We are racing at Royal Gorge instead of Dave Sanders this year.

2024 results

This was a very encouraging performance. It was a hot day after a hard week of training, with the three girls and three boys who raced at Roy Griak last week doing a training session in the morning and sitting out the race. It was a great opportunity to see how we could compete short-handed. The answer was, even missing several of our top runners, we can compete at a high level.

Quite amazingly, the girls placed 8th out of 50 and the boys 4th out of 52 teams, including a lot of 5A teams, without three and four each of our top runners. Several top 5A teams didn't run their top varsity, but this was still an excellent showing. It highlights again, and reiterates my emphasis, on the importance of team depth, and how a team isn't good without strong runners in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and deeper positions, all the way into JV.

For the girls, Milla and Sophie lead the way, with Milla off the front until Sophie caught her in the last mile. Ashley and Paige were close behind with Cece closing off our scoring. Lukas got out quickest in the first half mile and held off rapidly closing Johnny. Owen and Carter worked together for a strong 3, 4. Levi moved up dozens of positions after being held up a bit at the start of the race as the course pinched.

Despite the hot conditions, and a course that while not super difficult is certainly slower than Liberty Bell, four runners ran faster than at Liberty Bell and several others were close - showing improved fitness and racing acumen in the ensuing two weeks.

Compared to Liberty Bell:

• Milla: -10 seconds

• Lila: -22 seconds

• Anna: +32 seconds

• Marin: +35 seconds

• Danny: -21 seconds

• Mason R: -7 seconds

• Lukas: +3 seconds

• Levi: +4 seconds

• Carter: +26 seconds

• Bodhi: +26 seconds

• Max: +19 seconds

• Thomas: +20 seconds

The quality of our performance is further revealed in our updated Dave Sanders performance list.

Lukas, Johnny, Owen, Carter and Levi now make up five of the top eight times Summit has EVER run at Dave Sanders. That's a junior, three sophomores and a freshman. Ten 2024 team members broke into the top 19, 14 in the top 27.

For the girls, Sophie, Milla, Ashley, Paige and Cece now hold positions 3-7 on the Dave Sanders top performances list. 9 girls ran into the top 17 positions on the list. The 2024 girls were one spot away from ALL of them being in the top half ever at Dave Sanders.

The excellence of our entire team is also highlighted by the boys JV team, which contained ALL of our remaining runners, placing 11th.

Aggression Awards go to Jens and Mason M, who led the JV heat for the first quarter mile. Jens and Mason participate in a lot of clubs, and hence miss a lot of practices. That doesn't prevent them from having the mental strength to push themselves hard. I often wonder just how good they would be if they practiced full-time.

I also want to highlight and commend Zane and Kabir on their first high school races. Both are new to cross country. When I asked Zane the first week of school if he liked running, he bluntly and truthfully said "No!" I think I detect he and Kabir now appreciate some of the rewards of running and self-development.

Looking Forward: The 4A Holy Family girls had their best performance of the year. Even with Ella, Avery and Lily racing, I think they would have beaten us. We will face a very strong challenge from Holy Family at State. Until Dave Sanders, I placed them about sixth in the State, not seriously challenging us. Now I have to completely adjust that view.

The good news is that we get to race them head to head Friday at the Summit Stinger. On our challenging "home course", at altitude and surely in cooler temperatures, we need to make a statement and beat them. We also get to go against 5A Heritage, who placed second at Dave Sanders (behind #1 in the nation Mountain Vista) with the 1st and 2nd place runners.

Our boys 5th place runner was faster than all but two others schools. Our 5th was ahead of 3rd place Heritage. With Josh, Jay, Will and Cain racing, we have strong potential to win our home meet. 

Top SHS Times at Dave Sanders

WHEN:  Friday, 27 September 2024

WHERE: Clement Park, Littleton CO

The course is mostly flat and mostly on grass. The bike path around the lake is concrete.

PARKING: Clement Park has limited parking for spectators and parents. A large part of the parking lot will be designated for bus parking. If spectators cannot find parking spots at Clement Park, they are welcome to park at Columbine High School which is located just south of the park. The walk is minimal, less than half a mile. All parking at Clement Park and Columbine High School is free. Please only park in designated parking spots!

TRANSPORTATION: Depart SHS at 11:45. 90 minute drive time. We will depart the race following the D1 JV races (and cool downs). Because of the homecoming game, we will likely NOT stop for food, so bring post-race nutrition. 

RACE TIMES: (We are D1 this year, racing mostly 5A teams. In 2022 we were D2.)

