The intensity of the 5A boys race was evident on the faces of the Fort Collins runners before the race even began. Photo by Jeff McCoy.
To suggest that the 5A boys race on Saturday turned out to be a colossal test of will would be to engage in understatement. Everything about this race was high stakes.
The race most definitely brought out the best in a Mountain Vista team that had struggled with putting together a team-wide maximal performance all season long. It brought out the best in Kirk Webb and Tait Rutherford who, arguably, had their best races in a season full of solid races.
And it also took absolutely everything that Dakota Ridge's Danny Carney had to give. After leading the way up the excruciating second ascent of Powerline Climb, Carney collapsed to his knees, regained his footing, and then staggered to the finish. Carney's struggle to the finish as runners streamed by the vanquished leader brought a sense of emotion to the stunned crowd watching f...
