Niwot's Cross Country Powerhouse: Can They Rule Again?

Boys' Team and Addy Ritzenhein Lead the Charge

Niwot's cross country teams are no strangers to victory. The boys' team and standout runner Addy Ritzenhein are aiming to secure their third consecutive state titles this weekend.

• Boys' Team: Ranked number one in the country.
• Recent Performance: Nearly flawless at the regional meet, with all five scoring runners placing in the top six.
• Addy Ritzenhein: Dominated the girls' race, winning by over a minute.

A Dominant Force Since 2018

The Cougars have been a force to be reckoned with since 2018, winning at least one cross country title every year. This year, they are entering the state championships as one of the most dominant teams in recent memory.

• Boys' Team:
• Won the 5A meet last year in their first season in the state's largest classification.
• Projected to finish 1-2-3 with Boulder and Erie in Saturday's race.
• Girls' Team:
• Addy Ritzenhein set the course record at Norris Penrose last year.
• Won the individual 5A title in 16:54.62.
• This season, her fastest time came at the regional meet, matching that record.

Other Notable Performances

• Mead's Josh Knight and Ava Mierau:
• Won individual titles at 4A Region 3.
• Knight: Ran 15:56.84, beating his competitors by over 15 seconds each.
• Mierau: Beat the regional runner-up by nine seconds.
• Holy Family's Girls:
• Returning to the state meet after placing fourth last year.

Race Schedule for Saturday

• 9 a.m.: 5A boys
• Followed by: 2A girls, 5A girls, 2A boys, Unified, 4A girls, 3A boys, 4A boys, 3A girls

With so many strong teams and individual runners, it's sure to be an exciting day of competition.