On a day when mud caked the majority runners as they crossed the finish line, Kaitie Vanatta was squeaky clean on her way to another Class 4A girls state cross country title.
The Ralston Valley sophomore defended her crown with a time of 18 minutes, 14.95 seconds. Despite the sloppy course conditions Saturday, Oct. 28, at El Pomar Youth Sports Complex in Colorado Springs, Vanatta’s time was five seconds faster than last year.
Vanatta was well ahead of the field when she crossed the finish line. Pueblo Centennial’s Lauren Dorsey-Spitz finished second, a full 1:12 behind the two-time state champion.
“My main concern was the mud and conditions,” Vanatta said. “Everyone ran on the mud. We all had to deal with it.”
Not only did Vanatta smoke the field in 4A, but her time was the best in any of the three girls classifications. Vanatta remains undefeated in all cross country races that she has run.
The start of the 4A state championship race didn’t feature Vanatta getting off to a commanding lead. A few girls were ahead of Vanatta after the first 100 meters.
“At the start I just went out to see how I felt,” Vanatta said. “If there were girls ahead of me that was OK. I felt fine and confident that I could keep running my race.”
On top of winning two state track titles last spring and claiming the 3,200-meter run at the Adidas Golden West Invitational in California over the summer, Vanatta will make her first appearance at the Nike Foot Locker Midwest Regional on Nov. 25 in Kenosha, Wis.
Her older brother, Ralston Valley senior Kurt Vanatta who placed fourth in the 4A boys’ race at the state championships, will join her in the national championship qualifier.
“I never really worry about my sister too much. If we were matched together I know I’d win,” Kurt said with a smile. “I don’t worry about her at all.”
Bear Creek senior Kara Lubieniecki had the best finish from Bear Creek, Green Mountain, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, who all qualified their entire squads for state. Lubieniecki placed 14th with a time of 19:55.9.
“It was rough out there, but that is what cross country is all about,” Lubieniecki said. “I’m pretty satisfied with it. I would have liked to do better, but everyone would.”
Lubieniecki pulled off a rare feat of placing in the top 35 of the state championships in each of her four years. She placed 35th as a freshman and sophomore and 16th her junior season.
D’Evelyn senior Erin Brunko was hoping to improve on her 10th place finish last year at state, but slipped finishing 37th in the 4A race.
“It was really wet and sloppy,” Brunko said. “I didn’t have such a good race today, but it’s just one race.”
Jeffco finishers
Class 5A girls
Green Mountain – 17th
Elle Killingsworth, freshman, 55th
Renuka Jain, sophomore, 58th
Kelsey Lillich, junior, 65th
Andi Carpenter, freshman, 97th
Paige Williams, freshman, 107th
Lakewood — 18th
Haley Johnson, freshman, 20th
Ola Czastkiewicz, sophomore, 29th
Anastacia Begej, senior, 111th
Monica Acosta, senior, 120th
Kara Faktor, freshman, 147th
Bear Creek – 19th
Kara Lubieniecki, senior, 14th
Laine Thomas, senior, 84th
Sonja Nelson, senior, 101st
Missy Huckaby, senior, 114th
Jenna Lubieniecki, sophomore, 117th
Wheat Ridge – 22nd
Paige Polesovsky, junior, 110th
Jenee Naples, junior, 140th
Erica Boyles, sophomore, 143rd
Silvana Del Piccolo, junior, 146th
Elle Ossello, sophomore, 155th
Class 4A girls
Kaitie Vanatta, Ralston Valley sophomore, 1st
Rachel Hebbard, Golden freshman, 84th
D’Evelyn – 20th
Erin Brunko, senior, 37th
Jo-Anne Glynn, sophomore, 64th
Bri Fowler, senior, 111th
Eryn Becker, senior, 133rd
Krystal Pittman, sophomore, 134th
Class 3A girls
Jordan Caldwell, Faith Christian junior, 100th