The best squad in the country is set to shine Saturday.!
But there are a few questions begging for answers...
For those of you who can't make it to Penrose this Saturday -- MileSplit Colorado has you covered! We'll be live streaming the finish line: WATCH LIVE
TEAMS
The question isn't: Will Niwot Defend Their Title?
The question is: Will Niwot Set A New State Record For Lowest Tally?
Last year they went 2-3-4-5-6, and put six inside the top-eight, tallying 20-points.
Niwot tallied 15-points at Desert Twilight last month, and have usually tallied less-thank 30 in just about every race they've competed in - when they ran even half of their varsity squad.
Spectators could be treated with a historical performance Saturday - they're not just the No. 1 ranked squad in the US, they're running on the potential of being the (arguably) best squad in Colorado history.
While the bar for the Cougars is undeniably high - they are the No. 1 ranked squad in the US - it's likely that they'll be eyeing to run another record-breaking performance and lower that tally - though, it won't be easy.
But we'll come back that in the Individual race.
The team races looks to be status-quo, so who'll race for the remaining podium spots?
Conifer, Cheyenne Mountain, Durango, Battle Mountain, Summit, and Northfield should be in the mix.
INDIVIDUALS
Addison Ritzenhein has run herself onto a new level this season.
The Niwot sophomore is undefeated, and heads to Colorado Springs with a dominating 16:44 victory at the Desert Twilight XC Invite on her resume. Add her 17:36 course record from the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational.
Ritzenhein is coming in hot of a dominating 16:58 4A Region 3 victory, which she won by over 50-seconds.
Her performances at Desert Twilight, St. Vrain, and Regionals indicate that she's not just one of the best runners in 4A - or Colorado - she's one of the best in the country - she was recently ranked US No. 6.
Last year Ritzenhein finished second at the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships in 17:56 before going on to finish 18th at Nike Cross Nationals.
While Ritznenhein looks like the favorite, the path to the 4A state title won't be an easy one - 4A defending state champ Ella Hagen looks as strong as ever.
The Summit junior won eight-of-nine races this season - and five-consecutive victories. Her one loss came at Liberty Bell (to defending 3A state-champ Isabel Allori.)
Hagen ran 16:55 that day.
She's full of momentum, coming in off a 17:08 course record at the Colorado 4A Region 1 Championships.
Last year Hagen ran 17:48 to claim the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships before going on to finish 25th at Nike Cross Nationals.
Ritzenhein and Hagen have not raced each other this season, making Saturday's clash all the more epic.
Beyond Ritzenhein and Hagen, it opens up to a slew of Niwot runners, including Mia Prok, who has run 17:31 this season, Avalon Beltran, who's run 17:38, Olivia Alessandrini, who's run 17:51 - and recently finished second at regionals (to Ritzenhein.)
If there's anyone else who can run with Niwot's pack - besides Hagen - it's Riverdale Ridge's Payton Meineke. She was in the mix at the 4A Region 3 Championships, where she finished third. Meineke is riding the wave of a breakout season of which she's run 17:48.
Another question here, is: Will Brooke Wilson's 16:59.20 course record fall?
It's possible...
Let's take a look at a few stats...
Meineke ran 17:57 on the state meet course at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede (Pre-State) last month. She ran 17:56 at the 4A Region 3 Championships last week, where Ritzenhein ran 16:58.
Several athletes noted that the region course was brutal. But even if it's similar to the state meet course, that means the course record could go down...
To add to that already crazy opinion, consider that only 15 girls have broken 18-minutes on this course, and only one has broken 17-minutes.
The girl's 4A Championships are scheduled for 11 a.m.
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