Niwot’s Zane Bergen named Gatorade Colorado boys cross country runner of the year

CHICAGO – This past fall, Niwot’s Zane Bergen accomplished something he had done once before, and that is win the individual 4A boys cross country title. Now he has accomplished something new, which is also a first in school history.

Bergen was named the Gatorade Colorado boys cross country runner of the year, announced by the association today.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Bergen as Colorado’s best high school boys cross country runner.

The 6-foot, 135-pound senior raced to the Class 4A individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:17.7, a 4A course record, leading the Cougars to second place as a team. Bergen also placed fourth in both national championship races—clocking a 14:09.91 at the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships and crossing the line in 15:20.2 at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships (formerly Foot Locker). He earned wins at the Desert Twilight Festival, the St. Vrain Invitational and the Region 3 Championships, while also taking third at the Eastbay Midwest Regional Championships.

Bergen has volunteered locally on behalf of youth running programs in addition to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., which assists disabled veterans.

“Zane can push his body beyond the limits of 99 percent of all humans,” said Niwot High School coach Kelly Christensen. “He’s also the best leader that I’ve ever coached. He’s selfless, dedicated, passionate and will do whatever it takes to help his team succeed.”

Bergen has maintained a weighted 4.18 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to run on scholarship at Stanford University this fall.

Bergen joins recent Gatorade Colorado Boys Cross Country Players of the Year Parker Wolfe (2020-21, Cherry Creek High School) and Cole Sprout (2019-20, 2018-19, & 2017-18, Valor Christian High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Bergen is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year award to be announced in February.