Marcel Such

After Elise Cranny broke free from everyone else, she broke free from Katie Rainsberger as well. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Opportunities like this one don't come around every year. Just this year and next, if you happen to live in Colorado.

Last year, Jorden Jole and Gavin Liggett were battling for position in the field; this year they could be battling for a state championship. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Cerake Geberkidane, Senior, Denver East - Colorado Track XC Runner of the Year. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Paul Roberts, Sophomore, Lyons - 2A Boys Runner of the Year. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Before the race closed up and before the lighting grew harsh. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Sisters Natalie and Mae Anderson are an example of the most obvious key to success in 2A cross country. Photos by Alan Versaw.

Ever so briefly, Paul Roberts left the outcome of this race in doubt. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Custer County's Corey Lewenkamp has demonstrated an eagerness to mix it up with the state's top talent all fall. He seeks to reap the rewards of those effort on Saturday. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Marcel Such glances back to check on the status of the pursuit while Matt Dillon, Paul Roberts, and Joel Such keep the pace subdued in front. Photo by Alan Versaw.

I was almost dead certain that Mountain Range's colors were Columbia blue and black (just like my old high school) until I saw this photo. Photo by Ken Regan.

At the midway point of the race Katie Rainsberger and Lauren Gregory were running shoulder to shoulder, but a major change was in the offing. Photo by Alan Versaw.

It was a spectacularly loaded field for Thursday's Coronado Cougar Classic girls race. Photo by Tim Hilt.

Trevor Dye and Chris Slade two guys you should expect to hear a lot from this fall. Photos by Paul Jaeger.

This will be the fall that 2A must figure out how to deal with SkyView Academy and Ben Butler. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Jack Plantz was the "other" freshman in 2A last fall, making a name for himself on the western side of the Continental Divide. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

John Broadhead became a serious force for Telluride in the jumps this year. He could be the classification's top all-around jumper in 2014. Photo by David Pressgrove.

Kendall Horan leads a trio of all-staters (including Allyson Vasquez and Kathryn New) down the finish straight of the state 200. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

The sun set on Ryan Boucher's brilliant high school career with individual titles in the 200 and 400 meters and a state meet record in the 400. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Hotchkiss's Cody Bartlett took the lead on lap one of the 800 and eventually wore at the resistance, claiming the title in 1:59.47. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Hurdler Matt Radich is one of the pieces of a fearsome Lyons track and field machine headed for Lakewood's Jeffco Stadium on May 16. Photo by Alan Versaw.