COLORADO SPRINGS – Max Miller wasn’t going to be denied.

The Vanguard School junior mapped out a strategy and followed it through to cruise to his first career Class 3A state championship cross country crown at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Saturday.

Miller clocked a 15-minute, 55.0-second time on the 3.1-mile course to defeat Alamosa’s Ethan Merrick’s 16:06.9 effort.

“This felt really good,” Miller said. “We live here in town, so we get to train here often and practice the state course. I ran here my freshman and sophomore year, and I didn’t have my best races those years, so it is really nice to come out here and have a good race.”

The team title went to The Classical Academy with 110 points. The Titans edged Salida, which had a 113 score. Manitou Springs (126) and Alamosa (172) were third and fourth.

Miller’s game plan wasn’t simple, but the end result is what mattered most.

“It was a little bit more strategic going out from the gun, but I was able to pick the lead group and then once I felt like I had enough in me to go I made my move at the second mile mark, and I was to finish out the rest of the race," Miller said. "This feels amazing. It is such a blessing to be able to run out here and run a great race.”

TCA re-established its dominance, winning its 10th state boys cross country state championship. The Titans also captured state boys cross country titles in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

TCA’s victory barrage consisted of Braden Yarmer (fourth, 16:18.7), Barrett Paas (10th, 16:40.4), Ryan Whitcomb (12th, 16:47.0), Luke Aragon (41st, 7:30.5) and Grant Fleenor (43rd,17:33.7).

“It is always a new journey and a challenge,” TCA coach Matt Norton said. “Grant won a (state) championship a couple of years ago, but none of the other boys have and they have come so far. It is really gratifying and exciting whenever you get to do it. We love the folks from Salida and Alamosa and to get to compete against them and help each other is just a real blessing.

“We have talked all year about everybody’s individual role is important no matter if you are the first guy or the seventh guy. Those spots have rotated throughout the year. We have had a lot of flexibility in our lineup and the boys have embraced that reality.”