Cross Country Racers Shine Amidst Fall Colors in Eagle and Snowmass

Haymaker Classic and Snowmassive Chase - All Regions XC Race #2

Race Reporters Michelle Jensen and Matt Muir, editor Kate Rau

The fall colors in Eagle and Snowmass provided splendid backdrops for the head-to-head cross-country races in the high country, September 25th-26th. Both courses offered challenging climbs and a series of downhill switchbacks with many places where spectators could cheer along the racecourse. The Varsity riders were pumped to ride 3 laps versus 2 as in the Individual Time Trial.

The Town of Eagle hosted a total of 713 racers from the Platte and Yampa regions. Eagle has been on the circuit since 2013. Eagle continues its long-term commitment to its partnership with the Colorado League. Town of Eagle staff and police worked constantly from before dawn to after dusk both days and prepared the trail in advance of the weekend.

Snowmass was new to the series in 2019. The Town of Snowmass Village offered signature s'mores to participants throughout the weekend. Riders from the Crystal and Piedra regions flocked to Snowmass where 687 racers tackled the course. Event staff from the Town of Snowmass Village and Aspen Ski Corporation were integral to the event's success with parking, venue set up, and assistance prior to and throughout the weekend.

League Operations Director, John Hutchinson noted, “A few kids told us they liked the individual time trial format but for most everyone, it sure is good to be back to mass start racing and the great atmosphere that surrounds it.”

Sponsors like Your Front Range Toyota Stores and Alpine Bank remain crucial to the Colorado League being able to deliver its mission. Dr. Khemerin Seng of sponsor Boulder Centre for Orthopedics was on-site cheering his children, Dr. Seng said “I am always impressed by the grit and tenacity of the high school racers. From a first-time freshman to a Legacy senior rider, their energy, effort and enthusiasm serves as model behavior for all high school athletes and will serve them well in all aspects of life.”

Neutral Support offered by Scots Bicycle Service educated riders while making last-minute repairs. The Dirt Crew from Snowmass replaced several chains during races throughout the weekend. Chatfield Varsity rider, Kaya Musgrave's chain broke as she powered over the start line. She quickly returned to racing and took 5th for the day after the 5-minute penalty was applied. Air Academy, Sophomore, Reed McAfee came through the Feed Zone without a chain determined to finish his race by running until Kate Rau, League Director caught him climbing up the Discovery trail. Rau let him know he could get his chain replaced if willing to incur the 5-minute penalty for outside assistance. He was back in action in less than 5 minutes. Wheat Ridge Cyclery was strategically placed at the finish line to respond to issues as riders lapped through in Eagle.

The Toyota Slingshot Awards for most improved over their previous race was applied to race #2. Four boys and four girls, one each from each region earned the honorary Slingshot jersey.

Crystal: Sophomore, Hattie Carpenter, from Conifer finished 10th this weekend in a field of 20 moving up 6 places. Sophomore, Ethan Werschky, Lewis-Palmer finished 14th compared to 60th. Apparently, a traditional cross-country race format suits Werschky.

Piedra: Legacy Varsity racer Ethan NeJame Zeiset, Salida went from 16th to 8th. He stayed busy all day celebrating his teammates at the finish line and. Freshman, Olivia Edstrom, Montrose catapulted from 15th to 5th.

Platte: Annie Kuhns of Middle Park went from 9th to 3rd in Sophomore girls. Caleb Haack of Steamboat went from 28th to 6th in Varsity boys, where every place is earned the hard way.

Yampa: Legacy Victoria Uglyar of Summit went from 18th to 6th over her previous race in Varsity girls. Luke Leoni of Boulder went from 85th to 34th, a whopping 51 place improvement in Sophomore boys.

Snowmass Results - Crystal

Snowmass Photos - Crystal Region

Camille Deranleau, JV, Legacy from Conifer wowed the crowd with her performance of the National Anthem while overlooking the Roaring Fork Valley.

