Roberts, Rainsberger leave lasting marks

 

By Brent New for DyeStat

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado high school state cross country meet took place on Saturday at Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, 60 minutes south of Denver.

 

Here are six takeaways from it.

 

Lyons senior Paul Roberts completes historic run

 

Roberts became the first male runner in state history to win four individual titles in cross country.

 

He preferred to celebrate his team’s fourth consecutive title, though.

 

“Getting the fourth one for the team is awesome. It’s what we’ve been working for,” said Roberts, who screamed at the top of his lungs and pumped his fists for teammates coming down the final stretch. “My fourth individual is just the cherry on top.”

 

Roberts had a time of 15 minutes and 37 seconds, tops among all classifications. Lyons, meanwhile, handily won the Class 2A team title with 17 points.

 

“Before the race we said we were going to run the race for each other,” Roberts said. “That’s how we wanted to go out.”

 

 

Katie Rainsberger goes out on top

  

After hearing her team won the Class 4A team title, Rainsberger sprinted around Norris-Penrose Event Center, spreading the news to anyone who’d listen. A few minutes later, she was donning a ball cap of the University of Oregon, the school she’ll run for next season.

 

It was the end of one of the state’s most storied high school cross country careers.

  

Rainsberger went out on top, winning her second consecutive individual title in a time of 17 minutes and 39 seconds.

  

“It’s a mix of emotions,” Rainsberger said. “It’s a little sad because I’m not going to be here anymore. But it’s also exciting. I get to look to the future.”

  

A month after claiming the fastest 5K time in the nation and a week after winning her regional by more than a minute – in her training shoes – Rainsberger easily had fastest girls’ time in any classification at state.

 

She beat second-place finisher Kayla Young of Denver North by 35 seconds on Saturday.

 

Rainsberger will run at the Nike Cross Nationals, among other national races, before she closes out her high school running career in spring track.

 

“Today isn’t the end goal,” she said. “Today was definitely a step in the end goal. It definitely was a big meet, a big moment.”

 

 

Lauren Gregory gets third 5A title

 

One more accomplishment to strike from the list, the Fort Collins junior won her third straight Class 5A title with a time of 18 minutes and 15 seconds.

 

She can go 4 for 4 next year.

 

“It definitely feels good to have this one done,” Gregory said, “another check off the list and keep going.”

 

Gregory won her first two individual titles by 23 and 32 seconds. Saturday, though, Grandview’s Brie Oakley finished on her heels in 18:17.

 

“I miss the whole freshman underdog thing,” she laughed.

 

 

Durango edges Palmer Ridge for 4A team title

 

The Demons won the Class 4A state title with 73 points, two better than the defending-champion Bears.

 

It was actually separated by tenths of a second, though.

 

Durango’s David Moenning finished 10th in 16:38.00. He edged out Palmer Ridge juniors Andrew Rudnicki and Jeremy Meadows, who were 11th in 16:38.20 and 12th in 16:38.30, respectively.

 

“Just looking back at the race you’re like why didn’t I get that one last guy,” Rudnicki said. “That’s what’s disappointing.”

 

Palmer Ridge had five runners in the top 21. Durango countered with two in the top 10 and five in the top 26.

   

 

Skyview Academy’s Ben Butler wins second 3A title in a row

 

Even with tweaks over the summer, the state course at Norris-Penrose Event Center was plenty difficult for runners on Saturday.

 

Butler used it to his advantage.

 

The Skyview Academy senior powered through hills and creeks, winning the Class 3A title in 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

 

“I love hills,” said Butler, who ran at the World Mountain Running Championships earlier in the fall. “I just know if I can get out fast in a race I can hold the pace.”

 

Mountain Vista wins fourth 5A title in a row

 

A couple hours after Lyons won its fourth consecutive 2A title, the Golden Eagles won their fourth 5A title with 50 points.

 

It’s the first time in state history a 5A boys’ team won four team titles in a row.