The Scoop: Shaffer Dominates, Jesuit Flourishes, Parra Stars

Sep 11, 2023

Rollin' In The Benjis At Liberty Bell

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Meet Benjamin Anderson, a junior at Mountain Vista High School.

Also, another fun fact: He was the Liberty Bell Invitational champion on Saturday in Littleton, Colorado, performing at a level that few saw coming -- those few include anyone currently coaching Anderson at Mountain Vista High School.

Anderson was the team's No. 2 last year, just behind senior Tyler Downs, and he was fifth on this course last year in 15:00.30; the only returner in front of him was senior Dane Eike from Valor Christian.

But Anderson had an ace up his sleeve.

In July, he won the National High School Trail Championships in Salida, Colorado, crossing the five-mile finish line in 31:53. That was probably Anderson's arrival.

His win on Saturday was his verification.

Anderson ran 14:48.90, clocking the fourth-fastest performance on the course all-time, just behind last year's winner, Christian Groendyk, along with Cole Sprout (14:38) and Parker Wolfe. (14:30).

That's a fantastic list in front of him. All three won state championships over the years they won that race. Anderson finished 39th last year in the Class 5A title-race, so he has some room to improve.

Matthew Edwards, a senior from Classical, finished second in 14:54.8, but his team got the overall win. Owen Casselman, a senior from Thunder Ridge, was third in 14:58.3. Those three runners were the only three under 15 minutes on the day.

Isabel Allori, who we already wrote about, won the girls Sweepstakes race in 16:51.7.

Air Academy, which opened the season at No. 4 on the national rankings, won with 26 points. The Mountain Vista girls, also ranked in the top 25, were second with 95 points.

Air Academy's Tessa Walter and Bethany Michalak went 3-4 to help Air Academy lock up five finishes in the first 10 placements.

Photo Credit: Bobby Reyes/MileSplit