Niwot cross country triumphs at district meet

Niwot High School’s boys cross country team showed its strength at the RE-1J District Meet on Sept. 4, securing the top nine positions in a performance that set the stage for a promising season. It is a rare occasion where the boys team claimed spots one through nine, making it an historic moment for the team and the course itself, with some of the fastest times ever recorded.

Leading the team was Rocco Culpepper, who took first place in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:36.38, followed by Hunter Robbie, who finished close to Culpepper with a time of 15:40.48, and Gabriel Marshall, who finished third with a time of 15:41.79. The team’s depth was displayed as Keegan Geldean and Cole Mazurana rounded out the top five, with Ryder Keeton, Quinn Sullivan, Gavin Engtrakul, and Evan Kear securing the sixth through ninth places.

Kye Toothaker, a runner on the team said, “We usually have nine of the top ten spots, but this was one of the first times it was one through nine.” The meet was both a confidence booster and a preview for bigger challenges ahead.

In addition to the boys' success, several standout performances came from the girls team. Junior Addy Ritzenhein continued her outstanding streak with a strong race, winning the 5000 meter run with a time of 17:39.29, as the 2024 National Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year outpaced the field by more than 50 seconds.

Junior Anna Prok took second with a time of 18.29.87, while sophomores Elise Hagen (19:19.45) and Scarlett Parks (19:39.66) delivered impressive showings to finish fifth and sixth, respectively.

Other notable runners who performed exceptionally well for the Cougars with top-10 finishes included Alena Kasanicky (8th - 20:27.88), Ellie Ottem (9th - 20:30.17), Eloise Boyd, (10th - 21:05.66).

Freshman Natalie Cooper (21:10.29) was close behind in 12th place, with sophomores Alaan Foster (14th - 22:01.87) and Reese Osborn (15th - 22:21.75) and freshman Izzie Pai (22:27.05) also finishing in the top 20 runners.

“All of the girls had amazing races,” said Charlotte Stauch, a sophomore runner on the team. Niwot easily took top honors as a team with 41 points as each team’s top seven runners counted toward the team score.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the team will return to the same course at Lyons High School for the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational, one of Colorado’s premier meets, before heading to Arizona next week for the Desert Twilight XC Festival on Sept. 27, a huge cross country event that attracts elite competition from across the country.

The Cougars’ sights are set on winning the 5A state title, then progressing to the Nike Cross Regionals in Mesa, Arizona on Nov. 22-23, and qualifying for the Nike Cross Country Nationals (NXN).

In preparation for their ultimate goals this season, the Niwot team recently completed a workout at the state course to familiarize themselves with the terrain they will face in November.

After a strong fifth-place finish at NXN last year, and with every runner returning, the team is positioned for a run at the national title.