Class 5A

Boulder Panthers

Coach: Geo Tam

Last year’s result: The girls claimed sixth at the Class 5A state meet; the boys finished 10th.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Abby O’Leary and junior Anika Leovy were part of the girls’ 4×800 school record in the spring.

The tea: The Panthers are searching for another pair of top-10 finishes and have a strong core to do so. Seniors O’Leary and Anja Rakow lead the girls’ team, while sophomore Jack Rhodes returns for the boys’ team. Rhodes set the freshman school record in the mile last spring, per his coach, finishing in 4 minutes, 36 seconds.

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Greg Weich

Last year’s result: The girls claimed 14th at the 5A state meet; the boys finished 19th.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Vilate Carwin is the top returning girls’ runner for the Eagles. She finished 58th at last year’s state meet.

The tea: The Eagles are looking to make more noise at the state meet, aiming for a top-10 finish for the girls and top 10 for the boys. Carwin is joined by juniors Olivia Olson and Kasey Crispin on the girls’ side. Calder Denham, Andrew Heuton, Jonathan Charpentier and Case Thomas led the boys’ team.

Centaurus Warriors

Coach: Kerrie Wlad

Last year’s result: The boys claimed 14th at the 5A state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: Wlad takes over the cross country program. Previously, she’d coached the school’s distance team during track season.

The tea: “This will be a largely transitional year for us as we had many leading runners graduate last year,” Wlad said. “In the past, our boys’ team has been known for its successes, but I think this is a year to watch our girls’ team.” Leading the girls’ team are Addie Grosser, Ellie Fischer and Sarah Berger.

Erie Tigers

Coach: Alan Culpepper

Last year’s result: The boys claimed seventh at the 5A state meet, while three girls qualified individually.

Testing 1-2-3: Sabina Stroia returns after placing 41st at last year’s state meet.

The tea: The girls’ team brings back a nice core of runners, including Stroia and senior Vanicia Thomas. The boys are led by Behn Thomas, Brett Michalski and Reid O’Brien. “We have a very young group on both the boys’ and girls’ side, with a promising future foundation in place,” Culpepper said.

Fairview Knights

Coach: Ryan Root

Last year’s result: The boys claimed third at the 5A state meet; the girls finished eighth.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Sierra Wall represented Team USA at the under-age 18 World Cup Trail Championship in Spain over the summer, helping the Americans win silver.

The tea: Wall “is going to be dangerous this year,” Root said. She leads a girls’ team that also touts a strong runner in senior Molly Weber, who had a breakout track and field season in the spring, as well as juniors Laurel Brain and Ellie Cartwright. “I believe this is a top-five team in the state, and I can’t wait to see them challenge themselves this season,” Root said. On the boys’ side, senior Ewan Kenny will help lead the way in his first year on the varsity roster.

Frederick Golden Eagles

Coach: Jenna Ptaschek

Last year’s result: Did not qualify a runner for the 4A state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Tanner Kaufman ran a 17:12 5K at the John Martin Invitational late last month.

The tea: Seniors Kaufman, Nikolas Carrillo and sophomore Josh Cuzner help lead the way for the boys’ team. Junior Jessica Ellinger, freshman Lilyana Carrillo and senior Kaya Fountain will help headline the girls’ team. The Golden Eagles are hoping to qualify somebody into the state meet after not having a qualifier in 2023.

Legacy Lightning

Coach: Steve Urban

Last year’s result: Did not qualify a runner for the 5A state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: This is Urban’s 37th year coaching cross country.

The tea: The boys are led by junior Matthew Niedermuller and sophomores Cody Tabor and Collin Harvey. The girls are headlined by sophomore Amelia Crowley, Mia Hauschild, Chelsey Shillingford and freshman Amelia Smetzer. Hoping to qualify for the state meet this season, Urban said, “this year’s teams on the boys’ and girls’ side are very determined and disciplined to do what it takes to make this happen.”

Monarch Coyotes

Coach: Kent Rieder

Last year’s result: Sofie Donker, now a senior, placed 19th in the 5A state race with an 18:49.

Testing 1-2-3: Rieder believes that Donker and senior Emmett Sutter will take the reins of the team this year.

The tea: The Coyotes are looking to rebound from a bit of a down year, and Rieder believes his top talent circulates around Ty Johnson, Gretta Stevens, Madelyn Stockel, Tatem McGushin, James Bruinsma, Emily Wehman, Blythe Johnson, Emory Richardson, Cade Richardson and Yoav Cohen.

Niwot Cougars

Coach: Kelly Christensen

Last year’s result: Both the boys and girls won the 4A state team titles.

Testing 1-2-3: The Cougars will rely on juniors Addy Ritzenhein and Rocco Culpepper, two multi-time state champions in track and cross country, to lead the way once again.

The tea: The Cougars will look to solidify their standing as one of Colorado’s most elite teams with the move up to 5A, meaning all three of the top girls teams at the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals will battle it out on the state stage (Air Academy, Niwot and Denver). Christensen expects Anna Prok, Alena Kasanicky, Quinn Sullivan and Cole Mazurana to join the top of the ticket.

Class 4A

Holy Family Tigers

Coach: Isaiah Remington

Last year’s result: Girls finished third at the 3A state meet; the boys finished ninth.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Anabella Descalzo returns. She owns the school’s records in the 3,200, the 1,600 and is second in the 5K, per Remington.

