Prok leads Niwot to perfect finish at cross country regionals

Not much is perfect in life, but at least two things at the 2021 Class 4A Region 3 cross country championships on Oct. 22 were: the mild autumn weather, and the Niwot girls' final score in the team standings. Paced by sophomore Mia Prok with a time of 17 minutes 29 seconds, the Cougars took the first seven spots on the leaderboard, earning just 15 points, the lowest total possible.

"I think we were all just excited to run here and have as many in the top as we could," Prok said following the race at Denver's Central Park, located in the Stapleton neighborhood. "It was definitely a different course than I've ever done. It was harder than it looked. My legs were heavy and tired."

Coming in right behind Prok was senior Eva Klingbeil in second, with a time of 17:40, followed by junior Madison Shults (18:11) in third, senior Stella Vieth (18:12) in fourth, and freshman Bella Nelson (18:12) rounding out the top-five. In sixth place was senior Tessa Everett (18:35), with sophomore Sarah Perkins (18:40) in seventh. Also finishing for Niwot was sophomore Olivia Alessandrini (19:40) in 10th, and Sierra Parks (21:39) in 23rd.

Niwot beat nine other teams to claim their fourth straight regional crown, and also earned a chance to compete for a fourth straight state title at the Class 4A championships, scheduled for Oct. 30 in Colorado Springs. For Prok, who now has two regional titles and is a contender for the individual state title, Niwot's depth should make them hard to beat.

"The team is so strong, but it's definitely kind of a bummer that we can't take all nine," she said. State rosters are limited to seven runners, with the top five times counting toward the score. "But all of the girls that are going to be on the team are so strong."

That was more or less the assessment of Niwot head coach Kelly Christensen, who said the girls race unfolded as expected, even with a last-minute lineup change due to an injury.

"It was a different challenge that we had to get through with the change. It's emotional, and it messes with the energy, but they responded well."