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Leading the pack: Top Fort Collins-area cross country runners to watch this fall

Chris Abshire, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·6 min read

Fort Collins is a city of champions in cross country.

Last year's showing at the Colorado high school state meet was the latest shining example.

Three local athletes won 2022 state titles: Heritage Christian's Jack Nauman (2A boys), Liberty Common's Isabel Allori (3A girls) and Fort Collins' Christian Groendyk (5A boys).

Overall, Fort Collins-area schools have won 24 cross country team titles in the past 30 years.

Race season kicks off this weekend with local action at Rocky Mountain's Lobo Invite and stays in town next weekend for Fort Collins' John Martin Invitational.

Here are 15 cross country runners to watch for the fall 2023 high school season:

Isabel Allori, Liberty Common

Liberty Common High School's Isabel Allori crosses the finish line with the time of 17:10.3 to win the girls Class 3A cross country championships at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
Liberty Common High School's Isabel Allori crosses the finish line with the time of 17:10.3 to win the girls Class 3A cross country championships at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

It's only natural to start with the defending champ.

Allori is simply as good as it gets at this level, turning in a dominant unbeaten season before winning the Class 3A girls crown by more than a minute last fall with a time of 17 minutes, 10 seconds. She was the favorite to pull off the 3A distance title sweep in the spring track and field championships before an injury kept her out.

If healthy, the senior has a great chance to win a second straight state championship and be among the best girls runners in Colorado, regardless of class.

Tatum Berg, Fossil Ridge

Fossil Ridge High School's Tatum Berg competes in the Class 5A girls 3200-meter run in the Colorado state track championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, Colo., on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Fossil Ridge High School's Tatum Berg competes in the Class 5A girls 3200-meter run in the Colorado state track championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, Colo., on Thursday, May 19, 2022.

Berg has arguably been the best local 5A girls runner for two years running now. Expect that to continue this fall for a SaberCats team that enters the season ranked No. 8.

The junior already set a new Fossil Ridge girls record last year (17:50), placed 14th at state, and took runner-up honors at both the league and regional meets en route to 5A second team all-state honors.

Mikaela Kendall, Heritage Christian

Heritage Christian's Mikaela Kendall crosses the finish line during the Class 2A girls 3,200-meter race at the Colorado high school track and field state meet at Jeffco Stadium on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Lakewood, Colo. Kendall placed first.
Heritage Christian's Mikaela Kendall crosses the finish line during the Class 2A girls 3,200-meter race at the Colorado high school track and field state meet at Jeffco Stadium on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Lakewood, Colo. Kendall placed first.

Kendall is coming off a big freshman season that saw her win the 2A girls 2-mile title in the spring, while also placing fourth at the state cross country meet with a league title and runner-up regional spot. That landed her on the 2A girls first team all-state squad.

It's very possible the sophomore is the latest star runner for a proud Eagles program, as she'll aim to match her track championship with a cross country one this fall.

Delaney Johns, Fort Collins

This name should sound familiar in the running community. Delaney is younger sister to recently graduted Ella Johns, a Lambkins standout for four seasons.

She already showed major flashes as a freshman last season, posting four top-10 varsity finishes and placing second to Ella at the Longs Peak Invitational. If Johns makes a big jump as a sophomore, look out.

Carter Brazelton, Fossil Ridge

Rocky Mountain High School's Walter Hansen and Fossil Ridge's Carter Brazelton set the pace early in their heat of the boys 1,600 meters at the Runners Roost Invitational on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at French Field in Fort Collins, Colo. Hansen won the heat.
Rocky Mountain High School's Walter Hansen and Fossil Ridge's Carter Brazelton set the pace early in their heat of the boys 1,600 meters at the Runners Roost Invitational on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at French Field in Fort Collins, Colo. Hansen won the heat.

The junior will be the top returning runner for a steady Fossil Ridge squad that finished third at regionals last year but lost three seniors.

Brazelton should threaten to break the 16-minute mark this year after a season-best 16:05 time last year, which had him just 30 seconds off Cy Tereul's school-record time. Expect him to rack up top-5 finishes this fall.

Lindsey Kaines, Rocky Mountain

Rocky Mountain High School's Lindsey Kaines warms up before racing in the girls Class 5A cross country state finals at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
Rocky Mountain High School's Lindsey Kaines warms up before racing in the girls Class 5A cross country state finals at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Kaines has been an ultra-consistent performer for Rocky on the track and in cross country.

The junior is coming off a strong 2022 fall campaign that featured five top-10 race finishes and a season-best time under 19 minutes, where she'll hope to live more this season. Kaines plus fellow runners Taylor Slausen and Ella Rivera will lead the Lobos this year.

Leo Cole, Fort Collins

Fort Collins boys cross country runner Leo Cole competes in the 5A boys state meet at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Colorado Springs.
Fort Collins boys cross country runner Leo Cole competes in the 5A boys state meet at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Colorado Springs.

