Niwot Girls Tune Up At St. Vrain, Feature Freshman Freshman Addison Ritzenhein
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Photos by Bobby Reyes
Earning some varsity reps just before the halfway mark of the season, Niwot saw potential in full force on Saturday at the St. Vrain Invitational.
The No. 2 ranked squad out of Boulder featured sophomore Bella Nelson, who was third overall, and freshman Addison Ritzenhein, who was fourth.
The latter is the daughter of distance legend Dathan Ritzenhein, who currently coaches the On professional training group and is among the greatest high school distance runners of all-time, not to mention an Olympian who led a distinguished professional career.
Senior Madison Shults, perhaps working with the youngsters, was eighth overall, helping the Cougars to the overall win.
Niwot, earning a 19:01 team average, scored 42 points to dispatch Mountain Vista, which was second with 19:11.
These early stages are important for teams like Niwot, which has a significant roster and is looking to develop young runners into primary positions through the longer stretches of the season.
Nelson earned a 122 speed rating while Ritzenhein posted a 121. Liberty Common junior Isabel Allori won the overall race in 17:59.1, posting a 135. Summit's Ella Hagen was second in 18:06.9, notching a SR mark of 133.
On the boys side, Mountain Vista took the win over Niwot, scoring a five-point win, 86-91. Senior Tyler Downs won the race in 15:38.6, earning a 180 speed rating. Evan Kraus was second with a 179.
Interestingly enough, Rocco Culpepper, the younger son of Alan and Shayne Culpepper, Olympians in 2000, was 10th overall in 16:05.10.
4A GIRLS 5000 METER RUN FINALS
PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS
1 Isabel Allori 11 Liberty Common High School 17:59.10 0
2 Ella Hagen 10 Summit High School 18:06.90 1
3 Bella Nelson 10 Niwot High School 18:39.40 2
4 Addison Ritzenhein 9 Niwot High School 18:42.40 3
5 Brooke Adams 12 Mountain Vista High School 18:44.20 4
6 Peyton Adams 10 Mountain Vista High School 18:46.70 5
7 Tatum Berg 10 Fossil Ridge High School 18:53.70 6
8 Madison Shults 12 Niwot High School 18:53.80 7
9 Rosie Mucharsky 10 Denver East High School 19:06.00 8
10 Cloe Ruth 10 Silver Creek High School 19:18.30 9Page 7: Cade Miracle, Ciara O'Shea Earn Trinity/Valkyrie Wins
