Monday Morning Recap: Finding The Right Stride

Mia Mraz had a big run at the Broomfield Battle.

Each week we're seeing something new from the course, and this week the list of runners finding their stride increased. And speaking of increase, there were a ton of meets across the state this past week.

We've got a long list of performances to recap, so grab a cup of coffee or two, maybe three... Here are the highlights of the highlights...

We'll start with that top-heavy Vista Nation XC 2 Mile Invite. 

We caught out first glimpse of Valor Christian, Mountain Vista, and Dakota Ridge, and by the looks of it, there's a lot to be excited about...  (both course records fell!)

Taylor Whitfield came out of the gates firing on all eight cylinders. The Valor Christian senior won the race in a new course record of 11:27. Pomona sophomore Emma Stutzman finished second just 10 seconds back in 11:37, which was just ahead of the Valor pack of Jocelyn MillicanLanie Szuch, and freshman Suvina Heidt, who ran 11:39, 11:40, and 11:41. Mountain Vista's Shayda Zarrin broke up the Valor party, finishing sixth in 11:42, but it started back up one second later with Brooke Wilson

In other words - Valor went 1-3-4-5-7. And they ran between 11:27 and 11:43... Obviously they took the team title - tallying 20 points.

On the boy's side of the race Harrison Witt did something that only two others have done on this course, and that's break 10 minutes. 

And when you add that the only other two to do it were Cole Sprout and Cruz Culpepper, it's insanely impressive. 

Add that Witt gets to claim something no one has yet to claim - he broke Sprout's course record of 9:53. He torched it, in fact. 

The Mountain Vista senior ran 9:34 - a 26-second victory. 

Call it a statement. 

Dakota Ridge's Jacob White took second in 10:00, which was just ahead of Broomfield's James Thomas, who ran 10:03.

Talk about a revealing meet...

Just outside of Colorado Springs there was another battle among some of the best in the state - at the Peyton XC Invitational. 

Air Academy freshman Bethany Michalak went head-to-head with two of the best in 5A - Ava Mitchell and Ava Escorcia - and she came out ahead. 

Michalak ran away from the gun with a 18:56 clocking over a tough, tough course. (Between the side-swiping rain and wind, it was tough to keep my camera dry...)

Read more of the meet here: Bethany Michalak Shines Under The Lights At Peyton XC Invite

The Arapahoe girls came away with the team title here, putting their entire top-five into the top-10. 

Colby Schultz took the boy's race with a 17:09 clocking, just ahead of Cheyenne Mountain's Knox Exton, who made The Jump.

In a few weeks we might be referring to that as "getting your crouton" (as in: getting a PR, or a big win, or making a big leap.) Sure that makes no sense now, but it will eventually. 

Moving along... 

Ryan Montera is now 2-0. The Legacy senior dominated the Broomfield Battle, running 16:02. Mia Mraz made it a Legacy sweep on the girl's side, making The Jump herself.


Jackson Shorten may have had the Performance of the Week at the NoCo XC Challenge in Johnston. The Mountain View junior now officially owns the fastest time in the state with a 15:32 clocking.

Not only was that a massive PR for Shorten, but that was the first time he's cracked 16 in Colorado.

On the girl's side of the competition The Classical Academy's Sawyer Wilson opened her 2020 season with a win, and a sub-19 clocking. The TCA sophomore ran 18:44 FTW. Teammate Kennedy McDonald was just 16 seconds back at 19:00, which was just six seconds ahead of Kiera Shorten.

Across the state in Grand Junction Jadyn Heil confirmed that she is in fact the real deal. The Fruita-Monument junior claimed her first win following last week's 17:39 clocking, running 18:13 at the Connected Lakes Championships. 

Likewise, teammate McGinley Zastrow took the boy's race in 16:18.

Back on the front range, the Chatfield freshmen-duo of Reese Tucker and Aspen Webb went 1-2 at the D'Evelyn Dash. Tucker took the W in a stellar 18:28 clocking, while Webb finished second in 19:10. 

