All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Competing in the state championships was a well-deserved ending to Eleanor Ottem's high school cross country career. After spending last year on junior varsity, the Niwot senior landed a varsity spot this fall and ultimately earned herself a trip to Colorado Springs for the Class 5A state meet on Saturday, Nov. 2. As the only senior on Niwot's girls team, she placed 60th (19 minutes, 37 seconds) at the challenging Norris Penrose Event Center course. Filled with emotion, Ottem expressed her...
In a landmark season for Niwot High School's cross country program, the Cougars made an unforgettable debut at the Class 5A state level, securing a state title for the boys team and delivering impressive individual performances on the girls team. The championship race took place at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, where Niwot's runners faced fierce competition and challenging terrain. For the second consecutive year, Niwot's boys claimed a state cross country title, marking...
The Niwot High School cross country team secured top team finishes at the 5A Region 3 Championships in Broomfield on Thursday, Oct. 24. Both the boys and the girls teams demonstrated dominance, sweeping the top places and showcasing their readiness for the upcoming 5A State Championship. Boys Team The boys team claimed the first eight spots and an impressive 15:54 average time, well ahead of their closest competitors. Boulder High School held an average time of 16:22 and Fairview High School ave...
The Niwot High School cross country teams delivered an impressive performance at the Desert Twilight XC Festival on Friday, Sept 28, overcoming scorching 90-degree temperatures to capture both the girls and boys Sweepstakes titles. As the only school in the nation with both teams ranked in the top five nationally, the Cougars solidified their status as a powerhouse program with commanding victories on a hot night at the Toka Sticks Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona. In the Girls Sweepstakes race,...
Niwot High School's cross country teams delivered stellar performances at the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, hosted by Lyons High School. Both the boys and girls teams showcased their depth and talent, securing top finishes across the board in the 5000 meter run. The boys team was led by junior Rocco Culpepper, who claimed first place with an impressive time of 15:29.17. His victory was closely followed by fellow juniors Hunter Robbie, who finished second at...
In her three-plus years at Niwot High School, senior Alena Kasanicky has learned that whether she's running or golfing, achieving success in athletics requires both physical and mental strength. While her primary sports don't share much in common from a physical standpoint, the mental side of each is fairly similar. Kasanicky knows that staying composed under pressure typically leads to strong results in golf, track and cross country. "They're definitely really different sports, but golf and run...
As school begins again in full swing, so do the various fall sports, notably cross country. The Niwot High School cross country team recently geared up for the season's first invitational at Mountain Vista High School, a large Class 5A school in Highlands Ranch last Saturday, Aug. 24. This event was the first real test of the team's rigorous summer training program, and the athletes were met with a hot, but manageable environment, as temperatures ranged from a high of 90º to a low of 84º t...
The Niwot High School cross country team enters the 2024-2025 season with high expectations, as both the boys and girls teams make the leap from the 4A classification to Class 5A, where they will face some of the toughest competition in the nation. After dominating the 4A State Championships last season and achieving impressive results at the Nike Cross National Meet-where the boys' team placed fifth and the girls' team secured second-the Cougars are ready to take on bigger schools and more...
Anna Prok won't lack for summer tales to share with her classmates next week when Niwot High School opens its doors for the new academic year. Along with training for her upcoming cross country season, Prok competed at the Nike Outdoors Nationals in June before joining Niwot teammate and close friend Addison Ritzenhein at the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11. Prok, a rising junior, said it was a special experience to attend the ESPYs with Ritzenhein, who was being honored for winning the 2023-24 Gato...
The Niwot High School track and field teams have once again proven their dominance, with the girls team winning the state title for the fifth consecutive year and the boys team finishing as state runner-up. Their outstanding performance through the season has been recognized with numerous awards, showcasing the incredible talent of both teams under Coach Maurice Henriques, who was named CHSAA's 4A Girls Track Coach of the Year. Leading the girls team, sophomore Addison Ritzenhein had a stellar...
The Night of Champions ceremony unfolded with an air of anticipation and excitement as students, teachers, parents, and community members gathered to recognize the exceptional achievements of Niwot High School individuals and teams throughout the school year. From academic brilliance to athletic prowess, the event summarized the student body's spirit of dedication and perseverance. Eric Rauschkolb, Niwot High School's Principal, opened the June 2 formalities, setting the stage for an evening fil...
