Niwot track stars compete at New Balance Indoor Nationals via REAL Training

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 Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

Ritzenhein, who was recently named the 2023 Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year, took third in the girls two-mile. The standout sophomore crossed the finish line at nine minutes, 52.64 seconds.

Another accomplished Niwot runner, senior Mia Prok placed 34th in the girls one-mile at an even time of 5:00.0. Her younger sister, sophomore Anna Prok, ran the 800-meter and finished 55th at 2:16.11.

Niwot seniors Cayden Justice and Julia Rudolph competed in the girls one-mile and the 800-meter, respectively. Justice placed 56th (5:04.76) while Rudolph took 68th (2:17.22).

On the boys’ side, Toothaker ran the 800-meter and placed 57th with a time of 1:57.26.

Elise Hagen, a Niwot freshman who’s impressing early in her high school career, took 19th (5:14.07) in the girls freshman one-mile.

One year after becoming Niwot’s first-ever girls shot put state champion as a sophomore, West placed 14th out of 49 qualified competitors. West’s Boston heave traveled 39 feet, 3 inches.

Coming up for Niwot track and field, the Cougars are scheduled to compete in the Thornton Early Bird on Wednesday, March 13. They will then race in the Murray Kula Invitational, hosted by Windsor High School, on Saturday, March 16.