Local riders from Glenwood Springs, Aspen/Basalt Composite, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, and new to the scene, Roaring Fork all had racers on the podium. Good friends Chloe Lutgring (1st place Varsity), Glenwood Springs, and Megan Heath (2nd place JV), Aspen/Basalt were very happy to race on their home turf again. Their results contributed to the Glenwood Springs bronze in the Division 1 competition and Aspen/Basalt gold in Division 3. Discovery Canyon snuck past Woodland Park by only 26 points and Air Academy was 3rd among the five Division 2 teams.

Manitou Springs took home a bronze in the Division 3 team standings in Snowmass. The current overall standings include Aspen/Basalt, Crested Butte, and Leadville. The closest contest is between Roaring Fork and Thunder Ridge with a 12-point difference in this competitive field of 18 Division 3 teams.

In Division 1 team overall standings Colorado Rocky Mountain School is ahead of Cheyenne Mountain by only 372 points. Glenwood Springs is in 3rd. The overall Division 2 standings are the same as their weekend performance.

Varsity girls included 14 competitors. Local Chloe Lutgring, Glenwood Springs had a stellar race taking home a gold and the Leader jersey. Emma Borchers, Aspen/Basalt Composite was 10 seconds ahead of Sequoia Harris, Air Academy. Hannah Brothers, Lewis-Palmer was in the mix working hard to stay in front of Ella Vaillancourt, Manitou Springs. Brother's skills shone in the Yeti skills zone. These top 5 riders head into the regional finals with Vaillancourt in 3rd overall with only 8 points ahead of Harris.

Locals Marcus Dewire, Aspen/Basalt, and Corbin Carpenter, Roaring Fork laid down sub 20-minute laps. Dewire's teammate Finn Johnson, barely held off Kalvin Winder, Douglas County in the very competitive Varsity boys field of 23. Heading into the Crystal regional championships Ryan Rydland, Discovery Canyon, and Titan Cox, Highlands Ranch are separated by a scant 3 points for 5th and 6th. There are several close series standings including Blake Tidemann, Douglas County, and Marcus Stanley, Woodland Park who are tied for 17th.

Kai Nelson, Cheyenne Mountain won the Sophomore race by only 7 seconds. Samantha Meskin, Glenwood Springs and Raegan Agrimson, Air Academy took 2nd and 3rd and head into regionals tied for the overall series points. Be ready for a very exciting race among the Sophomore girls in Eagle.

Devon Blanchard, Roaring Fork shot of the start line and kept the lead after the first steep pitch. Series leader Quin Catabagan, Douglas County took 2nd in Sophomore boys. A crowd-pleasing sprint between Conner Knight, Crested Butte, Gabe Hazelton, Roaring Fork for 3rd and 4th. This category similar to the girls will be one to watch with overall standings very close 2nd through 8th.

Dante Humphrey, Glenwood Springs was victorious and held onto the series lead in the Freshman boys. Freshman Nina Villafranco, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, and Avery Harris, Air Academy were 1st and 3rd and are now tied for the series Leader. Ella Bullock, Leadville rode to 2nd and her twin sister Susie placed 6th.

Snowmass Results - Piedra

Snowmass Photos - Piedra Region

The Link school brought seven racers to Snowmass from the Piedra region. This is 50% of their school population. This experiential boarding school based in Buena Vista placed 7th of the 10 Division 3 schools. The team included two German exchange students. If there was a team award for most energetic and willing to try something new, this team would win without a doubt. Coach James Orlet is thrilled to add this option and 6 of the 7 members were new to racing.

Pagosa Springs riders, Ethan Bergoldt and Bradley Lamoreaux, said that their, "I heart mom" tattoos brought them good luck. Pagosa Springs took home a bronze in the Division 3 category and is in 2nd overall. Animas took the win and Regis Jesuit took home silver for the day and is 3rd overall. Only 155 points separate Pagosa Springs and Regis Jesuit heading into race #3.

Durango, Salida, and Chatfield kept the Division 1 team positions for the day and overall. Montrose holds strong for the top spot in the Division 2 teams with Buena Vista and Grand Junction in 2nd and 3rd. Cherry Creek is holding on to 4th overall by a mere 42 points over Palisade for the overall.