Longmont's Connor McCormick took the boy's race in 16:26.

Heritage definitely threw down at the Thursday Night Throwdown. 

Lila Crowley ran away with the girl's race in 12:14, while Michael Beck made it a Heritage sweep, winning the boy's race in 9:59. 

The Heritage boys swept the top three spots - Jason Becker and Connor Kennedy went 2-3, running 10:04, and 10:09.

At the Bruins 5k Cameron McConnell rallied from her first meet, hard. The Cherokee Trail junior dropped the fifth-fastest time in the state, running 17:41. 

Editor's Note: writing "fifth-fastest time in the state, running 17:41" before the calendar turns to September feels a little weird... Weird as in, wow, everyone has come out of the gates swinging... 

Cherokee Trail teammate Mckenna Mazeski found her stride this week as well, running 18:35 to finish second. 

Caden Smith made it a Cherokee Trail sweep, winning the boy's race by turning the tables on Peter Fox. When these two met a week ago Fox took the W, here it was Smith who ran a big PR of 15:44. Fox was two seconds back in 15:46, while his Grandview teammate Jake Sheykhet was third in 15:50.

Back on the western slope there was a great battle at the Basalt Longhorn Invitational. 

The Glenwood Springs duo of Ella Johnson and Sophia Connerton-Nevin achieved the rare feat of beating Sierra Bower to the finish line. 

Johnson took the victory in 18:04, just ahead of her Connerton-Nevin, who ran 18:07. Bower was just six seconds back in 18:13. Bower's teammate Katelyn Maley opened her season with a big PR of her own, finishing fourth here in 18:33. 

Speaking of finding their stride, cue Loveland's Elena Torres

The Loveland freshman picked up the first win of her high school career at the Fort Collins XC Invitational. She ran 18:31 to run away from Fort Collins sophomore Ella Johns, who finished second in 18:44.

Dalton Kaines took the boy's race in 16:24.

At the PPAC Race Series #2 Lewis-Palmer freshman Jade Allen joined the Sub-19 club, running 18:55 to claim her first high school victory. Her teammate Aubrey Surage was just nine seconds back in second. 

Grahm Tuohy-Gaydos quietly made some noise - unofficially - this past week. The Green Mountain senior ran 15:25 at the Rams Time Trial #2.

Is it September yet?

Meets

Vista Nation XC 2-Mile Invitational

Mountain Vista HS XC CourseHighlands Ranch, CO
Aug 28, 2020
100 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (12)
2MileF11st11:27.00Taylor WhitfieldValor Christian High School
2MileF12nd11:37.00Emma StutzmanPomona High School
2MileF13rd11:39.00Jocelyn MillicanValor Christian High School
2MileF14th11:40.00Lanie SzuchValor Christian High School
2MileF15th11:41.00Suvina HeidtValor Christian High School
2MileF16th11:42.00Shayda ZarrinMountain Vista High School
2MileF17th11:43.00Brooke WilsonValor Christian High School
2MileF18th11:56.00Maelynn HigginsBroomfield High School
2MileF19th11:59.00Annie RomaliaMountain Vista High School
2MileF110th11:59.00Shantell HafnerMountain Vista High School
2MileF111th12:03.00Taylor RorickValor Christian High School
2MileF112th12:05.00Leah ChristiansMountain Vista High School
Boys (11)
2MileF11st9:34.00Harrison WittMountain Vista High School
2MileF12nd10:00.00Jacob WhiteDakota Ridge High School
2MileF13rd10:03.00James ThomasBroomfield High School
2MileF14th10:06.00Jayden NatsMountain Vista High School
2MileF15th10:06.00George Maldonado IIIChaparral High School
2MileF16th10:07.00Brennan DraperChaparral High School
2MileF17th10:12.00Robert ScottRock Canyon High School
2MileF18th10:16.00Owen NolanMountain Vista High School
2MileF19th10:19.00Ty GarrettValor Christian High School
2MileF110th10:19.00Ethan StraubDakota Ridge High School
2MileF111th10:20.00Thomas AlleyChaparral High School