The Colorado State Track and Field Championships resulted in big wins for Niwot High School at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. The 3-day event, which concluded May 18, gave the Cougars a chance to compete against the best in Class 4A in the state. And the runners and throwers from Niwot did not disappoint, turning in exceptional performances to dominate the meet, with a fifth consecutive state team championship by the Cougar girls, and a second-place tie by the Cougar boys. No other school came...
A small handful of Niwot High School track and field athletes made their way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last week for the Penn Relays. The annual meet, held at the University of Pennsylvania's historic Franklin Field from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, featured some of the nation's best high school runners, including Niwot's own Addison Ritzenhein. NHS had athletes competing in five different track events. Ritzenhein, a sophomore recently named the Gatorade National Girls...
At the Boulder County Track and Field Championships on Saturday, April 13, Niwot High School athletes topped the podium in 10 of the day’s 38 events. The NHS girls took first in the team standings while the Cougar boys placed second behind Erie High School. With about one month remaining until the state championships, several Niwot athletes once again proved themselves as legitimate Class 4A title contenders. Reese Kasper and Jade West continued their impressive junior seasons, standout sophomore Addison Ritzenhein recorded another two-mile w...
The Niwot High School track and field program sent athletes to three different cities, including one in California, during the first weekend of April. Cougar colors were present in Longmont at the Birds of Prey Invitational, in Parker at the Legend Titan Track Clash, and in The Golden State for the renowned Arcadia Invitational and at all venues, Niwot runners enjoyed plenty of success against high-level competition. At the Birds of Prey Invitational, hosted by Skyline High School on Friday, Apr...
For Kingston Staton, competing on his home track at the second annual Niwot Invitational generated an interesting mix of emotions. While he certainly felt some pressure wanting to represent the Cougars well, the junior hurdler also gained confidence from the meet being held on familiar grounds. Staton had rounded each of those four bends countless times at practice, but was now tasked with proving his talents in front of a larger audience. Particularly in the 300-meter hurdles, the home star shi...
A handful of Niwot High School track and field athletes traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, over the weekend for the New Balance Indoor Nationals. Racing as members of REAL Training, a club team led by Niwot track and field head coach Maurice Henriques, NHS students who competed include Addison Ritzenhein, sisters Mia and Anna Prok, Kye Toothaker, and reigning shot put state champion Jade West, among others. The event was held from Thursday, March 7 through Sunday, March 10, with races being held at either the TRACK at new balance or the Reggie...
When it comes to the multitude of success stories coming out of Niwot High School these days, the statistics speak for themselves. Academically, NHS remains the only school in the St. Vrain Valley School District with an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, in which there is a 40% participation rate. An impressive 72% of students are taking at least one IB or Advanced Placement (AP) class. And, NHS students currently boast one of the highest SAT scores in the district at 1103 and one of the highest PSAT composite scores in the State of Col...
Only midway through her prep career, Addison Ritzenhein has already cemented herself as one of the greatest runners to ever come through Niwot High School. In the past few months alone, the sophomore standout secured her first Class 4A cross country individual state title and surprised many by finishing first at the Nike Cross Country Nationals on Dec. 2. Her efforts were then honored on Jan. 23 when she became the first Niwot runner to win the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country P...
The vast majority of banners inside Niwot High School's main gym celebrate team championships. A select few, however, are hung in honor of individual achievements. Coming off a stellar sophomore season on the NHS cross country team, Addison Ritzenhein will soon have her name immortalized twice. After receiving the Gatorade Colorado Girls Cross Country Player of the Year award on Monday, the state championship-winning runner earned the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of...
As expected, Colorado's girls dominated the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) Saturday, Dec. 2, in Portland, Oregon, but no one was more dominant than Niwot's Addison Ritzenhein who now adds the title of National Champion to her growing list of credentials. Ritzenhein, just a sophomore, came into the 18th Nike national race expected to be one of the top five or six finishers in the race, but splashed through the mud and deep standing water on Portland's Glendoveer Golf Course to outpace in-state...
The top two high school cross country teams from each of the nine Nike regional qualifying meets in November secured automatic berths into this weekend's Nike Cross Nationals (NXN). That left just four at-large invitations available for high school boys teams from across the United States to compete in the national championships on Saturday, Dec. 2, in Portland, Oregon. When the Niwot boys cross country team finished fourth in its Southwest Regional meet on Nov. 18 in Arizona, it looked like a...
