The opening mile of the boy's 2A race saw a large pack all eyeing each other, though the second mile is what made the race.
Ellicott's Jodzuel Juarez threw down the hammer and separated quickly, while Heritage Christina's Jack Nauman gave chase from a few seconds back.
Juarez's thin lead remained over the final mile, and the two entered the Norris-Penrose Stadium within seconds of each other.
The mud did nothing to change the outcome, however, and Juarez captured his first win of the season, running 16:35. Nauman was just four seconds back in 16:39.
WATCH: 2A Boy's Race Video
Of additional note, Juarez's winning time here was over a minute faster than his 2020 state cross country performance, where he finished sixth in 17:39. Likewise, Nauman clearly made the jump - he ran 18:01 at state last year, finishing 11th.
Heritage Christian took the team title decisively, scoring 21 points. Thomas Maclaren finished second with 48, which was just ahead of St. Mary's, who tallied 50.
On the girl's side of the competition Zaila Smith ran a race of her own.
The Buena Vista senior put her stamp on the race early, and soloed to a 20:14 victory.
Behind her Eliana Caucutt showed her summer work. The Golden View Classical Academy senior finished second, running a personal best of 20:40. A year ago she finished 16th on this course at the state cross country championships, running 21:52.
Elle Stevens also dipped under 21 minutes, finishing third in 20:57.
Watch: 2A Girls Race Video
The team race was a hotly-contested affair, with Colorado Springs Christian coming out on top over the defending state champions, Buena Vista. CSC scored 28 points to take the team title. Buena Vista and Hertiage Christian tied through four runners with 38, though Buena Vista took second with the fifth-runner tie-breaker.