Chris Baker

At midway through the day on Friday's preliminaries, the Colorado contingent is already making a nice showing at the 35th annual edition of the Simplot Games.

Anthony Thomas and Jeff Switzer were two of three Patriot League runners on the 3A boys all-state first team. Photos by Karen McCoy/Paul Jaeger.

Garrett Coles rounds the turn at the creek crossing en route to a third-place individual finish. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Erich Hixson leads an enigmatic Holy Family team and just might also contend for the 3A individual title. Photo by Karl Fortney.

What figures to be unique about Jacob Adamson when the 3A state race runs on October 27? Read on and find out. Colorado Track XC file photo.

By the midway point of the race Erin Hooker had pulled even with Heather Bates and was applying the pressure to wrest the lead from Bates's hands. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Cerake Geberkidane is making a habit of leaving fields in his dust. This week it was the Arvada West Invite field. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Brush's Anthony Rios is one clear candidate to become the 2012 3A individual champion. Colorado Track XC file photo.

Ty Koenig paces an Alamosa team that could be very dangerous this fall as Coach Larry Zaragoza chases state title number seven. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Chibuikem Nwizu and Chris Baker give Frontier Academy a lot of punch up front. It's what happens at the next two scoring positions that will determine the Wolverines' fate this fall. Photos by Paul Jaeger.

Lutheran's Kendall Horan was one of several 2A girls who enjoyed a large measure of success this weekend. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Chyna Ries, shown here at last year's state meet, extended the national sophomore record for the indoor long jump by a little over four inches. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Evan Fortney took the lead early in the 3A boys race and never relinquished it. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Peak to Peak's ability to pack 'em up has more than a few regional rivals concerned. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Anthony Rios and Victoria Milano bring a lot of state experience and savvy back for the Brush Beetdiggers. Colorado Track XC file photos.