Conquering the Commons - Daily Camera

PREP CROSS COUNTRY REGIONALS

Conquering the Commons

Niwot leads local teams in state qualification

Niwot’s Rocco Culpepper, front, was the first finisher in the Class 5A Region 3 meet on Thursday in Broomfield, pacing a pack of Cougars that made up all of the top placings in the boys’ race. CLIFF GRASSMICK — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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By Jack Carlough

For BoCoPreps.com

BROOMFIELD >> The leap from Class 4A to 5A hasn’t hampered the powerhouse Niwot cross country program much this season.

Competing in its first Region 3 championships at the 5A level, the Cougars led the girls’ and boys’ team standings on Thursday. Individually, Rocco Culpepper took first in the boys’ race, and reigning 4A state champion Addison Ritzenhein did the same on the girls’ side.

Niwot wasn’t the only local team to find success at Broomfield County Commons Park. Of the 15 local schools competing (3A-5A), 11 qualified at least one team to the cross country state championships.

The top four teams and the top 15 individual finishers in each Region 3 race qualified for state, scheduled for Nov. 2 in Colorado Springs.

Niwot dominates both 5A races

Led by the junior Culpepper, the first seven runners to cross the 5A boys’ finish line all wore Niwot green. Culpepper, who crossed in 15 minutes, 50.4 seconds, was followed by second-place Ryder Keeton and third-place Quinn Sullivan.

“It’s pretty unmatched; people don’t really get it,” Culpepper said. “It’s one of a kind to have seven guys (lead a) regional meet like that.”

Boulder, guided by eighth-place finisher Cooper Draves, placed second in the 5A boys’ team standings, and Fairview took third. Both the Knights and Panthers will join Niwot at state.

In the 5A girls’ race, Ritzenhein (17:24.3) was one of three Niwot runners in the top 10, joining third-place Anna Prok and eighth-place Elise Hagen. Fairview senior Sierra Wall took second, Monarch’s Sofie Donker was fourth and Broomfield’s Vilate Carwin fifth.

“This year, there were so many more talented girls,” Hagen said of Niwot’s leap to 5A. “Last year, you felt more like you were just racing the team and each other, which of course is fun, but it’s also fun to see new faces.”

Second-place Boulder, third-place Fairview and fourth-place Broomfield are also headed to state.

Longmont’s Miles Miller gets senior season back on track

What had been a roller-coaster season for Miles Miller hit its peak (so far) as the Longmont senior stole the Class 4A boys race with a time of 16:30.4.

“Recently, I’ve been kind of on a bad stretch,” Miller admitted. “I was feeling good at the start of the race and just took it out hard, knowing that if I wanted to win it, the way I was gonna do it was string everybody out.”

Miller’s Trojans took first in the Class 4A boys team standings, with teammate Julien Frazier finishing close behind in sixth. Third-place Holy Family and fourth-place Mead also qualified for state.

Holy Family senior Parker Nelson finished second individually, while Mead sophomore Josh Knight took fourth.

Silver Creek’s Cloe Ruth takes 4A girls race

Silver Creek senior Cloe Ruth won the 4A girls race at 18:45.5, a comfortable 45 seconds ahead of second-place MacKenzie McIntosh of Holy Family. The veteran Raptor ran with confidence knowing she was supported by her coaches and teammates.

“My coaches are more supportive than I could even imagine,” Ruth said. “Having a team that is also like that (where) nobody hates on anyone else, it’s such a positive environment.”

Behind Ruth and McIntosh, Holy Family senior Anabella Descalzo finished third, Mead junior Ava Mierau was fourth and Silver Creek sophomore Megan Bader took fifth. Holy Family was first in the team standings, followed by second-place Lutheran, third-place Silver Creek and fourth-place Mead.

Prospect Ridge, Peak to Peak runners lead 3A races

In Thursday’s opening Region 3 race, Peak to Peak finished second in the 3A boys’ team standings, with senior Jack Cerullo taking first individually at 17:02.1. Cerullo credited first-year Pumas head coach Jeffrey Eggleston and his teammates for helping Peak to Peak earn a state qualification.

“I’ve been thinking about states, it’s been in the back of my mind for the whole season,” Cerullo said. “I’m hoping that as a team, we can go crazy and that myself, I can go crazy, too.”

Jefferson Academy took first, with senior Rylan Mills and sophomore Judah Wilson placing second and third, respectively. Prospect Ridge, including sixth-place finisher Brody Bender, finished third as a team.

In the 3A girls’ race, Prospect Ridge Academy took first ahead of second-place Jefferson Academy and third-place Peak to Peak. Prospect Ridge senior Emily Jones led the individual field at 20:25.1.

“Honestly, they’re so amazing,” Jones said of her Prospect Ridge team. “It’s been so much fun getting to lead them this year and getting to be a team with them. Today, we all had matching shorts, so it’s fun to get to have these special memories together.”

Full list of teams that qualified for state >> Prospect Ridge Academy (3A boys, girls), Jefferson Academy (3A boys, girls), Peak to Peak (3A boys, girls), Longmont (4A boys), Holy Family (4A boys, girls), Silver Creek (4A girls), Mead (4A boys, girls). Niwot (5A boys, girls), Boulder (5A boys, girls), Fairview (5A boys, girls), Broomfield (5A girls)

Local individuals who qualified >> Silver Creek’s Noah Zweers (4A boys), Broomfield’s Case Thomas (5A boys), Monarch’s Sofie Donker (5A girls).