GIRLS
ELISE CRANNY, Niwot cross country — The Niwot junior turned in one of the most memorable finishes ever at the state cross country championships en route to winning the Class 4A title. Cranny came roaring back against Air Academy freshman Katie Rainsberger down the stretch, finally overtaking Rainsberger just steps in front of the tape. Cranny finished with a winning time of 18 minutes, 43.36 seconds, edging Rainsberger by only one-tenth of a second to capture the first individual state cross country championship in school history.
BOYS
PAUL ROBERTS, Lyons cross country — The freshman sensation capped a remarkable season by winning the Class 2A state cross championship. The younger brother of 2007 3A state champion Andrew Roberts, the Lyons’ rookie wrote a new chapter in the family history book by completing the course at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs with a winning time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds, outpacing runner-up Jake Erickson of Peyton by almost 40 full seconds. Roberts also led a Lyons contingent that landed three runners in the top 10, giving the Lions their first cross country team state title.
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