Chris Baker

It was an all-state finish when Chris Baker, Conner Wilburn, and Marcus Rodholm raced to the finish of the 3A 1600. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Nick Deray, second from left, stunned a strong 3A 200 meter field. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Sarah Yocum had a very nice first day of her first state meet, with promises of more to come. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Coal Ridge holds a very strong hand, but things are far from settled among the ranks of 3A. Here's a quick glance at the strongest programs as State draws near.

Heather Waite won her second meet title in a row and set a new PR at 12-0.5 at her home track. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Bailey Hammer of Fruita Monument edges Moffat County's Ashlee Griffiths and Karmen Christopher to the finish line. Photo by David Pressgrove.

We take a stab at identifying the top teams in 3A boys.

When you can't run fast enough to keep the hair out of your face, that tells you something about the conditions. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Luke Duggan raced very well at state last year and returns as 1A's #2 ranked 1600 this spring. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

In a scene eerily reminiscent of recent years, Loveland's 4x100 dominates the field. Photo by Kim Salazar.

If you guessed this young man as the 5A returning runner with the best 3200 time, you are an astute student of Colorado distance. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Jacob Benson, Senior, Platte Canyon - 3A Boys Runner of the Year. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Sisters Natalie and Mae Anderson are an example of the most obvious key to success in 2A cross country. Photos by Alan Versaw.

Jacob Benson celebrates a hard-earned victory over Salida's Taylor Stack. Photo by Logan McCoy.

Job one for Chris Baker will be winning a team state title, but if things go well he may figure into the individual race as well. Photo by Ron Eberhard.

Elise Cranny wins the Rocky Mountain Shootout on Saturday. Photo by Rick Wilson.

Jeff Switzer and Russ Hall make Estes Park the only team with two returning medalists from last fall. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Jake Rogers and Josh Davis lead a dramatically improved Lamar team into the fall. Photo by Alan Versaw.

The Coal Ridge relays have been nothing short of special this spring. Photo by Michele Bisbee.

Daniel Lara finishes the 4x800 for Thompson Valley. The Eagles ran a very solid 8:22.99 to lay down the season's first gauntlet in that event. Photo by Kenny Regan.

Evergreen's Jackson Sayler was very close at the finish of last year's 4A state 800. "Very close" has a way of eating at you clear through the winter. Photo by Jeff McCoy.