Eli Hemming

The top boys performances delivered at the Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational in meet history.

Joseph Manilafasha, a two-time state champion and one of the best the state has ever seen. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Cerake Geberkidane retains the overall top time on the course, but Paul Roberts has three of the top eight times overall. Photos by Paul Jaeger/Alan Versaw.

Evergreen's Jackson Sayler was very close at the finish of last year's 4A state 800. "Very close" has a way of eating at you clear through the winter. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Brandon Cartagena and Jaylyn Mars return as two of the top 4A sprinters for 2013, but the sprint group may end up more crowded than you were expecting. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Did I hear you say you live for great individual match-ups? Your ship has come in!

Our panel of coaches picks the top seven male cross country runners in Colorado for 2012.

Daniel Lara and Justin Weinmeister finished their CHSAA cross country careers with outstanding runs at the state meet. Photos by Alan Versaw.

Things get a little intense on the state meet starting line. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Bailey Roth held a slim lead at two miles, but Eli Hemming kept Roth well within range for the final surge. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Rachael Chacko gets a little encouragement from Coach Jeff Bliven as she goes by at the Centennial League Championships on Thursday. Photo by Kelli Noto.

Ali Deitsch. Undone. She won the race this way. This photo was at 2.5 miles. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Several of the left. the race's top finishers can be identified at the front of the pack in this photo from the early stages of the Windjammer girls race, but eventual winner Erin Norton is biding her time on the left. Photo by Kelli Noto.

On a cold day when a few of Coronado's top guns were taking a break from racing, Andres Luna stepped up and led the Cougars to a big win. Photo by Alan Versaw.

One was a known quantity long before the season started, the other has been making a name for himself ever since the season started. Colorado Track XC file photo/contributed photo.

Cerake Geberkidane is making a habit of leaving fields in his dust. This week it was the Arvada West Invite field. Photo by Alan Versaw.

In a talent-rich county, Jake Dysart and Kristen Kientz are two of the best. Colorado Track XC file photos.