While the girl's race went mostly according to expectations, the boy's race had some big surprises...
Every year there's one race that sees a Dark Horse stun the field.
Last year it was the boy's 5A individual race.
This year it was the boy's 4A individual race, as Nolan Hoffman captured the title in a wild kick finish.
Prior to Saturday the Mead senior had never finished in the top-10 of any state championship race - cross country or track.
He finished 44th at State last year, 11th as a sophomore - the one race that perhaps hinted at his abilities - and 50th as a freshmen.
Add that he hasn't ever qualified for the State meet in track...
But he put together a great 2022 cross country season, which included four consecutive victories heading into Saturday's State Championships.
It's safe to write that most people probably didn't see Hoffman coming - this writer included. But when viewing his season, there were definitely hints - like his victory at the Dave Sanders Invitational.
Numbers and stats aside, Hoffman pieced together his best performance yet - on the day that it mattered the most.
The Mead senior claimed the Upset Of The State Meet, as he kicked into Penrose to claim the 4A state title in a big personal best of 15:31.
To add to this already impressive story, Hoffman kicked to win over someone insanely familiar with kicking - Battle Mountain's Porter Middaugh.
Hoffman took the state title 15:31.40 to Middaugh's 15:31.70. Battle Mountain had an impressive 2-3 finish with Will Brunner finishing third in 15:39.
It's of additional note that Middaugh and Brunner are juniors...
And just as tight as the individual race was, so was the team race.
It was already billed as another rematch between defending state champions Cheyenne Mountain, and Niwot.
Cheyenne Mountain took the early lean with Kaden Levings and Brogan Collins finishing sixth, and ninth to give them two in front of Niwot's one - freshman Rocco Culpepper led the squad with a 10th place finish.
Brian Kerrigan kept the lean with Cheyenne Mountain as he finished 13th to give them three in front of Niwot's two.
Niwot countered with Carlos Kipkorir Cheruiyot and Jeremy Gillett, who finished 15th, and 19th, though Cheyenne Mountain's No. 4 - Carter Bayer - was one-place back to keep them in front.
With it down to the fifth man - and both within single digits of each other - the power of Cheyenne Mountain's 1-2 finish came to light. Niwot's Frederick Ambrose closed the door for them, but Cheyenne Mountain's Cale O'Day was three-places back.
Cheyenne Mountain successfully defended their state title, tallying 76 points, while Niwot was a close second with 92 points.
And as close as the front of the team race was, so was the 3-5.
Central (GJ) took third with 159 points, which was just two-points ahead of Eagle Valley's 161. Add that Battle Mountain was just seven points behind that with 168 points to finish fifth.