Student-Athlete of the Week: Madison Shults

The final chapter of Madison Shults' Niwot High School cross country career has been a good read.

In the month of September alone, Shults had top-10 finishes in the RE-1J District Meet, the St. Vrain Invitational and the Desert Twilight XC Festival - which all also resulted in team wins. Shults gave special recognition to head coach Kelly Christensen and a slew of others for helping make her senior season memorable.

"I definitely have to credit it to our coaches," Shults said. "Our coaches are incredible, Kelly Christensen and everyone below him is amazing and definitely the people who have gotten me to where I need to be. Also, my teammates, I wouldn't be nearly as good without them. They push me to do my best every day, and I do the same. Overall, the people around me, the people who are positively supporting me and people from other teams who also push us to be our best definitely contribute to that."

In particular, Shults said junior Mia Prok, freshman Anna Prok and sophomore Bella Nelson have been major influencers.

With only a handful of meets remaining, including the state championships on Oct. 29, Shults is doing her best to relish every moment.

"It just makes me more thankful for every single time that I get to race knowing that that is the last time we are going to be racing that specific race in high school," Shults said.

Most athletes dream of winning just one state championship but if all goes well for Niwot this year, Shults could end her career with a perfect four team titles. The Cougars' recent run of success on the big stage is no fluke, though, as they have already traveled to the state course in Colorado Springs twice this fall to better prepare. Shults added that the team trips have been an excellent bonding experience.

Besides going the extra mile for success, Niwot rarely falls short in terms of leadership, and Shults is at the forefront of maintaining the Cougars' culture.

"It's been fun to be able to see freshmen who are where I used to be in those shoes," Shults said. "(I) take the leadership role and show them the ropes and teach them traditions, show them fun songs that we listen to and everything. It's super fun to be a leader and a role model on the team and just being able to work with the other seniors and juniors to make the freshmen and sophomores feel special."

This spring, Shults will take many of those same leadership qualities to the Niwot track and field team. She'll be entering her senior season as the two-time defending state champion in the 800-meter and as the reigning champion of the 400. Niwot's 2022 state championship 4x400 relay team also included Shults.

Shults has committed to attend Stanford in September and is set to continue both her track and cross country careers. Niwot has a history of sending athletes to Stanford and Shults said that Cougar track and field great Taylor James, a current Cardinal sophomore, helped her throughout the recruiting process.

"I took a visit (to Stanford) last spring and throughout the summer, I've been working with them to work on the application and figure out all the details," Shults said. "I'm super excited to meet a new team and get new coaches. I'm sad to leave my old team and coaches, but I'm excited for a change in the future and to meet a bunch of new people."