Bella Nelson and Niwot look as strong as ever heading into the 2022 Colorado cross country season.
Can Niwot score 15 points?
That's really the question when looking at 4A.
Obviously that'll be insanely hard to pull off, but Niwot does return the fastest squad by far. As mentioned previously, they return the second-fastest squad in the country. In other words, when spectators get to watch Niwot in their prime in the latter part of the season, they'll be witnessing one of the best - if not the best - squads in the country.
On paper, Niwot returns with a 17:29 1-5 average, and a 1-5 split of just 46-seconds. Their top-five returners - Mia Prok, Madison Shults, Bella Nelson, Olivia Alessandrini, and Sarah Perkins - all broke 18 minutes last year. Prok and Shults have run 17:11 or faster, and Nelson gives them three under 17:30.
That alone is impressive. But what's not on any returner-ranking lists is who Niwot has coming this fall.
Mia Prok's younger sister - Anna Prok - will be competing as a...