Bailey Cioppa, Durango clocked the fastest female lap time at 23:54 earning the series Leader's jersey with her second win. Durango teammates Hannah Garvey and Ellie Mclean rode to 2nd and 4th with Animas rider Maddy Glotfelty 15 seconds ahead of Mclean for 3rd.

Draped in a Homecoming sash Varsity Legacy rider Ivan Sippy, Durango kept Sterling Shrader, Palisade, and Nathan Gangelhoff, Chatfield at bay. Lance Kutson, Montrose, and Ashton Lockhart, Chatfield battled for 4th and 5th. Jack Looten, Durango, and Jackson Karls, Salida fought up the steep sprint to the finish with the closest contest in the Varsity boys for 9th and 10th.

Hayden Bevington, Salida rode away with the JV Leader jersey. Julia Glotfelty, Animas, twin of Maddy was 2nd. Only 6 seconds separated Ciana Beller, Montrose kept Amelia Capozza, Salida at bay for 3rd and 4th. Only 1 point separates for overall 3rd and 4th Lily Leddington, Salida and Ciana Beller, Montrose.

Legacy senior Ash Brown, Montrose took 1st in JV then decided to upgrade to Varsity for the challenge of a longer race next weekend. Max Johnson, High Desert Composite was very happy with 2nd and is 4th overall only 3 points behind Orrin Bleth, Durango. Edward Ebright, Chatfield held onto the series lead placing 3rd. Durango teammates Bleth and Jacob Huber pushed one another for 4th and 5th in Snowmass. Places 8th through 10th was a battle to the finish between Calvin Swartz, Cherry Creek, Eoin Blackburn, Salida, and Sawyer Blakemore, Pagosa Springs.

JV Cherry Creek Senior Sawyer Greer stayed ahead of Connor Beck, Montrose by 9 seconds for 6th and 7th. Greer a team captain was recognized during the awards ceremony for lending his bike to sophomore Jacob Young, Buena Vista. Young's wheel cracked and placed 6th on the borrowed bike earning him 4th overall for the series.

Durango Sophomores filled 3 of the 5 top spots. Bryan Hastey took the gold, Liam Bezek went home with silver and the Leader jersey. Columbine welcomed teammate Colin Lanigan with a rousing cheer and human tunnel as he finished his race.

Freshman Scarlett Hardie, Grand Junction won and is in the lead overall. Neva Hines, Montrose, and Rylie Carr, Pagosa Springs rounding out the top three. Durango's Freshman boys squad included 3 of the top 5. Chase Connors, won and will be in the Leader jersey in Eagle. Teammates Kai Lokey and Emmet McManus placed 2nd and 5th. Henry Walsh, Chatfield, and Kolby Landen, Cherry Creek were 3rd and 4th. Walsh is 2nd overall and Tyler Dokson, San Luis Valley is in 5th overall.

Eagle Results - Yampa Region

Eagle Photos - Yampa Region

After two races, the large Division 1 school standings are the predictable Boulder High in first followed by Golden with particularly strong JV girls, freshmen Sage Hummon and Riley Huston. Separated by a mere 683 points are the perennially well-run tiger orange and black programs of 3rd place Summit and 4th place Lakewood.

Sibling programs VSSA and Eagle Valley held 1st and 2nd in Division 2 schools with Stargate Academy appearing in 3rd for perhaps the first time ever.

Small Division 3 schools were led by Estes Park, which has begun to produce consistent results for a few years now. Nederland, with graceful and professional Coach Alison Powers at the helm and miles and miles of steep chundery trails for training, is in second. Third place goes to Denver South. Only 15 points keeps Nederland ahead of Estes Park in the overall standings.

Chloe Fraser, Boulder left everyone behind her from the gun in the Varsity race. She finished the 3-lap race alone and composed at 1:23:28 and clocked the fastest lap time of the 105 female competitors. As usual, she then turned her focus to congratulating her competitors and teammates. Girls comprised a whopping 29% of the racers in the Yampa region.

