May 19th 2024.
In the world of girls distance running, Colorado has established itself as the leader of the pack. To demonstrate this, one need only look at the impressive results from the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals last November, where four local runners finished in the top ten. Niwot's Addison Ritzenhein took the number one spot, followed by Air Academy's Bethany Michalak in second, Liberty Common's Isabel Allori in fourth, and Summit's Ella Hagen in tenth. Even more impressive, three local teams - Niwot, Air Academy, and Mountain Vista - took the top spots in the team standings. As Allori exclaimed with a laugh, it was like Colorado beating the entire country. "That was awesome," she said. "We dominated together and showcased the amazing distance talent this state has to offer."
Allori, who competes for Liberty Common, knows a thing or two about talent. She recently set a state record in the 3,200 meters and swept the 3A crowns in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200-meter races at the CHSAA state track meet. But she's just the latest in a long line of nationally renowned runners from the Centennial State. Names like Elise Cranny, Katie Rainsberger, Bri Oakley, Riley Stewart, and Emma Stutzman have all made a name for themselves on the national stage, starting in 2014. Liberty Common's distance coach, Rory Schulte, believes that this trend is solidifying Colorado's reputation as the producer of the best girls distance runners in the country, especially over the past decade. "There's been a culture shift," he explains. "Obviously, Colorado is a great place to run, and the elevation certainly plays a role. But it was the days of Elise Cranny and Katie Rainsberger that really jump-started everything. People started to see that women's distance running in Colorado could be taken to a whole new level. Girls have been attacking record marks and beating them after seeing what others have done."
This year's CHSAA state track meet at Jeffco Stadium was no exception. Ritzenhein, a sophomore sensation with an NIL deal already under her belt, took home the 4A 3200-meter title and beat out Hagen and a host of other runners to claim the 1,600-meter crown. She's already on her way to becoming one of Colorado's all-time greats. "I just want to keep progressing from where I am now," she says. "Keep defending my state titles, maybe get another national title, get a lot of PRs, and most importantly, just keep enjoying the sport."
Allori, a senior committed to Notre Dame, also had an impressive showing at the state meet. She set a state record in the 3,200 meters and swept the 800, 1,600, and 3,200-meter races in the 3A division, setting meet records in each event. Her performance was just one of many indicators that back up Schulte's claim that Colorado is producing the best girls distance runners in the country. For instance, this year saw a record-breaking 25 Colorado girls breaking the 11-minute mark in the 3,200 meters before the state meet. That's compared to just 17 last year. "This is definitely the fastest year ever, probably across the board, but certainly in the girls two-mile," Schulte says. "In 5A, you had to run 11 minutes flat or faster just to qualify for the state meet. It wasn't that long ago when 11 flat would win the state meet. For example, in 2010, there were only two girls who were under 11 minutes."
Michalak, who competes for Air Academy, took home titles in the 5A 1,600 and 3,200-meter races at the state meet, solidifying her return to the top of the podium after winning the 4A 1,600 as a freshman. Hagen, who was battling illness during the state meet, still managed to take third in the 3,200 meters and finish just 17 seconds behind Ritzenhein in the 1,600 meters. These four runners have formed a close bond through their experiences together at out-of-state meets. As Hagen puts it, "The other three inspire me to be the best version of myself. They're some of my closest friends, and competing with them makes me a better athlete."
Allori adds, "When we go to these big out-of-state races, we work together while we're in the race. We follow each other. There's a competitive bond between us because I think we all know how special it is to be part of an elite group that gets to run together on the biggest stages, even though we're in different classifications in Colorado."
But what sets Colorado apart when it comes to producing such amazing girls distance runners? According to Hagen, it's more than just the elevation and the legacy of past runners driving current ones. She argues that Colorado's fickle weather - from cold conditions to the middle of hot and dry summers - is what incubates gritty distance champions. "Running here in Colorado teaches you to be tough, to be strong," she says. "The conditions aren't always easy, and you have to be strong to really compete in this state and be elite. Training in these tough conditions makes racing a lot more fun because when talented runners learn how to deal with them and then get to compete in normal conditions, the times can be pretty amazing."
In conclusion, it's clear that Colorado is the queen of girls distance running. With a long list of nationally renowned runners, including the latest wave of talent like Ritzenhein, Michalak, Allori, and Hagen, the state is solidifying its reputation as the producer of the best girls distance runners in the country. And as long as the culture of hard work, determination, and grit continues to thrive, there's no doubt that Colorado will continue to reign supreme in the world of girls distance running.
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