COLORADO SPRINGS >> At the Class 3A and 2A levels, six local schools sent at least one athlete to Colorado Springs on Saturday for the state cross country championships.

Local 2A schools at the Norris Penrose Event Center course included Lyons, Nederland and Twin Peaks Charter. In 3A, Jefferson Academy, Peak to Peak and Prospect Ridge Academy combined for 41 state competitors.

Some news and notes from the smaller classifications:

Jefferson Academy’s Leyna Gibson closes junior season on high note

In the Class 3A girls’ race, sixth-place Jefferson Academy was led by Leyna Gibson, who placed 29th at 20 minutes, 24.9 seconds. The Jaguars junior credited an increased focus on technique for helping produce her best time of the season.

“I’m really, really happy with it,” Gibson said. “I’ve been working hard this entire season and made a couple of breakthroughs. This was my season-best (time). It felt so nice to have a good race.”

Fellow Jaguars runner Kennedy Stadler trailed close behind in 35th (20:39.9).

“Finishing is the best feeling, especially through that stadium,” Gibson said. “You feel like you’re part of something bigger. I felt so happy like it. It’s a bittersweet moment because the season’s over, our seniors are leaving and it was the most satisfying thing. It makes you feel so good about yourself.”

Prospect Ridge Academy, led by 27th-place Emily Jones (20:22.3) and 37th-place Sarah Sellers (20:36.9), took fifth in the team standings. Peak to Peak placed 18th with Skye Williams pacing the Pumas in 44th (20:53.7).

Peak to Peak’s Jack Cerullo, Jefferson Academy boys take home 3A hardware

Peak to Peak’s Jack Cerullo tested his limits and was rewarded with a prominent spot on the Norris Penrose podium, finishing third (16:18.9) in the 3A boys’ race.

“That’s the hardest I’ve pushed probably ever,” Cerullo said. “I can’t ask for any more. It was a good way to end my senior year season with my best place at state, so I’m very happy.”

In the team standings, Cerullo’s Pumas placed 10th, Prospect Ridge Academy finished eighth and Jefferson Academy left Colorado Springs with a runner-up trophy. The Jaguars’ boys, who finished fifth last year, were led by sixth-place Aden Garza (16:33.3) and ninth-place Rylan Mills (16:36.6).

“I have never been in the top 10 in my full career, so this is a completely new experience,” Garza said. “To be doing with this with my team and getting second with them, getting a podium finish, we’ve never done this before. This is something new, and it feels great.”

Garza and Mills were followed by teammates Eliot Lindberg (50th, 17:42.6) and Carter Nickels (56th, 17:45.1) in the top 60.

James Newell leads Lyons in 2A boys race

As Lyons’ only returning state competitor from last season, James Newell entered his junior season knowing he had to push himself and his teammates to be at their best. Newell embraced the challenge, leading Lyons to an 11th-place finish at state.

“We really came together a lot,” said Newell, who finished 42nd (18:16.1). “There’s a few freshmen on the state team, and I got to build bonds with a lot of people I didn’t know that well before this year.”

Of Lyons’ six state runners, three finished in the top 70: Newell, junior Logan Reitz (56th, 18:35.7) and sophomore Noah Shelton (69th, 18:46.8).

Nederland junior Benjamin Weber placed 31st (17:51.8) and Twin Peaks Charter Academy sophomore Brody Gripka was 72nd (18:48.5).

A new Begin-ing

The surging Nederland cross country program landed a spot on the 2A girls podium as sophomore Amika Begin finished ninth (20:15.3).

“I ran all summer; I just love it,” said Begin, who took 34th as a freshman last year. “I was just pushing myself as hard as I could. My teammates, they all wrote fun things on my hands, and they were super inspiring.”

Begin and the Panthers sent a full girls team to state for the second straight season and finished ninth — a seven-place leap from last year. Individually, junior Abigail Hess was Nederland’s next-highest finisher at 30th (21:59.5).

“We’re just all goofs,” Begin said. “We love to be around each other. I love those girls. They’re some of my best friends.”

2A girls top 30 >> Amika Begin, Nederland (ninth, 20:15.3); Leah Shelton, Lyons (25th, 21:38.4); Abigail Hess, Nederland (30th, 21:59.5)

3A boys top 30 >> Jack Cerullo, Peak to Peak (third, 16:18.9); Aden Garza, Jefferson Academy (sixth, 16:33.3); Rylan Mills, Jefferson Academy (ninth, 16:36.6); Nicholas Shoemaker, Prospect Ridge Academy (14th, 17:01.6); Judah Wilson (29th, 17:17.7)

3A girls top 30 >> Emily Jones, Prospect Ridge Academy (27th, 20:22.3); Leyna Gibson, Jefferson Academy (29th, 20:24.9)