Peyton XC Invitational

Peyton HS XC CoursePeyton, CO
Aug 28, 2020
93 Total Performances

Photo Albums (1)

Videos (1)

Articles (2)

Elite Performances

Girls (2)
5000mF11st18:56.20Bethany MichalakAir Academy High School
5000mF12nd19:16.00Ava MitchellArapahoe High School

Broomfield Battle

Broomfield HS TrackBroomfield, CO
Aug 27, 2020
77 Total Performances

Photo Albums (1)

Videos (2)

Articles (2)

Elite Performances

Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:02.70Ryan MonteraLegacy High School

NoCo XC Challenge #1 (Varsity Version)

Johnstown ReservoirJohnstown, CO
Aug 28, 2020
77 Total Performances

Photo Albums (1)

Articles (2)

Elite Performances

Girls (3)
5000mF11st18:44.10Sawyer WilsonThe Classical Academy
5000mF12nd19:00.90Kennedy McDonaldThe Classical Academy
5000mF13rd19:06.40Kiera ShortenMountain View High School
Boys (1)
5000mF11st15:32.50Jackson ShortenMountain View High School

Connected Lakes Championships

Connected Lakes State Park XC CourseGrand Junction, CO
Aug 28, 2020Aug 29, 2020
183 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (1)
5000mF11st18:13.20Jadyn HeilFruita Monument High School
Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:18.60McGinley ZastrowFruita Monument High School

D'Evelyn Dash

D'Evelyn HS XC CourseDenver, CO
Aug 28, 2020Aug 29, 2020
159 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (2)
5000mF11st18:28.40Reese TuckerChatfield High School
5000mF12nd19:10.40Aspen WebbChatfield High School
Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:26.00Connor McCormickLongmont High School

Thursday Night Throwdown

Heritage HS TrackLittleton, CO
Aug 27, 2020
90 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (1)
2MileF11st12:14.30Lila CrowleyHeritage High School
Boys (6)
2MileF11st9:59.40Michael BeckHeritage High School
2MileF12nd10:04.70Jason BeckerHeritage High School
2MileF13rd10:09.90Connor KennedyHeritage High School
2MileF14th10:13.60Justin QuammenFrontier Academy
2MileF15th10:14.10Sebastian GroomFrontier Academy
2MileF16th10:17.20Sylas ChambersFrontier Academy

Bruins 5k

Cherry Creek State ParkGreenwood Village, CO
Aug 29, 2020
91 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (3)
5000mF11st17:41.00Cameron McConnellCherokee Trail High School
5000mF12nd18:35.00Mckenna MazeskiCherokee Trail High School
5000mF13rd19:15.00Claire SemerodCherry Creek High School
Boys (3)
5000mF11st15:44.00Caden SmithCherokee Trail High School
5000mF12nd15:46.00Peter FoxGrandview High School
5000mF13rd15:50.00Jake SheykhetGrandview High School

Basalt Longhorn Cross Country Invitational

Crown Mountain ParkEl Jebel, CO
Aug 29, 2020
94 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (4)
5000mF11st18:04.00Ella JohnsonGlenwood Springs High School
5000mF12nd18:07.00Sophia Connerton-NevinGlenwood Springs High School
5000mF13rd18:13.00Sierra BowerBasalt High School
5000mF14th18:32.00Katelyn MaleyBasalt High School

Fort Collins XC Invitational

Fort Collins HS XC CourseFort Collins, CO
Aug 29, 2020
95 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (2)
5000mF11st18:31.00Elena TorresLoveland High School
5000mF12nd18:44.00Ella JohnsFort Collins High School
Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:24.00Dalton KainesRocky Mountain High School

