Lori Fitzgerald Pre-State Invitational 2011

For most of the boys on this start line, this was the beginning of the competitive season for 2011. Photo by Alan Versaw.   Last year, there was a lot of complaining about the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds course. Too windy, too dusty, too difficult. If only we could have started using this course in 2011, there would have been a lot of people feeling differently about this one. Both 5A races were exemplary of exactly what makes cross country so much fun.

At 2.5 miles, Faith Christian's Evan Fortney briefly takes over the lead from Anthony Rios of Brush. The move, however, would prove to be premature as Rios would later reclaim the lead to win the small school race. Photo by Alan Versaw.

At 2.1 miles, Alfredo Lebron and Josiah Valenzuela were still neck-and-neck. Over the next mile, however, Lebron would open a nearly 30-second gap. Photo by Alan Versaw.

It doesn't get much better than the opening of cross country season.