I'm not going to use that "it's getting cold outside but it's heating up on the course," line for a while...

Maybe another way to say that is: While the leaves have changed from green to gold, there were plenty of fires on courses across the state -- and no, not literal fires.

I digress.

Last week we had a slew of league championships. And there were two sorts of angles here. Some squads ran true efforts, sharpening up for the final weeks of the season. Some squads either sat out this one out, or cruised, resting for the final weeks of the season. 

Either way, there's an intensity rising in the air as we run into the final weeks of the 2021 Colorado cross country season.

Let's get into it, here are the highlights of the highlights...

We'll start at the Longs Peak League Meet in Fort Morgan, because it looks like Niwot just put their cards on the table. 

Zane Bergen cracked 15 for the first time in Colorado, winning in a CO No. 1 of 14:42. Jackson Shorten also dipped under 15, running a Colorado personal best of of 14:59.

The girl's side of the competition was the Niwot Show - they took the top-nine finishes, led by Mia Prok's 17:18 victory. Eva Klingbeil was second in a Colorado PR of 17:25.

At the Continental League Meet Mountain Vista went 1-2 in the boy's race, led by Tyler Downs' 15:28 victory. Jayden Nats was a close runner-up finishing in 15:32.

Aidyn Woodall ran away with the girl's title, running 18:08, while Keira Gamily was second in 18:28.

Meanwhile, the Arapahoe and Cherry girls battled at the Centennial League Championships, though both with abbreviated squads and efforts. Arapahoe went 1-2 with Emily Lamontagne and Ava Mitchell running 19:09, and 19:17. Though it was Cherry Creek who took the razor-thin 28-29 victory in the team race - without Riley Stewart.

There were some fireworks at the Jefferson County 4A/5A League Championship, particularly in girl's 5A race. 

Emma Stutzman torched the field, and the previous course record, running 17:47. The time would've placed her just outside of the top-10 in the boy's 4A race. Hannah Anderson was a solid runner-up, finishing in 18:48. Audrey VanWestrienen took the girl's 4A race in the final mile, running 19:42.

On the boy's side of the competition the fastest time of the day came out of the 4A race, where Bryce Reeburgh led from start to finish, crossing the line in 15:49. Patrick Doty was second in 15:58. In the 5A race David Rhoades was the runaway winner, soloing a 16:13.

Rosie Mucharsky picked up her third consecutive victory - this one coming at the Denver Public Schools League Meet. The Denver East freshman ran 18:31 for s 48-second victory.

While Mucharsky cruised into the finishing shoot without a challenger, the girl's race at the Rifle XC Invitational was a battle to the line. Katelyn Maley and Ella Hagen were separated by just a tenth-of-a-second, with Maley getting the W in 18:22.3, to Hagen's 18:22.4.

Tyler Ball picked up the first win of his season at the Mile High League. The Lyons junior ran 16:21 for a 41-second victory.

And keeping with the theme of big victories, Leah Hill dominated the girl's race at the Frontier League Meet Championship by just under two-minutes. The DSST Montview senior ran 18:34 for the win.

Meanwhile it was a Palmer sweep of the girl's race at the CSML South Championship. Adele Havlick and Olivia Sheridan went 1-2, running 18:43 and 19:09.

Two weeks to State!