Colorado Springs – If there is one thing we have learned over the years at the state cross country meet, it is to expect the unexpected.
But we should know better, especially when Smoky Hill is involved. Keara Sammons continued the Buffaloes’ run of dominance – with six of the past seven individual titles (four by Megan Kaltenbach) – by racing away from a deep field during the final mile to finish 23 seconds ahead of Rocky Mountain’s Ellie Rastall.
“I’ve been training for this moment all year,” said Sammons, a fourth-place finisher in 2004. “This is my last race, and I really wanted to do well.”
Heavily favored Rocky Mountain came up short in its search for its first state title, instead watching Fairview win its sixth team title, first since 2001, with three runners in the top 10.
With just less than 1,000 meters left to race, Sammons held a slim lead over Fort Collins’ Katie Follett, and it looked as though the two would duel to the finish line. But as they turned for home, Sammons was all alone and Follett was left far behind, having succumbed to dehydration.
“I just really wanted it, and I knew I would have to kick in really hard,” Sammons said.
Said Follett, who ended up finishing 159th: “I just don’t know. I was feeling excellent coming into this race, and I just don’t know what to say.”
Defending champion Molly Palmer of Coronado finished 13th, posting a time nearly 2 minutes slower than her championship time in 2004.
The team race began to take shape behind Sammons, when Rastall gave the Lobos the upper hand by sprinting past Fairview’s Meredith MacGregor over the final 200 yards to finish second. Teammate Danielle Parry was 10 seconds behind in fourth.
“Our team had a goal today, and I was trying to make sure that goal was met,” Rastall said.
Fairview countered with its most impressive run of the year; after MacGregor’s third-place finish, the Knights also had Morgan Stumb finish sixth, followed by Alexis Skarda in seventh. Sarah Cocco rounded out the Fairview quartet in 27th place.
“In reality, with a great day, we could finish second,” said Fairview coach Teri Cady, who is expecting her first child, a daughter, in three weeks. “But I told them, with an awesome day, there was no reason why we couldn’t win this. They all just ran perfectly.”
CLASS 5A GIRLS
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team scores – Fairview 96, Rocky Mountain 123, Cherry Creek 139, Dakota Ridge 144, Littleton 196, Smoky Hill 222, Heritage 238, Coronado 264, Fort Collins 267, Boulder 289, Chaparral 349, Durango 378, Bear Creek 379, Arapahoe 391, Monarch 400, Air Academy 419, Eaglecrest 429, Palmer 432, Lewis-Palmer 433, Loveland 483, Wheat Ridge 558, Lakewood 617.
Individuals – Keara Sammons, Smoky Hill, 18 minutes, 12.2 seconds; Ellie Rastall, Rocky Mountain, 18:35.2; Meredith MacGregor, Fairview, 18:37.5; Danielle Parry, Rocky Mountain, 18:45.8; Leigh Ann Ganzar, Littleton, 18:46.3; Morgan Stumb, Fairview, 18:48.2; Alexis Skarda, Fairview, 19:07.0; Laura Thweatt, Durango, 19:08.8; Alexa Rogers, Dakota Ridge, 19:09.5; Lisa Johnstone, Cherry Creek, 19:17.3; Natasha Rogers, Dakota Ridge, 19:18.5; Denise Kintzley, Poudre, 19:26.2; Molly Palmer, Coronado, 19:30.6; McKynzie Maher, Rocky Mountain, 19:31.2; Allison Gohl, Northglenn, 19:34.7; Kara Lubieniecki, Bear Creek, 19:39.5; Katie Monnet, Arapahoe, 19:40.2; Lynnea Sjoerdsma, Doherty, 19:40.5; Charlsey Gibson, Eaglecrest, 19:41.1; Paige Lillo, Dakota Ridge, 19:42.4.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denpost.com.