PPAC Race Series #2

Rampart HS XC CourseColorado Springs, CO
Aug 27, 2020
81 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (2)
5000mF11st18:55.40Jade AllenLewis-Palmer High School
5000mF12nd19:04.60Aubrey SurageLewis-Palmer High School

Arvada Bulldog Invite

Arvada Senior High SchoolArvada, CO
Aug 28, 2020
89 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Peyton XC Invitational (Small Schools)

Peyton HS XC CoursePeyton, CO
Aug 29, 2020
88 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Mesa Ridge Invitational

Mesa Ridge HS XC CourseFountain, CO
Aug 27, 2020
87 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Andy Myers Invitational

Monfort ParkGreeley, CO
Aug 29, 2020
86 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Montezuma-Cortez XC Invitational

Parque de VidaCortez, CO
Aug 28, 2020
85 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Summit Soggy Shoe JV Triangular

Frisco Peninsula Recreation AreaFrisco, CO
Aug 28, 2020
83 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Husky Invitational Varsity Meet

Platte Canyon XC Course (Rosalie Property)Bailey, CO
Aug 27, 2020
77 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Castle View/Douglas County Dual

Castle View HS TrackCastle Rock, CO
Aug 28, 2020
71 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:27.00William MerrickCastle View High School

Prowling Panther JV 2 Mile

Moore Middle SchoolWestminster, CO
Aug 28, 2020
71 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

City of Thornton Meet

Adams County Regional Park XC CourseBrighton, CO
Aug 28, 2020
61 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

King of the Mountain Dual

Conifer HS XC CourseConifer, CO
Aug 28, 2020
43 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (1)
5000mF11st19:09.00Sarah AllenEvergreen High School
Boys (1)
5000mF11st16:08.00Isaac VanWestrienenConifer High School

Jefferson Academy @ Legacy JV Dual Meet

Legacy High SchoolBroomfield, CO
Aug 29, 2020
49 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

NoCo XC Challenge #1 (Open Version)

Johnstown ReservoirJohnstown, CO
Aug 26, 2020
48 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

City of Thornton JV Meet

Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds XC CourseBrighton, CO
Aug 27, 2020Aug 28, 2020
47 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

King of the Mountain JV

Conifer HS XC CourseConifer, CO
Aug 29, 2020
44 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Adams City-Rangeview-Westminster

Open Spaces Park XC CourseNorthglenn, CO
Aug 28, 2020
35 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Husky Invitational Junior Varsity Meet

Platte Canyon XC Course (Rosalie Property)Bailey, CO
Aug 28, 2020
28 Total Performances

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

ATB Churchyard Pole Vault Meet #8

Boulder Valley Christian ChurchBoulder, CO
Aug 29, 2020
17 Total Performances

Elite Performances

Girls (2)
PVF12nd11-3Sophie PierceAbove the Bar Track Club
PVF11st11-9Megan KelleghanAbove the Bar Track Club

Demons vs Angels Dual

Bell Middle School, CO
Aug 28, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Socially Distant XC Invite

Northwest Open SpaceNorthglenn, CO
Aug 28, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Rams Time Trial#2

Green Mountain HS XC CourseLakewood, CO
Aug 29, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

EMAC League Varsity Race

Arapahoe County FairgroundsAurora, CO
Aug 28, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

EMAC League JV Race

Arapahoe County FairgroundsAurora, CO
Aug 27, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Liberty Meet 8-27-2020

District 20 Stadium, Liberty HSColorado Springs, CO
Aug 27, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Centennial League Mullen JV Invite

Mullen HS StadiumDenver, CO
Aug 24, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

Meeker XC Invitational

Meeker Golf CourseMeeker, CO
Aug 28, 2020

Elite Performances

No elite performances.

John Martin XC Invitational

Fort Collins HS XC CourseFort Collins, CO
Aug 29, 2020