Scott Fauble and Allie Parks closed out sensational seasons with first-place finishes at the state meet.
Photos by Paul Jaeger, Don Murray, Alan Versaw, Jim Lewis, Cliff Jurgens, Eric Flores,Tom Warren, and Mark Oveson.
Note: If anyone can help fill the holes in the photos for this classification, I will gladly accept photo contributions. Thank you!
4A Boys
Scott Fauble, Wheat Ridge
There's not much you can do in a season that Scott Fauble didn't do. Fauble finished an unbeaten season (and one in which he often went against the top competition in the state from all classifications), posting roughly a 30-second victory (at 15:24) in the state meet to cap things off.
David Perry, Niwot
The Niwot senior paced the Niwot attack all season, posting four sub-16 times over the course of the season and winning his regional meet.
Chris Ganem, Castle View
Ganem quietly had a very nice season, making himself comfortable at the 5K distance in a way he wasn't quite able to in 2008. Now a junior, Ganem won four meet titles over the course of the season, including his regional meet. His 15:55 time at state was a season best mark.
Shawn Dubbs, Woodland Park
Officially a senior at Cripple Creek-Victor High School, Shawn Dubbs has made his name in cross country running in the green uniform of Woodland Park. The only meet Dubbs won all season was his first--the Joe Vigil Invitational, but he was in the hunt wherever he went. Season best time of 16:03
Tabor Stevens, Canon City
Although it's been a while since Canon City was a power in cross country, Stevens gave the opposition reason for pause when Canon City was on the schedule. Stevens had a season-best mark of 15:58 and won two meets, the Air Academy Invitational and the Rampart Invitational.
Chris Zirkle, Moffat County
Zirkle led the best boys team Moffat County has had in several years. Despite an oppressive travel schedule occasioned by the school's location in Craig, Zirkle won meet titles at three meets this year, including his regional meet. His 16:15 at state was a season-best mark.
Mike Cernoia, Pueblo West
Cernoia logged an impressive four each of first and second place finishes at meets during the season. His season-best time of 15:57 came at the 4A Region 4 meet.
Second Team: Kody Leach, Greeley West; David Shearon, Battle Mountain; Spencer Wenck, Palmer Ridge; Ed Cleary, Fossil Ridge; Emilio Trujillo, Sierra, Gus Waneka, Thompson Valley; Alex Paul, Silver Creek; Brandon Lange, Pueblo South
4A Girls
Allie Parks, Greeley Central
Although tested severely by Becky Schmitt in the last two meets of the season, Allie Parks retained her master over 4A competition at the state meet, winning in 18:17, arguably a better run than her 18:15 season-best mark.
Becky Schmitt, Thompson Valley
Schmitt's appearance in the Thompson Valley lineup late in the season breathed some extra new life into the Eagles, leading them to a second at state. Her 18:19 at state doubled as a season-best mark.
Erica Hinchcliffe, Greeley West
Along with Sarah Swenson, Hinchcliffe is the last remnant of the dominant Greeley West team from two years ago. Hinchcliffe's best time of the season was an 18:40 posted at the Andy Myers Invitational. She followed that up with a 5th at state
Nikki DeSouchet, Alamosa
DeSouchet keyed the Alamosa team all season, even when a few other key team members were hurt, but never more so than at the state meet where Alamosa came out on top. DeSouchet brought a string of three consecutive meet titles into the state meet where she finished third in 18:54.
Maddy Jourgensen, Moffat County
The Moffat County sophomore had a solid season that portends well for the next two years of high school. Three times, she dropped below 19:00, including a season-best mark of 18:47 at the TCA Invitational.
Bryn Haebe, Evergreen
As a junior, Haebe was the face of the program that was terrorizing the state in 4A girls through most of the season. An injury slowed the end of her season. Haebe's season-best mark of 18:42 was posted at the Chatfield Challenge.
Maura O'Brien, Evergreen
With Haebe hobbled, O'Brien took over leadership of the Evergreen team and handled the role nicely, posting a 19:01 finish at state, good enough for 7th. O'Brien was also the regional champion.
Second Team: Janelle Martinez, Greeley Central; Kali Maxwell, Cheyenne Mountain; Dani Grossman, Cheyenne Mountain; Lauren Martin, Alamosa; Torie Weprin, Centaurus; Rikka LaBere, Fossil Ridge; Jill Carlson, Broomfield; Anna Marshall, Pueblo West
Scott Fauble and Allie Parks closed out sensational seasons with first-place finishes at the state meet.