No local school has a greater running tradition than Fort Collins, and the boys squad enters the season ranked No. 9 in the CHSAA 5A rankings.

Cole will likely be the Lambkins' leader after top-10 regional and league finishes with multiple season-best times under the 16-minute mark. Expect Cole and Fort Collins to contend for some titles this year.

Leah McDonald, Poudre

McDonald is one of Poudre's top returning trio with Autumn McCorkel and Shirley Weaver after the team earned its first team state berth in 12 years last fall.

The junior finished 13th at regionals and 15th at the prestigious Liberty Bell Invitational last year and took home All-American honors with Weaver in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the AAU Junior Olympics over the summer.

She could pace Poudre to its first consecutive girls state appearances since the Impalas won three straight state titles from 1993-95.

Juliana Lundy, Heritage Christian

Heritage Christian Academy's Juliana Lundy catches her breath after running in the girls Class 2A cross country state finals at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
Heritage Christian Academy's Juliana Lundy catches her breath after running in the girls Class 2A cross country state finals at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

Lundy can absolutely hang with the Eagles' dynamic sophomore trio of Kendall, Sadie Robinson and Faith Lee that has Heritage Christian at No. 1 in the 2A girls preseason rankings.

The senior took third at regionals and second in the league meet last season while placing 16th at state, good enough for honorable mention 2A all-state recognition.

Emily Bakke, Timnath

Bakke is already part of history, competing on Timnath's 4x800 track and field unit that won the 2A title last spring, the first in the new school's history in any sport.

The sophomore finished 30th at the 3A state meet last season, landing her all-state honorable mention distinction to go along with second team all-state and all-region honors.

She'll be an anchor along with Addison Geraets and Izzy Schimmelpfennig for a Timnath squad that coach Matt Miltenberg believes can be in contention for a 3A state championship.

Amelia Harkey, Liberty Common

Liberty Common runners Amelia Harkey (371) and Ali Gomez (351) during the state meet at Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.
Liberty Common runners Amelia Harkey (371) and Ali Gomez (351) during the state meet at Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.

Harkey will form a powerful one-two punch with Allori this fall for a Liberty Common girls squad that enters the season at No. 4 in CHSAA's 3A rankings.

The senior already posted top-five finishes in regional and league meets last fall before a 17th-place finish at state earned Harkey all-state honorable mention notice. Expect her to be an all-state performer this season.

Alistair Clark, Rocky Mountain

Rocky Mountain High School cross country runner Alistair Clark competes in the 5A boys state meet at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Colorado Springs. The Lobos finished sixth as a team.
Rocky Mountain High School cross country runner Alistair Clark competes in the 5A boys state meet at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Colorado Springs. The Lobos finished sixth as a team.

The Lobos have several solid runners on the boys side, as Clark will join forces with Tyson Bhalla and Chet Gorman.

The senior Clark placed among the top 20 at league and regional meets in 2022, to go along with three other top-10 finishes and a season-best time right at 16 minutes.

Mia Williams, Fossil Ridge

Fossil Ridge High School's Mia Williams, center, competes in the girls 1600-meter race during the Jack Christiansen Track meet at Colorado State University's Jack Christiansen Memorial Track in Fort Collins on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
Fossil Ridge High School's Mia Williams, center, competes in the girls 1600-meter race during the Jack Christiansen Track meet at Colorado State University's Jack Christiansen Memorial Track in Fort Collins on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Williams set multiple individual and relay records for Fossil's standout girls track team in the spring.

The junior was among the top six finishers at both league and regional events last fall, posting a season-best of 18:34 in the Front Range League championships. The SaberCats will need Williams, Alaire Serell, Delaney Voronin and Samantha Geraeats to be consistent high performers to contend for a top spot at state.

Cole Mazurana, Windsor

The junior is Windsor's top returning runner for a team looking to improve on its standing from last season.

It will likely start with Mazurana, who consistently broke the 17-minute mark last season and took home top-10 finishes for Windsor at league and regional meets in 2022.

Ian/Owen Molgaard, Heritage Christian

Heritage Christian enters the season at No. 6 in CHSAA's 2A rankings but lack established state contenders like departed seniors Jack Nauman and Ryan O'Loughlin.

Expect this pair of sophomore brothers to stand out quickly. The duo each posted top-20 regional and league meet finishes last fall and could become major contenders this year.

Bonus names to watch:

  • Elyse McGinnis, Fort Collins

  • Faith Lee, Heritage Christian

  • Caleb Menard, Wellington

  • Kellin Wilson, Poudre

  • Cadel Ruthven, Fort Collins

  • Addison Geraets, Timnath

  • Seth Foltz, Liberty Common

  • Eden Baatz, Windsor

  • Sadie Robinson, Heritage Christian

  • Jackie Trammel, Wellington

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado cross country: Top Fort Collins-area runners to watch in 2023