By KYLE NEWMAN | [email protected] | The Denver Post
When it comes to girls distance running, Colorado is the queen of the country.
As evidence of the Centennial State’s standing in the sport, just look at the results from the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals last November, when four locals finished in the Top 10.
Niwot’s Addison Ritzenhein was first, Air Academy’s Bethany Michalak second, Liberty Common’s Isabel Allori fourth and Summit’s Ella Hagen tenth, while a trio of local squads topped the team standings in Niwot, Air Academy and Mountain Vista.
“It was like Colorado beating the whole country, basically,” Allori said with a laugh. “That was awesome. We dominated together and showcased the amazing distance talent this state has.”
Those four runners, who starred in the distance events this weekend at the CHSAA state track meet at Jeffco Stadium, are the latest names on a long list of nationally renowned runners from the Centennial State. Since 2014, Colorado’s produced elite talents such as Niwot’s Elise Cranny, Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger, Grandview’s Bri Oakley, Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart and Pomona’s Emma Stutzman, all of whom garnered national acclaim in high school.
Now, Liberty Common distance coach Rory Schulte argues the latest wave of talent is cementing the fact that “there’s no denying that Colorado’s produced the best girls distance runners, certainly on a per capita basis, over the last decade.”
“There’s been a culture shift,” Schulte said. “Obviously, Colorado is a great place to run and the elevation plays a role. But also, those days of Elise Cranny and Katie Rainsberger jump-started everything and people started seeing women’s distance running here could be taken to a new level. Girls have been attacking record marks, and beating them, after seeing what others have done.”
In addition to the showing at the latest Nike Cross Nationals, a barrage of other omens underscore Schulte’s proclamation.
To read the whole post at the Denver Post, click here.