Colorado hasn't had a Eastbay (Footlocker) national champion since Katelyn Kaltenbach won the girl's title in 2003.
And the boys drought is even longer - Adam Goucher in 1993.
But this year the drought could end.
Zane Bergen and Riley Stewart are headed to San Diego with Colorado's best chances for claiming this race.
But per the usual, it won't be easy...
For the girls it'll be a rematch of last week's Garmin RunningLane Championships.
Stewart will toe the line with RunningLane Champion, Natalie Cook, RunningLane Runner-Up, Lily Cridge, and fourth-place finisher Jenna Mulhern.
As a freshman Stewart finished 21st, and as a sophomore she was 17th.
Bergen will toe the line as the fastest runner in 2021, though he'll have Gavin Sherry to battle and Riley Hough, who finished one-second behind him at RunningLane.
Over the past decade no Coloradan has placed higher than fourth - for the girls Jordyn Colter finished fourth in 2012, and Paul Roberts finished fifth in 2015.
Girls Over The Past Decade
RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17:29.50 | Cherry Creek High School | 2015 | |
2 | 17:58.40 | Cherry Creek High School | 2022 | |
3 | 18:04.00 | Fort Collins High School | 2017 | |
4 | 18:04.72 | Denver North High School | 2017 | |
5 | 18:14.00 | Cherry Creek High School | 2022 | |
6 | 18:31.40 | Denver North High School | 2017 | |
7 | 18:36.10 | Legacy High School | 2013 |
Boys Over The Past Decade
RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15:15.60 | Lyons High School | 2016 | |
2 | 15:37.30 | Cherry Creek High School | 2021 | |
3 | 15:48.30 | Denver East High School | 2018 | |
4 | 16:00.20 | Niwot High School | 2019 |