The tea: Descalzo finished seventh at the state meet a year ago, leading the girls’ team to a third-place finish. On the boys’ side, Parker Nelson is back after he took 20th. Nelson owns the school’s record in the 1,600, 3,200 and 5K. Others to watch include junior James Grothe on the boys’ team and sophomore Libby Ley with the girls. The Tigers move up to 4A this season.

Longmont Trojans

Coach: Scott Dickinson

Last year’s result: The boys claimed 13th at the 4A state meet; the girls qualified two runners.

Testing 1-2-3: Sophomore Adelyn Miller returns after a strong freshman debut. She finished 120th at last year’s state meet.

The tea: The girls are led by senior Ella Stearman, Clara Linder and sophomore Miller. Stearman has overcome injuries the past two seasons, her coach said, while Linder is the vocal leader of the team. The boys are led by seniors Miles Miller, Julien Frazier and junior Bode Becker. Miller finished 23rd at last year’s state meet.

Mead Mavericks

Coach: Steve Parsons

Last year’s result: The girls claimed 12th at the 4A state meet; the boys finished 14th.

Testing 1-2-3: Parsons said that sophomore Josh Knight will have a breakout year for the Mavericks while junior Ava Mierau anchors the ladies.

The tea: Parsons believes that both his boys’ and girls’ teams have the ability to win their regionals as well as earn their highest team finishes at the state meet. He’ll look to Knight, Mierau, sophomores Asher Parsons and Addie Caldwell, and juniors Tobin Duetsch and Brynn McIntosh to make the biggest splash.

Silver Creek Raptors

Coach: Roger Powley

Last year’s result: Qualified three runners for the 4A state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Cloe Ruth placed 11th at the state meet.

The tea: Both the boys’ and the girls’ teams will be predominantly young this year, making Ruth’s leadership all the more vital to the Raptors. She’ll be joined with fellow top talent in junior Daniel Whitt, junior Noah Zweers and sophomore Megan Bader.

Skyline Falcons

Coach: Jim Hallberg

Last year’s result: Did not qualify any runners for the state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: The Falcons return only sophomore Chloe Zamora from their 2023 regional team.

The tea: Skyline will field a small and young team this year that’s mostly comprised of underclassmen. Fleurine Thuillier will serve as the lone senior on the team.

Class 3A

Jefferson Academy Jaguars

Coach: Ben Hershelman

Last year’s result: The boys finished fifth at the 3A state meet; the girls finished 10th.

Testing 1-2-3: The boys’ team bring back a strong core led by senior Rylan Mills, who finished 25th at last year’s state meet.

The tea: The boys are hoping to do even better than last year’s fifth-place state finish, Hershelman said. Along with Mills, Aden Garza returns after placing 41st at state in 2023. Behind them is Eliot Lindberg, Carter Nickels and Caleb DeLalio. The girls are led by seniors Kennedy Stadler, Averee German, Maddie Lowe and junior Leyna Gibson, who was 50th at state in 2023.

Peak to Peak Pumas

Coach: Kyler Meehan

Last year’s result: The girls took second at the state meet; the boys took seventh.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Jack Cerullo placed 18th at last year’s state meet and junior Skye Williams took 24th.

The tea: Meehan believes that Cerullo and Williams will provide the main highlights for the Pumas, adding, “This season, the team will push their limits with unmatched determination and teamwork, striving for personal bests and collective success at every meet.”

Prospect Ridge Academy Miners

Coach: Mary Marr

Last year’s result: The boys placed 11th at the 3A state meet; the girls took 14th.

Testing 1-2-3: Marr believes seniors Nick Shoemaker and Emily Jones put in the work over the summer to result in breakout seasons.

The tea: Marr said that the boys have the most depth that they’ve ever had and that her young girls have the chance to do something special as well. Sophomores Sarah Sellers, Haley Zuniga, junior Brody Bender and senior Connor Geiser will help make the most impact.

Class 2A

Dawson Mustangs

Coach: Katie Boyle

Last year’s result: Did not qualify to the state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Madeleine Abel finished 49th at the 18-team Horizon Invitational last week.

The tea: The boys’ team has been led early in the season by junior Isaiah Tu and senior Deven Speyrer. The girls’ team is headlined by Abel, freshman Hannah Johnson and senior Lily Regan.

Lyons Lions

Coach: David Goodman

Last year’s result: The boys placed fourth at the 2A state meet; the girls followed behind at ninth.

Testing 1-2-3: Junior James Newell is the only state returner on the boys’ side, and senior Leah Shelton will be vying for her fourth trip to the state meet.

The tea: The Lions will look a lot different this year after graduating a large number of seniors. They’ll lean on their two state returners as well as sophomore Noah Shelton, junior Texas Thomas, senior Matt Carter and sophomore Elsie Thomas.

Nederland Panthers

Coach: Gavin Coombs

Last year’s result: The girls team placed 16th at the 2A state meet.

Testing 1-2-3: Coombs expects sophomore Amika Begin to “make a big splash” on the course this year.

The tea: Coombs said he believes his athletes will make big strides this season as they strive to win their league, place high at regionals and qualify for the state meet. Junior Abby Hess, freshman Nitza Harkness and junior Ben Weber will round out the top talent for the Panthers.

Twin Peaks Timberwolves

Coach: Lynn Jenner

Last year’s result: The boys team finished seventh at regionals; no state qualifiers.

Testing 1-2-3: Senior Izzy Percell has taken on a leadership role despite only beginning the sport this year.

The tea: The Timberwolves bid farewell to most of their varsity roster from last season, but Jenner believes that sophomores Brody Gripka, Ethan Firth, Micah Arndt and freshman Ava Ellis have already displayed great potential in this rebuilding year.