Chatfield and Dakota Ridge grab team titles at 5A Jeffco League XC Championships

ARVADA — Pomona sophomore Emma Stutzman added to her growing resume Friday afternoon during the Class 5A Jeffco League Cross Country Championships.

Stutzman easily cruised to the girls individual title with a time of 18 minutes, 57.7 seconds on the grounds of the Standley Lake Basketball Barn near Stoney Creek Golf Course in north Arvada.

Chatfield freshman Reese Tucker helped the Chargers bring home the 5A Jeffco League girls team title. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics

“It means a lot because last year I came in third and blew the finish a little bit,” said Stutzman, who broke the school cross country record at Pomona earlier this season. “It feels really good to be able to win this one.”

The sophomore didn’t mind the several surface changes and uneven ground of the new course that hosted the 4A Jeffco League championships the day before.

“It was good. It’s a nice course. It was kind of lonely, but you just got to work with you got,” said Stutzman, who’s time was nearly 40 seconds faster that second-place. “It hits home a little bit. I train a lot in the mountains. It was nice to have a similar surface and not have a concrete course.”

Chatfield grabbed the team title with 55 points. Freshmen Reese Tucker (2nd) and Aspen Webb (4th) led the Chargers to the team victory.

Now it’s onto regionals next week. Stutzman and the Panthers will head to Monarch High School for the 5A Region 3 meet on Thursday, Oct. 8.

“It’s definitely to win regionals,” Stutzman said of her goal next week.

Dakota Ridge senior Jacob White is alone as he nears the finish-line during the 5A Jeffco League XC Championships on Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics

On the boys side, Dakota Ridge senior Jacob White continued his winning ways. The three-time state placer grabbed his first individual conference title with a time of 15:52.1.

“I just ran,” said White, who was all by himself for the majority of the race defeating the rest of the field by nearly a minute. “I feel ready for regionals.”

Dakota Ridge grabbed it third straight 5A Jeffco team title with four runners — White, Ethan Straub, Chance Heisler and Silas Thompson — all finishing in the Top-10. Ralston Valley boys finished second with seniors James Ramey (2nd) and Jack Donze (4th) leading the way for the Mustangs.

White is looking forward the facing some tough competition at the 5A Region 1 meet Friday, Oct. 9, at Clement Park. Mountain Vista senior Harrison Witt will give White a good gage of where he is at heading into state.

“It will be so much fun. I can’t wait for next week,” White said. “It will truly be something.”