Kaitlin Hanenburg

Beavercreek's Taylor Ewert (OH) ran the 13th all-time fastest girls 5K at the NXN National Championships en route to a 3rd place finish in 2018.

Mason Norman was a one-man pack at the front throughout almost the entirety of the race.

Elise Cranny was a formidable force on both the course and the track, and definitely one of the elite of the last 10 years.

Brie Oakley dominated the field in 2016, running to the largest-ever margin of victory at NXN.

Some of the best distance battles 3A has ever seen were waged between Kaitlin Hanenburg and Kara Slavoski. And distance times in 2009 and 2010 reflected the impact of the friendly rivalry.

After eight years, Kaitlin Hanenburg's 11:01 still ranks as the St. Vrain's top 3200 mark. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Dart Schwaderer was the first Colorado boy to qualify to NXN as an individual. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.

Long after most former state champions have hung up the spikes, Melody Fairchild is still at it, and going strong. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Colorado has a tradition of strong performances at Nike Southwest, though those performances have been heavily tilted toward the girls to date.

Isaiah Bragg is enjoying a solid season at the Air Force Academy and is key to the Falcons' hopes for a conference title. Photo by Ray McCoy, USAFA/DenMar Photo Services. 

Few people have ever dominated Colorado high school cross country the way Allie McLaughlin did the two years she ran at Air Academy High School.

Kaitlin Hanenburg picked up her first win as a collegian on Friday afternoon. Colorado State University photo.

Doherty's Kenneth Chambers, winner of the 5A 100 and 200 meter dash, was an unanimous all-state selection. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Rounding the final turn of the 800, it was Samantha Berggren and Emily LaValley. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Lamar's Adam Montoya is prominent among several 3A boys with a legitimate hope of coming home this weekend with a state title in the shot put. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Garrett Smith and Lori Weirich of Eads have been on a roll of late. Each is atop of the 2A discus rankings. Photos contributed by John Weirich. Rocky Ford's Amber Lowther is a legitimate threat to win all three jump titles in 2A girls. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Although she "only" managed 38-3 on Saturday, Jordan Rand ranks as the state's top triple jumper with a season-best mark of 38-0. Photos by Alan Versaw.

Wasson's Trevor Brown rules the hurdles for the 2010 edition of the Mullen Runners Roost. All photos by Paul Jaeger.

Cherry Creek's Olivia Anderson made her mark in the 300 hurdles as a freshman. She's back--and better now--as a sophomore. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Liberty's Gina Hauptman edges out Beth Luckel of Vista Ridge at the finish line of the Sand Creek Invitational 800. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Jonathan Wright and Stuart Shrum of Grand Junction come off the turn en route to a 1-2 finish in the 200 at the Sand Creek Invitational. Photo by Alan Versaw.