Summit freshman Ella Hagen torched the final mile to win the Battle Mountain Husky Invitational.
Ella Hagen eyed the thick green grass.
The Summit freshman took light strides over the smooth terrain nearing the two-mile marker, though placing her feet wasn't always this easy.
The Battle Mountain Husky Invitational course is perhaps one of the toughest in the state.
There's some single-track trail. A few wall-like steep hills. And oh yeah, about 8,000 feet of elevation.
Add some of the best competition in Colorado, and you've got a real cross country race.
Challenges aside, Hagen's first high school cross country race went off without a hitch. The Summit freshman ran the course like a seasoned-vet, pacing her way from mile to mile.
And with one to go, she had shed all of her challengers.
Hagen ran onwards into her own race with each stride, and when she emerged from the trees and into the sun with 200 meters to go, she held a substantial lead.
The Summit freshman cruised once again over the thick grass and spread her arms in victory as she crossed the line in 19:55.
Hagen accomplished something only three other girls have done on this course - and that's break 20 minutes.
The other three?
Course record holder Mia Prok, Samantha Blair, and Sarah O'Sullivan.
Hagen is among good company...
The Durango duo of Willow Lott and Tea Forrest (seen above) were the next to cross to line, running 20:46, and 20:53.
Battle Mountain's Milaina Almonte and Buena Vista's Zaila Smith were just over 21-minutes, running 20:03, and 20:04.
Angela McManus gave Durango three in the top-seven, while Nina Quayle, and Abby Fehr stop the tallying at 14 -- they finished 13-14.
Durango tallied 39 points to claim the team title. Monarch was second with 81, which was just ahead of Battle Mountain's 84.
RESULTS | PHOTOS
Next Page: Durango's Land Lambert Breaks The Course Record