NIWOT GIRLS WIN REGIONALS, GOING TO NATIONALS When the top teams in the country gather in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 2, for the Nike Cross Country National Championships, all eyes will be on the two girls teams representing the Southwest Region – Niwot High School and Air Academy High School. Colorado's 4A State Champion Cougars and 5A champion Kadets squared off Saturday, Nov. 18, for the first time this season at the four-state Nike regional qualifying meet at the Coyote Run Golf C...
Outstanding depth and tremendous individual performances were the key all season for the Colorado Class 4A State Cross Country Champions from Niwot High School. Those efforts were recognized by this year's 4A Girls and Boys All-State Team selections. The Cougars' two sophomore standouts, Addison Ritzenhein and Rocco Culpepper, led the celebration with first team All-State honors. Ritzenhein, who also earned Runner of the Year honors, was joined by senior teammates, Olivia Alessandrini, Sarah...
For the sixth time in six years, the Niwot High School girls cross country team reigns supreme in Colorado. And, not to be outdone, after a disappointing two-year hiatus, the Cougar boys team reclaimed its state title at this past weekend's 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships. Taking advantage of their outstanding individual leaders and incredible team depth, the Cougars wrapped up their near perfect season with two runaway victories on the Norris Penrose Event Center course in...
All the hard work . . . all the long hours . . . all the miles of traveling . . . all of it is behind the Niwot Cougars’ cross country teams. Now, there’s nothing left for the runners to do but lace up their shoes and run for their ultimate goal . . . a 4A state championship trophy. Seven boys and seven girls from Niwot will don the green and silver and represent one of the country’s (not county’s) elite programs Saturday as they attempt to cap a nearly perfect 2023 racing season at the 4A State Championship Meet at Norris Penrose Event Center...
Go ahead and take some time off. You’ve earned it. But don’t expect the rest of your team to stop running while you do -- they won’t. With several of their top runners, including Addison Ritzenhein and Rocco Culpepper, taking well-deserved breaks after impressive individual and team efforts the previous week at the Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona, the Niwot boys and girls cross country teams traveled to the Western Slope on Thursday, Oct. 5, and continued their dominance with team victories at the Warrior Lincoln Park Classic in Grand...
The Niwot High School cross country team showed Friday evening, Sept. 29, that Colorado isn’t the only state where the Cougars’ dominance will be felt in 2023. Coach Kelly Christiansen led his team into the Arizona desert, and the Cougars ran away with both the boys’ and girls’ coveted Sweepstakes titles in the Desert Twilight Cross Country Festival in Mesa, AZ. The event, one of the premier invitationals in the country, included 248 teams and nearly 6,000 athletes from five states. Thirty-one different races were held during the evening...
GIRLS XC Look out Colorado, Niwot’s Addison Ritzenhein is a runaway freight train with no slowing down in sight. The sophomore picked up speed on the final downhill stretch and steamed through the finish line Saturday at the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational, leaving all competitors far behind while crushing the girls’ course record along the way. In her second race of the season, Ritzenhein picked up her second victory, this time by a whopping 30 seconds over teammate and second-place finisher Olivia Alessandrini, who added the silver med...
The results of last Wednesday's RE-1J District Cross Country Meet may have looked like opening the floodgates, but Niwot head coach Kelly Christensen described the outcome as more of a controlled release. The Cougars, who had seen their top runners held out of competition in the first weeks of the season, were on full display on their home course and the visual effect was a green wave. Both the girls and the boys teams easily ran to victory with the girls capturing the top 13 individual places...
Five girls 4A state championships in the past five years. Two boys state championships and two runner-up finishes in the last four. To say that the Niwot cross country program is a championship machine may be an understatement. In his eighth year as head coach, Kelly Christensen has found a formula that other coaches around the state would love to steal. Christensen says it’s not that complicated. “The right kids are coming to Niwot and the families are super supportive. They drink the Kool-Aid,” Christensen says with a smile in his voice. “It...
Three days of exceptional performances at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood gave the Niwot High School girls track and field team its fourth consecutive Class 4A state title on May 20. The Cougars took first in eight of the 19 events and finished with 154 total points, significantly more than any other team - boys or girls - throughout all five classifications. Mesa Ridge High was runner-up on the 4A girls side with 67 points. Madison Shults wrapped up her high school career by winning her second...
