they need to take the regional race.
While Rangeview appears to be facing an uphill battle to qualify a team for state, Rikki Gonzales should advance out of the region as an individual.
5A Region 4
This is another region boasting five legitimate top ten contenders at state, and maybe only slightly less competitive overall than 5A Region 3. Like Region 3, this one should be able to advance five times to state.
And that would be a good thing, because based on the seasons they've had to date, it would be difficult to pick which one of Fort Collins, Legacy, Monarch, Loveland, and Rocky Mountain shouldn't go to state. But, one little slip at regionals and any of the above could miss.
The level of individual talent in the top teams in this region is nothing short of astonishing. It will take a monumental effort for any individual qualifiers to make it to state out of this region.
5A Region 5
While this region lacks a team with the historical aura of a Fort Collins, Highlands Ranch, or Boulder, you'll look high and low without finding a weak team in the region. That fact alone should make this one competitive. The region should send five teams to state.
Pine Creek comes into the regional meet as a substantial favorite, but there is a cluster of very respectable teams nipping at their heels. Mountain Vista, Durango, Doherty, Air Academy, Rampart, and Palmer are each having good seasons. With the possible exception of Pine Creek (and even they must be careful), nobody in this region can afford to let off the gas at the regional meet. Every place will count.
Liberty boasts two of the top individuals in the region in Hannah Everson and Gina Hauptman, but will have to have a very nice performance from at least three more to qualify a team out of the region.