In an electrifying Niwot Dominates race at the 5A Boys State Cross Country Championship, Mountain Vista’s Benjamin Anderson achieved an unforgettable victory on Saturday. Competing on the challenging course at Norris Penrose Event Center, the senior adopted an unplanned strategy that ultimately led to an incredible finish, crossing the line in 15 minutes, 9.5 seconds. This time not only secured his state championship title but also broke the previous course record of 15:10.4 set by former Cherry Creek standout and University of North Carolina runner Parker Wolfe in 2020.
Reflecting on his victory, Anderson expressed pride in surpassing a record held by Wolfe, one of the NCAA’s top athletes. “It’s super special,” Anderson said. “The goal was to attack that record, and having it held by someone like Parker made it even more meaningful.” Anderson’s teammate, sophomore Benjamin Adams, also delivered a strong performance, securing second place and helping Mountain Vista finish fifth overall. “I’m super pumped, especially finishing 1-2 with one of my best friends behind me,” added Anderson, who was last year’s runner-up. Their combined effort capped a memorable season for the Golden Eagles.
Niwot Dominates Shines in 5A Debut
Niwot High School, making its debut in the 5A division after moving up from 4A, quickly proved its mettle by clinching the team state championship. The Cougars’ dominant performance included placing four runners in the top 12, totaling a score of 44 points and marking them as the fourth unique 5A team champion in the past four seasons. Niwot Dominates coach Kelly Christensen praised his team’s focus and commitment, noting that while his athletes enjoy their time together, they become intensely competitive on the course.
Junior Ryder Keeton led the team with a fourth-place finish in 15:32.3, closely followed by junior Hunter Robbie in sixth and Gabriel Marshall in eighth. Senior Keegan Golden secured 12th, while seniors Cole Mazurana and sophomore Quinn Sullivan’s 25th and 26th-place finishes solidified the victory. “To have that many guys in the top 12 and know we can still run better is a great place to be,” Christensen said, adding that the team’s journey to 5A success has exceeded expectations.
Top Competitors and Team Standings
Niwot’s triumph serves as an excellent benchmark for the team as they prepare for national competitions in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Valor Christian High School finished second with 87 points, improving their position by two spots from the previous year. Senior Kaeden Dendorfer led the Valor squad with a fifth-place individual finish, helping to bolster their overall standing. Castle View High School placed third with a score of 121.
Other notable performances included ThunderRidge’s Ben Lee, who finished third individually with a time of 15:29.7, and Castle View’s Evan Dann in seventh. Grandview’s Colton White rounded out the top 10. Niwot’s success, coupled with standout performances from individual runners, highlighted an intense and competitive race that underscored the resilience and skill of Colorado’s top high school cross-country athletes. The race served as a culmination of a season marked by team spirit, personal records, and preparations for further national challenges ahead.
