While the girls race was decided over the final 1,000 meters, the boys race went down to the final straightaway.
Valor's Ty Garrett controlled much of it, though Niwot's Carlos Kipkorir Cheruiyot came ready to roll.
The two traded kicks in the final half-mile. Like a boxing match, each took their shot.
Then another. Then another.
And just when it seemed like we would get a little relief, things took a more dramatic turn.
As Garrett and Cheruiyot took the final tight left turn towards the finish, Garrett slipped and went down.
The Valor junior quickly popped up and pressed the boosters.
Garrett caught Cheruiyot over the final 100 meters and crossed the finish line first in 10:08. Cheruiyot was a stride back in 10:09.
Behind them, Valor's Drew Costelow kicked late to finish third in 10:17. Boulder's Gavin Geer finished fourth in 10:26, just ahead of Palmer Ridge's Lucas Bossinger, who finished fifth in 10:30.
Valor's 1-2 punch was complimented by Dane Eike, Tyler Pranno, and Kaeden Dendorfer, who finished 8-11-12 to cap their scoring at 33 points. Niwot took third with 68, which was just ahead of Rock Canyon's 74.
As mentioned on the previous page, several squads ran their younger athletes in the Freshman/Sophomore race. Mountain Vista freshman Benjamin Anderson ran away with the race, winning in 10:33 - a time that would've placed in the top-eight of the Varsity race.