A handful of Colorado's best headed to the Pacific Northwest to compete on perhaps the most storied and prestigious track - Hayward Field - in Eugene, Ore.
And quite a few came back with gold.
Colorado was well-represented at The Outdoor Nationals, Presented by Nike this past weekend.
Niwot senior Simon Saia captured the national title in the 5,000, clocking a stellar 14:30.66. That's a US No. 4. Grahm Tuohy-Gaydos and Jackson Shorten finished 10-11, both clocking 14:52.
Zane Bergen, "fresh" off last week's triple at the state meet, nearly pulled off the feat in the mile. Bergen led the race into the final straight, but was kicked down. Regardless, the Niwot junior dropped a huge personal best of 4:03.90 for the full mile. That's a US No.4.
It looks like we'll have another Sub-4 Chase next year...
In the hurdles Rampart's Carsen Bruns captured a top-10 finish in the 400H, running 54.33.
In the boy's relays Niwot claimed the 4x1600 national crown, running a stellar 17:19 - that's about a 4:20 average per runner. In the 4x800 they finished just outside the top-three - they ran 7:53.13 to finish fourth.
For the girls Lucca Fulkerson added the Outdoor Nationals 3,200 title to last week's state title in the event. The Niwot senior ran 10:19.95 - a 15-second victory.
Taylor James finished just outside the top-three in the 800, running 2:09.35, while Maelynn Higgins was two-seconds back in 2:11.32.
Madison Shults finished fourth in the 1,600, running 4:46.26. Emma Stutzman finished ninth in 4:49. Meanwhile Sierra Parks finished 10th in the 5,000 in 17:16.
In the hurdles Kimora Northrup finished just outside the top-three in the 400 Hurdles, crossing fourth in 1:01.12.
In the relays Niwot brought the heat.
They won the 4x400 in 3:42.72, the 4x800 in 8:52.48, the Distance Medley Relay in 11:33.51, they finished second in the Sprint Medley in 1:44.76, and they finished second in the 4x1600, running 19:45.37, which was underneath the previous national record, and about 4:56+ per runner.
Additionally, Holy Family finished sixth in the SMR in 1:50.89.
Full Meet Results
Elite Performances
| Girls (19) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200m | p 5 19th | 24.23 w | Camille Peisner | Valor Christian High School | |
| 400m | F 3 20th | 56.37 | Camille Peisner | Valor Christian High School | |
| 800m | F 3 4th | 2:09.35 | Taylor James | Niwot High School | |
| 800m | F 2 12th | 2:11.32 | Maelynn Higgins | Broomfield High School | |
| 5000m | F 1 10th | 17:16.10 | Sierra Parks | Niwot High School | |
| 5000m | F 1 13th | 17:22.99 | Aspen Fulbright | Pueblo West High School | |
| 5000m | F 1 14th | 17:23.82 | Allison Beasley | Peak to Peak Charter School | |
| 5000m | F 1 17th | 17:29.95 | Mia Mraz | Legacy High School | |
| 100H | F 2 6th | 14.73 | Fabiola Belibi | Regis Jesuit | |
| 400H | F 3 4th | 1:01.12 | Kimora Northrup | Niwot High School | |
| 4x200m | F 2 2nd | 1:42.38 | Niwot High School | ||
| SMR8 | F 1 2nd | 1:44.76 | Niwot High School | ||
| 4x400m | F 2 1st | 3:42.72 | Niwot High School | ||
| SMR | F 2 8th | 4:13.91 | Niwot High School | ||
| 4x800m | F 2 1st | 8:52.48 | Niwot High School | ||
| DMR | F 1 1st | 11:33.51 | Niwot High School | ||
| LJ | F 1 7th | 17-8.5 | Fabiola Belibi | Regis Jesuit | |
| PV | F 2 17th | 12-1.5 | Megan Kelleghan | Silver Creek High School | |
| Hep | F 1 10th | 1:14:07.00 | Fabiola Belibi | Regis Jesuit | |
| Boys (11) | |||||
| 200m | p 4 30th | 22.20 | Isaak Easley | Northfield High School | |
| 800m | F 3 27th | 1:55.27 | Clifton Thompson | Lakewood High School | |
| 800m | F 3 29th | 1:55.33 | Charlie Welch | George Washington High School | |
| 5000m | F 2 1st | 14:30.66 | Simon Saia | Niwot High School | |
| 5000m | F 2 10th | 14:52.28 | Grahm Tuohy-Gaydos | Green Mountain High School | |
| 5000m | F 2 11th | 14:52.70 | Jackson Shorten | Mountain View High School | |
| 110H | p 5 33rd | 14.86 | Carsen Bruns | Rampart High School | |
| 400H | F 4 10th | 54.33 | Carsen Bruns | Rampart High School | |
| 400H | F 1 20th | 55.49 | Bennett Feldenkirchen | Mountain View High School | |
| 4x800m | F 2 4th | 7:53.13 | Niwot High School | ||
| DMR | F 1 10th | 10:20.54 | Niwot High School | ||