Pomona sweeps individual 5A titles at Jeffco League XC Championships
Photo: Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Sports Information
DENVER — Pomona runner Emma Stutzman continued her impressive cross country season Thursday afternoon by dominating the Class 5A girls race at the Jeffco League Championships at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
Stutzman’s time of 17:38.50 was more than a minute and half faster than the time of Chatfield junior Hannah Anderson who finished as the individual runner-up. Stutzman had a huge smile on her face as the crossed the line to claim her third league title over her four-year career at Pomona.
“I was pretty happy with it,” Stutzman said of her time that would have placed her in the top-10 in both the 5A and 4A boys races. “The plan was similar to last year. Just work the first mile. The second mile was reassessing and getting myself together. Picking it back up for that last mile.”
The graduation of Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart — winner of the last three 5A girls individual cross country state titles — has opened up the top of podium for a new face. Stutzman is doing everything in her power to make that climb and be that new face.
“I don’t really care what kind of time I get. I want to win,” Stutzman said of what it all boils down to going after her first state title in cross country or track. “I’ve been mentally working on if I want it I can get it. It’s up for grabs and I want to take it.”
The redesigned course finish at D’Evelyn that ran into Fehringer Ranch reminded the Pomona senior of how the state course at Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs finishes.
“The course at the end … that state with the little hill at the end,” Stutzman said. “That was kind of nice to have to see how that feels sprinting after the hills. It went pretty well for what we planned.”
The plan now is to focus in on claiming her first individual state title. Stutzman said she has been trying out some new hydration tactics, along with focusing what foods she is eating leading up to regionals and state. She finished ninth last year at state and spent time in the medical tent due to dehydration.
“I’m trying to keep the pressure off by not focusing on that,” Stutzman said of some of the national attention she has garnered after running a 16:44 at the Liberty Bell Invitational earlier this season which is the top 5K time in the nation.
Pomona senior Gustavo Rivera competed a one-two punch for the Panthers. He won the 5A boys individual title with a time of 17:00.30.
“It was pretty important,” Rivera said about winning the individual title for the Panthers. “I don’t know the last time that Pomona won the individual title on the boys side. I’m glad it will be me winning on the boys side and Emma winning it for Pomona on the girls side. That’s pretty impressive.”
Rivera hopes to be a dark horse at regionals and state coming up over the next few weeks. He is also hoping for some cold and nasty weather where Rivera believes he would have a mental edge on his opponents.
Dakota Ridge won the 5A boys team title edging out rival Chatfield. On the 5A girls side, the results were flipped. Chatfield grabbed three of the top-10 spots to beat out Dakota Ridge.
On the 4A boys side, Conifer won its third straight 4A Jeffco League team title. The Lobos had won six straight conference titles dating back to their time competing in the Colorado 7 League.
“It feels phenomenal,” Conifer senior Patrick Doty said of the Lobos winning another league title. “We’ve won the past six in a row. There was definitely some pressure to win that seventh one. We came through and won it.”
Doty won the 4A boys individual title with a time of 16:26.6. Golden senior Henry Stubenrauch finished second.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Doty said of his time of 16:26.6. “I could have gone a little bit faster. I got a bit of a cramp around (mile) 1.5 to 2.5. We worked through it.”
The Fall 2022 season has been bumpy for the Lobos. Doty talked about how a wave of COVID swept through the team earlier in the season.
Golden senior Lily Mourer led the Demon girls to the team title. Mourer claimed the 4A girls individual title with a time of 19:41.50. Golden had all five scoring runners for the team title finish in the top-15.
“I’m so proud,” Golden coach Jen Byrne said after her Demons dominated the 4A girls race. “We came out with a mission to run strong with each other. That shined today. Their hearts were gold today.”