Eagle Valley’s Zosia Skiba finished second and said “I’m always super happy to race here in Eagle. It is super exciting to get to compete on a course I know well and to be able to put in a strong effort resulting in a podium.” Rowan Ellis-Rissler of Boulder and Emma Barsness and Tianna Bruce of Vail Ski Snowboard Academy rounded out the top five.

Varsity racers, Lasse Konecny, Summit and Landen Stovall, Eagle Valley got a gap from the rest. During the second lap, Konecny attacked, Stovall followed, and then Konecny’s pedal unscrewed from its crank arm. Stovall kept the pace up and held his gap over the field to take the win saying “it’s always great getting to race at my home course and bringing home a win made it even better. I’m glad everyone got to come and see what Eagle has to offer.”

Konecny doubled back on foot on the course, found his pedal, hand tightened it back in place, rode to the start/finish, and willingly took a 5-minute penalty for accepting outside help in the form of an 8mm allen key to tighten the pedal. With his penalty, he ended up 7th on the day, clocked the fastest lap time, and is 4th overall.

Adam Mote, Golden took second with a steady, consistent ride and is the series leader. Sophomore Magnus White, Vin Hludzinski, and Beckett McVoy completed the top five in that order, all for Boulder High.

Golden teammates Sage Hummon and Riley Huston both 9th graders took 1st and 2nd with Hannah Berns, Boulder in 3rd among the 36 JV girls. A close race between Syndey Lewillng, Estes Park, and Keely Hendricks, VSSA for 4th and 5th. Boulder riders Delia Knierim, Klara Meymaris, and Penny Jensen pushed one another with 4 seconds between each for 16th, 17th, and 18th.

Konecny's younger brother Nico won JV boys and is the current leader. Reiner Schmidt, VSSA, and Aiden, Brown Eagle Valley placed 2nd and 3rd. Schmidt is holding of Graydon Abel, Boulder by 2 points in series points wtih only 1 point separating Eagle Valley teammates Brown and Ben Suttor.

A big showdown occurred between Caden Calcao, Boulder, Wilson Moyer, Lakewood, and Jonah Klearman, Eagle Valley as they were within hundredths of seconds for 20th through 22nd. Thanks to RaceRite for their precise timing.

Boulder Sophomores occupied 3 of the top 5 with Eli Deboom winning and earning a Leader jersey. Jude Schafer placed 4th and Henry Rapinz was 5th. Emil Kjellsen, Golden eeked past Sanley Buzek, Summit for 2nd and 3rd. Kjellsen and Schafer are 2nd and 3rd for the series.

Haydn Hludzinski, Boulder won her first Colorado League race in Sophomore girls. Evalynn Skiba, younger sister of Legacy Varsity racer Zosia placed 2nd and leads the series.

Golden's Freshman girls had a strong performance filling 3 of the top 5 spots.

Eagle Results - Platte Region

Eagle Photos - Platte Region

Applause to Spearfish for joining the League and making the long drive for their kids. The Colorado League welcomes its teams and friends from New Mexico, Wyoming, and, now, South Dakota.

Head Coach Andy Feeney and speedy Coach Steve Frank both of Fairview joked that miracles never cease and freshman boys racing would actually take place despite so many of them forget to bring something, for instance, their number plate. “A big part of freshman boys racing is teaching them, sometimes the hard way, to be organized,” said Feeney who has built a juggernaut of a team and an institution in the Boulder community.

Fairview, Rocky Mountain, Ralston Valley went one, two, three in the large Division I school standings. Heritage is only 454 points away in fourth with 9 females scoring for the team in race #2. Once again, Fairview and cross-town rival Boulder High are on a collision course for State Championships with Durango in the mix.

Steamboat, Monarch, East, Middle Park, and Centaurus comprise the Division II standings, all separated by only 749 points.

Places one through four in the small school Division III all come from other states with 7220 Laramie leading Kelly-Walsh and Natrona of Casper, Wyoming with Spearfish in 4th from South Dakota. Notable results from Spearfish include freshman boys Cayel Holmgren’s 5th place finish.

