By Marissa Kuik | Colorado MileSplit
McKenna Groen of Regis Jesuit started off her high school career with a bang, placing 3rd overall in the championship division of the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede. She completed the course in a mind-boggling time of 17:54, making her one of the fastest 9th graders ever to run this race.
However, in some ways, it should not be surprising Groen opened up her season this way considering she did win the 3200m in the middle school division at Adidas Indoor Track Nationals in a time of 10:38. She then went on to place 3rd in the one mile at the Nike Indoor Nationals with a time of 5:00.
Moving to the outdoor oval, Groen competed at the Nike Outdoor Nationals meet and was one of a handful of middle schoolers to compete against high schoolers in the emerging elite section of the 3k. Here she placed an incredible 3rd overall with a time of 9:52!
She will definitely be one to watch throughout this fall season!