3:00 – D1 Varsity Boys – Run 10, Score 5
3:05 – D1 Varsity Girls – Run 10, Score 5
3:40 – D2 Varsity Boys – Run 10, Score 5
3:45 – D2 Varsity Girls – Run 10, Score 5
4:20 – D1 JV Boys – Run 10, Score 5
4:25 – D1 JV Girls – Run 10, Score 5
5:00 – D2 JV Boys – Run Unlimited, Score 5 

5:05 – D2 JV Girls – Run Unlimited, Score 5 

5:40 – D1 Open Boys – Run Unlimited, Score 5 

5:45 – D1 Open Girls – Run Unlimited, Score 5 

6:20 – Team Trophy Presentation

AWARDS:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place team trophies will be awarded to the varsity divisions. The top 10 individuals in each race will receive Top 10 T-shirts. Top 3 individuals will also receive a Hoka backpack.

ENTRIES:

By this point in the season, you can review the list of entered runners and see where you stand and who has run times close to yours. Review that list and visualize competing with those who are listed slightly ahead of you. Make the goal and determination before the race to compete with, and beat, runners who have run faster than you. This will help tremendously to give you focus for the race and to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

LIVE RESULTS: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/171639

Map to Clement Park

Race Review

It was a bit on the warm side for us highlanders, but you shook it off and didn't let it adversely affect you. Your racing was very strong.

Individually, kudos go to Lauren for her 6th place finish and Josh for his 7th place. Josh moved into first place on the all time SHS performance list at Dave Sanders, 3 seconds ahead of Max Bonenberger. Lauren just missed moving into first place by an equal 3 seconds. Darby ran to the 4th spot. Amazingly, all six girls finished in the top half of the SHS all-time Dave Sanders list!

In terms of improvement, special mention goes to Chloe who has improved by almost 8 minutes over Battle Mountain and was within 32 seconds of her Liberty Bell time. That's tremendous. This course ran slightly slower than St. Vrain for most, but Logan managed a fine 39 second improvement. Lauren and Claire were also very close to their St. Vrain times, which shows continued improvement. Niamh, Claire, Logan and Chloe did a great job of pushing each other and staying close together.

For the boys, Bryce showed a big 2:08 improvement over last year and Liam improved by a nice 35 seconds. Two boys actually ran faster than St. Vrain with Bryce again leading the way with a 1:45 improvement and Donovan running 1:02 faster! Roan ran just 10 seconds slower than St. Vrain.

Despite not running near full strength, the boys placed 13th of 21 teams and the girls finished 14th of 17. It was very heartening to see all of you step up and perform well at the varsity level. We are gradually building more depth and runners who can step in to fill the crucial 4th through 7th positions on the varsity when needed. Despite the heat, you raced with great grit and spirit and were wonderful supporting each other. Well done!

9/24/22: Summit cross-country places 13th and 14th at Dave Sanders Invitational

WHEN:  Friday, 23 September 2022

WHERE: Clement Park, Littleton CO

The course is flat and nearly 100% on grass.

Clement Park has limited parking for spectators and parents. A large part of the parking lot will be designated for bus parking. If spectators cannot find parking spots at Clement Park they are welcome to park at Columbine High School which is located just south of the park. The walk is minimal, less than half a mile. All parking at Clement Park and Columbine High School is free. Please only park in designated parking spots!

TRANSPORTATION: Subject to change - 12:15 release from classes, 12:30 depart. 90 minute drive time. Estimated return at 7:30.

OUR RACE TIMES: (We don't yet know if we are D1 or D2. Last year we were D2.)

3:00 - D1 Varsity Boys - Run 10, Score 5

3:05 - D1 Varsity Girls - Run 10, Score 5

3:40 - D2 Varsity Boys - Run 10, Score 5

3:45 - D2 Varsity Girls - Run 10, Score 5

4:20 - D1 Open Boys B Team - Run 10, Score 5

4:25 - D1 Open Girls B Team - Run 10, Score 5

5:00 - D2 Open Boys - Run Unlimited, Score 5

5:05 - D2 Open Girls - Run Unlimited, Score 5

5:40 - D1 Open Boys C Team - Run Unlimited, Score 5

5:45 - D1 Open Girls C Team - Run Unlimited, Score 5

6:20 - Presentation of Awards

SHS RUNNERS:

Most of the upperclassmen/experienced varsity runners will "sit" this race as a break from four straight races. Freshmen and JV runners will race as gaining experience is very valuable for younger runners.

Girls Varsity

Lauren McCalla 9

Darby Leffler 9

Claire Jackson 9

Niamh Nelson 10

Logan Reid 12

Paige Wescott 12

Girls Open

Chloe Davis 12

Maisy Cook 12

Girls Resting

Ella Hagen 10

Adaline Avery 11

Avery Eytel 10

Cecelia Miner 10

Boys Varsity

Josh Shriver 10

Carter Niemkiewicz 9

Cain Steinweg 9

Gavin Benedict 9

Roan Varbel 11

Memphis Thwaites 12

Liam Dalzell 12

Bryce Oppito 10

Donovan Ramey 9

Boys Open

Kai Serafini 10

Lyrik Montgomery 9

Boys Resting

Dom Remeikis 12

Zach McBride 12

Landon Cunningham 12

2021 Dave Sanders Results, Stories and Photos

2021 Entries