Isa Naschold of 7220 Laramie towed Keira Bond of Fairview around for two laps. Bond got around Naschold before the final descent and opened a small gap down the corkscrew of banked turns. Naschold countered on the flats before the finish line, closed the gap, and forced Bond to sprint to protect her lead and one-second win over the Wyomingite. Bond and Naschold will race for the overall regional leader as they are tied going into race #3. .

Characteristic of the League’s racing, the two caught their breath next to each other in the finish chute, smiled, and congratulated each other on a sporting race. Bond said “the race was very tactical. Isa and I know each other's strengths and weaknesses so well, and so whenever we're racing it's always really hard and really fun.”

Fairview Varsity girls filled up the remaining top five with Jorja Bond, Elise Harless, and Meera Khadakkar finishing in that order. In the overall standings, Naschold is the only rider not from Fairview in the top 5.

Fairview boys also took the top two spots in the Varsity race. Liam Baartman’s pace protected his first-row start position while shedding the three other first-row starters who fell off Baartman’s tempo. During the third lap, Fairview’s Vaughn Veenendaal came from a last row start position due to missing the time trial, caught Baartman, and pushed Baartman all the way to the finish line in a one-two finish separated by one second.

Baartman said “This race had a very difficult course to deal with... fast climbs and descents... you really had to be on your A-game. Teammate Vaughn and I battled it out on the last lap for first and second. Overall good racing with a fun course!”

Tristan Smith of 7220 Laramie took third, independent Kade Kreikemeier, and Andrew Morris of Rocky Mountain completed the top five. Kreikmeier clocked the fastest lap of the day at 23:49 and was only 4 seconds ahead of Morris. Overall Varsity standings include Baartman, Kreikemeier, and Smith.

JV female riders Ralston Valley, Madeline Harvey, and Independent Ella Kearney-Turner are tied for overall series points. Harvey won in Eagle followed by Kearney-Turner and Mary Alyce Collins, Rocky Mountain. Collins and Eliza Fay, 7220 Laramie are tied for 3rd overall.

JV boys Rocky Mountain teammates Cade Shortridge and Gunner Johnson earned gold and silver while Steamboat teammates Aidan Haack and Curtis Zanni battled for 3rd and 4th with 2 seconds between them. One of the closest sprints was between Mathew Ahrndt, Kelly Walsh, and Nico Persson, Fairview with 6 hundredths of a second separating 30th and 31st. Many competitors are neck in neck in the overall standings with 3 points between Fisk Johansson, Kelly Walsh, and Zanni of Steamboat. Tied for 19th are Gavin Pollock, Rocky Mountain, and Charley Appel, Ralston Valley.

In the Sophomore boys Luke Robinson, Fairview is in the lead for the series by 1 point with Brodie Morrison, Rocky Mountain in 2nd which is how they stacked up in Eagle. Morrison's teammates Cole McGinnis and Michael Delgadillo, II rounded out the top 4.

Gianna DeFazio, Fossil Ridge rode to 1st and is the overall Sophomore girls' leader. Emma Pearson, Kelly Walsh, and Annie Kuhns, Middle Park were 2nd and 3rd with only 6 seconds between Quinci Owen, Heritage, and Abigail Bensler, Monarch.

Fiona Gallagher, Fairview was victorious in the Freshman Girls while Jesse Weaver earned a silver and the Leader jersey. Carter Kirkpatrick, Fairview won Freshman boys and 1st overall. Rocky Mountain riders Jake McDill and Michael Griffiths were 3rd and 4th.

Racing resumes on October 9th and 10th with the North Regional Championships at the Granby Ranch Roundup and the South Regional Championships on Eagle’s Haymaker. After the southern divisions’ visit to Eagle’s Haymaker, results-reading-nerds can compare times in anticipation of State Championships at the Durango Mesa Pursuit on October 23rd and 24th. Full results can always be found at Colorado League Race Results.

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