TEAMS
This one could be close.
Really close.
Single-digits close.
The Classical Academy head to Penrose as the No. 1 ranked squad, but Holy Family and Alamosa are hot on their heels.
TCA is coming in scorching off a 17-point region title, where they put seven inside the top-eight. Add that TCA finished second at the Air Academy Kadet Invitational to the US No. 2 Air Academy several weeks ago.
Likewise, Holy Family put five inside the top-eight to dominate the 3A Region 3 field, tallying 24-points.
Alamosa claimed the 3A Region 2 title, tallying 45-points.
So, we have three squads all with region titles. Two of them absolutely ran away with it.
On paper, Alamosa has perhaps the best 1-2-3 punch, though when it comes to the pack, Holy Family has the edge, and when it comes to depth, TCA has the edge.
Single-digit scorers go a long way in a big race like state, meaning this race will be decided on the day of - every point will matter.
INDIVIDUALS
Isabel Allori has been in her own race most of this season.
The Liberty Common heads to Colorado Springs undefeated, with a streak of five victories.
Her biggest win this season came at the Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational, where she ran 16:51 to down a stellar field.
A year ago she torched the field, and a 17:10 to claim the 3A Colorado State Cross Country Championship title. Her performance marked the third-fastest ever on the course (it would've been the second, but Brooke Wilson cracked 17-minutes several hours earlier in the 5A State Championships.) She went on to finish 14th at the Nike Cross Nationals a little over a month later.
When it comes to the individual race, the question isn't really "Will Isabel Allori win?" - it's: "How Fast Will She Run?"
In other words: Is Brooke Wilson's 16:59 course record in jeopardy?
We have one course to make any comparison here - and that's Liberty Bell.
Wilson ran 16:53 last year at LB. Allori ran 16:51 this year.
So, yeah. I think we can say a course record may fall here...
Beyond Allori, the race is really for second.
Stargate's Allison Pippert has put together a great season of her own. She's won a staggering six out of eight races, with her only losses coming in the 4A/5A race at St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational , and to Allori at the The Summit Stinger at Copper. She's run a PR of 17:40 this season from the Horizon Invitational. Pipper is coming in off a dominating 3A Region 3 title.
A year ago she finished third at State, making her the No. 2 returner this year.
A wildcard in the girl's race could be Delaney Reuter. The Eaton freshman has finished in the top-three of every race she's run in this season - what makes that stat all the more impressive is the fact that she's raced nine times. She PR'd in her 18:20 victory at the Thornton Invitational.
The girl's 3A Championships are scheduled for 1:40 pm