The Boulder girls have been making noise all season long.
With four team victories under their belt this fall, the Panthers have placed themselves in the conversation as not only one of Colorado's top teams but one of the strongest teams nation wide, coming ranked No. 7 in the COROS MileSplit50.
Their winning season began at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede, followed by an impressive victory at the always exciting Liberty Bell Invitational. Boulder came out on top against a very strong field of competition.
They had a great showing with a 4th place team finish at the Woodbridge Invitational in the sweepstakes division, showcasing their ability to compete nationally.
The Panthers kept their momentum rolling with another victory on their home course, taking the win at the Pat Patten Invitational, before recently capturing their league championship despite fielding a smaller squad.
Strength In The Pack
Boulder's success this fall has been built around a talented young group, led by junior Calia Vaughn. Vaughn has been the Panthers' top runner throughout this season, holding a 5K personal best of 17:26.50, and running a blazing 16:07.00 3 mile, at Woodbridge this fall. (Vaughn's mother, Sara, has represented the United States at multiple World Track & Field Championships and continues to compete as a professional marathoner today.)
Behind her, sophomore Sophie Roza has emerged as another strong presence near the front, running 17:57.50 at Pat Patten, where she finished runner-up to Vaughn.
The Panthers also have plenty of depth behind their leading duo. Sophomore Emery Agnew has run 18:16.21, followed by fellow sophomore Kajsa Wik at 18:37.97 and freshman Berkeley Harrison at 18:39.94. That's one of the most impressive parts about Boulder's success: there is not one senior among Boulder's top five. With three sophomores and a freshman the Panthers have assembled a young lineup that is fierce and has proven that they can compete with the best teams.
Road To State
Last fall, Boulder finished runner-up to Niwot at the 5A Region 3 Championships before going on to place fourth at state in 5A.
The Panthers finished just 23 points behind state champion Niwot, showing how close the battle at the top of 5A really was.
This year, the path to state looks a little different. Niwot has moved into 5A Region 4, while Boulder remains in Region 3. That means the two programs will not face each other at regionals this fall, with an exciting matchup awaiting at the state championships on October 31st.
For Boulder, the first step comes October 22, when the Panthers line up for their regional championship.
The Biggest Races Are Still Ahead
With four team victories and a young lineup leading the way, Boulder enters the postseason with plenty of momentum. After finishing just 23 points shy of the state title last fall, the Panthers have their sights set on climbing the 5A podium.
