Niwot junior Zane Bergen on Tuesday was named the Class 4A runner of the year by the Colorado High School Activities Association and his coach, Kelly Christensen, was named coach of the year for both the girls and boys cross country teams.
Bergen was joined on the All-State First Team by two senior Niwot teammates, Grayden Rauba, who finished fourth at the state finals Oct. 17 in Colorado Springs, and Curtis Volf, who finished seventh. Bergen won a dramatic race after colliding with another runner — who was later disqualified — near the finish line.
The Cougars’ boys and girls teams dominated and won their respective 2020 4A state titles by wide margins. Niwot freshman Mia Prok finished second in the girls finals, while sophomore Madison Shults finished ninth. Both underclassmen made the All-State First-Team.
Niwot junior Joey Hendershot and senior Joaquin Herrera made the All-State Second Team for the boys, while senior girls Lucca Fulkerson and Taylor James also made the second team after finishing in the top 20 on Oct. 17. The top-notch cross country program captured both 2019 state titles and a 2018 girls state championship as well.
The Lyons boys team almost ran off with a state title of its own last month after finishing just 4 seconds behind Heritage Christian Academy in the Class 2A finals. Sophomore Cole Thomas was Lyons’ top finisher and a All-State First-Team selection. Arjen Wyjna made the second team after finishing 15th at the finals.
In the Girls 2A finals, Lyons finished third as a team. Lyons junior Quinn Gregg and senior Hannah Thomas both cracked the top 10 and both made the 2A All-State First-Team.