With 140 students out for track, Niwot High School track coach Maurice Henriques has a hard time keeping track of all of them. But there are so many elite athletes among that group that the Cougars as a team routinely places first or second at large meets. The BOCO Track & Field meet at Longmont April 15 was no exception as the Niwot girls took first and the boys finished second, behind only Class 5A Erie. “On the girls' side, we scored 210 points, and Longmont was second with 78,” Henriques said. As for the boys, Henriques wasn’t disap...
Scoring a meet-best 220 overall points was an added bonus for a Niwot High School track and field program hosting its first-ever home meet in school history on April 1. Aided by first-place finishes in six different events, the Cougar girls topped 23 other programs with 149 points. On the boys side, Lutheran High led the NoCo Series #1 meet with 76 points, just ahead of second-place Niwot with 71 points. It was a long day - and a busy week of preparation - for Niwot head coach Maurice...
Make it a five-peat. For the fifth time in as many seasons, the Niwot High School girls cross country team took first place at the Class 4A state championships on Oct. 29. Months of preparation, including two trips to the Norris Penrose Event Center course in Colorado Springs, helped Niwot score 20 points - miles ahead of second-place Battle Mountain (122) and third-place Durango (134). "It was just incredible," said senior Madison Shults, who was one of six Cougars to finish in the top 10....
The final hurdle the Niwot High School cross country team had to clear before the state meet came in the form of the Class 4A Region 3 championships on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. In need of a top-four regionals team finish to qualify for State, both the Cougar girls and boys took first place with relative ease. Niwot was led by a first-place freshman on each side — Rocco Culpepper for the boys (16 minutes, 7 seconds) and Addison Ritzenhein for the girls (18 minutes, 41 seconds) — and 13 total Cougars pla...
A whopping seven Niwot cross country underclassmen — girls and boys combined — had a top-10 finish in the Longs Peak League Meet on Oct. 12. On the boys’ side, Cougar freshman Rocco Culpepper led all runners with a time of 15 minutes, 18.9 seconds which was about 23 seconds ahead of Severance’s Caden Schweer. Niwot seniors Carlos Kipkorir Cheruiyot and Jeremy Gillet finished third and fourth, respectively, while sophomore Keegan Geldean (fifth), senior Frederick Ambrose (sixth) and sophomores Christopher Wood (seventh) and Gavin Engtrak...
As is typical this season, Niwot cross country’s depth on the girls’ side delivered another meet win. All eight Cougars girls who traveled down to Mesa, Ariz., for the Desert Twilight XC Festival on Sept. 30 finished within the top 20 to secure the team victory. The strong showing marked the third consecutive first-place finish for the Niwot girls — the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational and the RE-IJ District Meet being the others. In the 5,000-meter Desert Twilight race that included 21 total teams and 174 girls, not only did the Couga...
Homecoming week took a hit on the Niwot cross country team. According to head coach Kelly Christensen, his Cougars were far from 100% when they lined up for the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 17. But even without four top runners, the Niwot girls team squeaked out a first-place finish at Lyons High School. An encouraging takeaway for Christensen was that a few underclassmen, on both the girls and boys’ sides, were able to keep a shorthanded Cougars team competitive. Sophomore Bella Nelson led the Niwot girls with a third-place f...
It was a successful Homecoming week for Niwot High School. Football won on its home turf, volleyball swept Silver Creek, boys tennis went 1-1, softball got a win and for cross country, both the girls and boys teams cruised to first place in the RE-1J District Meet. The cross country boys were led by four seniors who finished from third place to sixth in the order of Jeremy Gillett, Frederick Ambrose, Stefan Haug and Carlos Kipkorir. And even though the first and second place individual finishers...
NHS cross country head coach Kelly Christensen opted to roll with mostly freshmen and sophomore runners during Niwot’s first two meets of the season, giving them some valuable experience before the veterans take control. Not only have the Cougars’ underclassmen gotten their feet wet, but they also littered the leaderboard during their first meet of the year on Aug. 27, at the Vista Nation XC 2-Mile Invitational in Highlands Ranch. On both the girls and boys sides of the freshmen/sophomores-only race, the Cougars took first place overall and...
The past, future and present are all looking pretty good right now for the Niwot cross country program. One year after the girls' squad won state and the boys finished runner-up, the Cougars' juggernaut remains dangerous. On the boys' side, coming so close to winning Class 4A last season has Niwot motivated to finish the job in 2022. "I know the boys were pretty disappointed being runner-up and not doing as well as a team as they wanted to," said head coach Kelly Christensen. "They're on a reall...
