Liberty Bell Invite went on without some of its star attractions

By Doug Binder, Dyestat editor

Colorado's biggest regular season cross country invtitational, the Liberty Bell at Heritage High School, went on as scheduled Friday despite massive flooding problems along the Front Range of Colorado. 

And it went on without the reigning champion individuals, Jordyn Colter of Cherry Creek and Ricky Faure of Rock Springs, Wyo. 

Meet organizers had some difficult decisions to make with some out-of-state teams already in town and many surrounding school districts shutting down classes and activities since torrential rains and flash floods caused a state of emergency in the state. 

The meet went on at about half-strength (the number of Dyestat elites was 39 compared to 65 in 2012). 

Emma Gee of Legacy was the fastest girl in a time of 18:04, but that was in the absence of Colter, a two-time winnner who ran 17:00 to establish a new course record in 2012. 

Colter's school district, Cherry Creek, at first cancelled sports activities and then on Friday gave the word that it was OK. Yet by the time that message reached the cross country team it was too late to organize and travel to the meet. 

"By the time we got the notice that our district was allowing us to run it was too late to get our whole team out there," Colter wrote in a text message. "Liberty Bell is such an amazing race and I was so sad I missed it. I was really looking forward to running it again as it is one of my favorite meets."

On the other hand, Colter also said that affected neighborhoods in her district were under water. 

Teams from points south, even Albuquerque Academy in New Mexico, and many from Colorado Springs, were able to make it. 

Albuquerque Academy's girls won the Divisoin 1 team title and the Arapahoe (Colorado) boys were also crowned (only after ABQ Academy's boys were disqualified by meet officials). Zachary Alhamara of Pine Creek (Colorado) ran 15:31 for the fastest time of the day to win the Division 2 race.

Teams from up north, such as Fort Collins, were unable to make it. And Faure, aiming for a third consecutive individual title didn't run either. 

Earlier Friday, Dyestat caught up with Elise Cranny of Niwot High School. Niwot was spared a direct hit of the rushing water that deluged parts of Boulder and Longmont. 

Niwot had a different meet on its calendar Friday but it was cancelled.

"We are so fortunate in Niwot because there was no major flooding," Cranny said. "However, some teammates that live in Longmont may have been evacuated."