It isn't easy to go through high school running second on your team when you have the talent to be first on most teams, but Rebecca Hermann has made the most of it. Photo by Alan Versaw.
The 2A classification is three years old and nobody has knocked off Nederland yet. Early indications are that next year isn't looking so promising, either.
Nederland - The dynasty. It was a splendid show of domination on October 30 and all five are coming back. For four of them it will be their senior season, so there will be a special level of motivation for those four to close it out with a matched set of four trophies in the case. There simply are no weaknesses on this team, and Kelley Robinson and Rebecca Hermann just might be able to run for any team in the state. This is a team that would easily make it to state in 5A. Check out the merged scoring from the state meet here.
Lyons - Lyons gave it the best possible shot this year, pulling to within a point of Nederland at regionals, but didn't have it in the tank to topple the Panthers at state. The trouble for Lyons is that next year they'll have to do it without Melissa Roberts. Younger sister Miriam has already proven herself and Olivia Raspotnik had a solid season in her own right. Lyons will be a strong team again next fall, but needs a major infusion somewhere to be able to chase Nederland.
Crested Butte Community - After a couple of years pumping out of a well that seemed to have gone dry, the Titan girls now appear to have the pipeline filling up with talent again. And none too soon, as Erin Kelly has run cross country for the last time in a Crested Butte uniform. The mantle of "team most likely to make life miserable for Nederland" just might pass to the Titans and the trio of Amber Scott, Abby Whiting, and Mina Moscatelli. All the training in the mountains surrounding Crested Butte won't hurt their cause.
Mancos - I loved watching Kelsey Corbin run at state the last three years. It never struck me that she had the most natural ability in the field, but she was always gritty--the kind of runner who would battle you every step of the course and enjoy doing it. Somehow, Mancos is going to have to replace that next fall. It won't be easy. Rachel Beverlin (a Dolores student who runs cross for Mancos) and Devin Kroeker are the top returning hopes for the Blue Jays.
Telluride - Beneath the shadow of Bridal Veil Falls, it's all about depth. Rachel Hampton and Josephine Bush are solid runners who should return for next year, but you need three who can finish in the top 10 - 15 to have any sort of hope in 2A. The program is growing and gaining speed, so don't be too quick to dismiss any positive development as unlikely or impossible.
Sargent - The scoring crew of Amber Reynolds (a Sangre de Cristo student who runs cross for Sargent), Jasmine Gomez, and Tai Zollars are back next fall. All three need to make a step up for Sargent to make the final step from a solid 2A team to a 2A team that can contend for a trophy. Like Del Norte in 2A boys, Sargent suffers a little from geographic isolation and needs to make the most of their trips outside of the San Luis Valley to be prepared for the challenges that will face them at state. Another challenge the Farmers face is the absolute void of anything remotely resembling a hill within 15 miles or so of the high school. Lots of opportunity for speed work, essentially zero opportunity for hill work. Life at 7500 feet isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be.
Lutheran-Parker - Potentially the most dangerous team on the list of last year's also-rans, the Lions have all the pieces except an established front-runner to blaze the trail of believing-they-can. If Kendall Horan--or even someone else on the roster--makes that step up over the next year, Lutheran-Parker will be a team to be reckoned with at the 2A level.
Fountain Valley - The program is rising steadily, and this was a much better team than a disappointing performance at state would indicate. Sam Olvera graduates, and will be missed, but the rest should be back again next fall. Hannah Carrese and Emma Reynolds figure to lead the team next fall. If Tommy Manning can mine a few more willing souls out of the student body, the Danes should be very competitive once again next fall.
Fanning the Flames:
Vanguard - After the 2009 cross country season, Vanguard graduated the franchise. A new, and very young, group took over this fall and made it back to state. The challenge next fall, then, will be to take the same script only with a more advanced starting point and--hopefully--a more advanced finishing point as well. With Nicole Daly and Jessy Sweet, the potential is there.
It isn't easy to go through high school running second on your team when you have the talent to be first on most teams, but Rebecca Hermann has made the most of it. Photo by Alan Versaw.