Bethany Michalak blew away the rest of the competition at yesterday's Coronado Cougar Classic when she took the varsity girls 5k in 17:11.18 - over a minute ahead of the rest of the field.
Michalak has clearly proven that she can get this done in a solo effort, as her time is the second-fastest ever run on this course behind Katie Rainsberger's 17;05.
Additionally it's a Colorado No. 5.
The Air Academy junior is no stranger to Colorado cross country, though.
As a freshman, she ran 17.14.84. As a sophomore, she ran a blazing 16:49.53. She's just getting started - we can expect lots from her in the near future.
Michalak wasn't the only show-out of the day, though. Senior Adele Havlick was the runner-up in 18:20.56 - leading her team, Palmer High, to a second place finish. She was followed closely by Air Academy freshman Jordan Banta, who finished in 18:25.29.
Banta, being only a freshman, has already made a name for herself this season. Just a few weeks ago at the Liberty Bell Invite, she dropped a time of 17:30.10. That time put her No. 2 in the Colorado freshman rankings, as well as No. 12 in Colorado overall.
Fourth was Emma Wilhelm of Pine Creek with a time of 18:31.01. Fifth and sixth places brought out two more stellar freshmen - Castle View's Brenna Jorde and Air Academy's Lauren Myers
The two have put themselves high up in the Colorado freshman rankings, with Jorde being No. 3 and Myers being No. 4.
Jorde finished with a time of 18:42.85, while Myers finished with a time of 18:50.74. Jorde led her team, Castle View High, to a first place finish.
Seventh was sophomore Riley Combe, also of Castle View High, with a time of 18:59.42.
Castle View High took the team title with 67 points, followed by Palmer High with 80 points, and the Air Academy took third with 104 points.
Lots more to come this weekend in Colorado cross country - stay tuned!
For the boys Jacob Bach got the job done at yesterday's Coronado Cougar Classic with a dominating win in the varsity boys 5k. He finished with a time of 15:24.27 - that's the second-fastest time on the course by one second!
The Palmer Ridge High senior is having one heck of a final season - being that he's ranked No. 13 in Colorado as of now. This is his second consecutive win - he took first at the Air Academy Kadet Invite just last weekend.
In 2021, Bach put out a time of 15:05.50. A few weeks ago at the Liberty Bell Invite, he ran a time of 15:15.70. Let's see what he has to prove in his final season at Palmer Ridge High.
Not too far behind Bach was TJ Frueh who finished runner-up in 15:48.64. The Castle View High senior led his team to the overall victory.
Sophomore Parker Graham, also of Castle View High, finished in third with a time of 16:00.02. He wasn't too far off of his personal best from the Liberty Bell Invite, which is 15:58.10.
Next up in fourh was Jay Wood of Thomas Maclaren Charter, who finished in 16:04.92. Following very closely behind him in fifth was Sheppard Collier who finished in 16:05.48.
Sixth was Parker Davidson of Coronado High in 16:06.47. He led his team to a runner-up finish.
Seventh was Lyndon Gotelaere in 16:09.24. The St. Mary's senior ran a pretty big PR, taking over 20 seconds off of his previous one.
Similar to the girls race, Castle View High took the overall team win with 57 points. Coronado High took second with 66 points, followed by Lewis-Palmer High who took third with 174 points.
Keep an eye out for some more great races this weekend!