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National High School Girls Team Rankings - 9/30Published by
Colorado programs headline impressive performances with victories at three national meets after learning news of NXN cancellation By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor The ambitions of four Colorado girls teams potentially qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals would unfortunately remain only historical aspirations this season following the Sept. 24 announcement that the December championship meet held at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore., would be canceled for the second year in a row. But the disappointing news didn’t stop Cherry Creek, Niwot, Arapahoe and Valor Christian from producing impressive performances at three invitationals across the country to highlight an impressive weekend of elite national meets. Niwot and Arapahoe took the top two spots in the sweepstakes race Sept. 24 at the Desert Twilight Festival at The Links Golf Course, followed by Cherry Creek winning the Jim Danner Championship race Sept. 25 at Nike Portland XC at Blue Lake Regional Park in Fairview, Ore., and Valor Christian securing a victory the same day in the gold race at the Rim Rock Farm Classic in Lawrence, Kan. Niwot and Cherry Creek, the reigning Colorado 4A and 5A champions, respectively, both showcased exceptional depth, each team placing six athletes in the top 25 of their races. Even more impressive for Niwot was senior Sierra Parks, who won’t be eligible for varsity competition until following the Colorado High School Activities Association state meet Oct. 30 following her transfer from Broomfield, would have been the Cougars’ No. 5 runner with her victory in the open race. But Mia Prok, Madison Shults, Eva Klingbeil, Stella Vieth, Tessa Everett and Olivia Alessandrini had more than enough firepower to produce a 44-77 victory over Arapahoe, which had three scorers among the first 15 finishers in juniors Emily Lamontagne, Ava Mitchell and Ava Escorcia, as part of six athletes placing in the top 40. Valor Christian had the most lopsided victory, knocking off Fayetteville High of Arkansas by nearly 100 points in Kansas, led by freshman Keeghan Edwards and juniors Brooke Wilson and Taylor Rorick all finishing in the top 10. Cherry Creek was trailing Summit High of Oregon through four scorers, but freshman Paisley Piepgras, senior Claire Semerod and sophomore Baylor Wolfe all finished ahead of the No. 5 scorer for the Storm to emerge victorious by a 69-82 margin. Riley Stewart was second overall, with Addison Price, Shelby Balding and Addison Laughlin all in the top 20 for Cherry Creek. Summit had Teaghan Knox, Magdalene Williams, Ella Thorsett and Barrett Justema all finish in the top 20 as well. Mira Costa, led by a third-place finish from Dalia Frias, also had Anna Chittenden and Ella Parsley finish in the top 10 at Nike Portland XC and nearly knocked off Summit, taking third overall by one point, resulting in a significant move in the rankings. Flower Mound, which finished second Sept. 18 in the Bob Day sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, elevated into the top 10, along with winner Newbury Park from California. Newbury Park, Flower Mound and Buchanan of California were all separated by 12 points. Lucas Lovejoy and Austin Vandegrift from Texas, Weddington of North Carolina, Columbus North from Indiana and Cambridge Christian of Florida are all new entries in the top 30, along with the first two finishers in the gold race at the Roy Griak Invitational, Olathe West High from Kansas and Middleton of Wisconsin.
Top 30 |
