Coronado's Solis among area runners hoping to win title

Dusty Solis possesses confidence and experience as he chases the 5A state cross country championship. The Coronado senior has another important factor, according to Cougars coach Doug Hugill.

“Dusty has a weapon a lot of kids don’t have,” Hugill said. “He has a tremendous kick. He’s got a shot at winning.”

One week after nearly 2 feet of snow pushed back the meet, Solis challenges the state’s best Saturday at Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins.

Solis posted the state’s third-best time (15:42) regardless of classification, according to milesplit.com rankings. His top competition should come from Cherry Creek senior Walter Schafer (15:26), last year’s runner-up. The state’s top time belongs to Wheat Ridge senior Scott Fauble (15:22), the 4A favorite.

“I think I can take (Schafer),” Solis said. “I think I’d have to break 15:30 to win. It’ll be tough but it’ll be a lot of fun.”

Solis was seventh last year while Coronado took third as a team with junior Jesse Mathews (24th) and senior Dylan Witte (68th) also returning and the team depth bolstered by sophomore Ryan Mott and senior Ryan Logan.

“I’m a lot better,” Solis said. “I have a stronger base. I can go farther and I can go faster. I think our team has a good chance but we all have to run well.”

The Classical Academy has the area’s best chance to bring home an individual and team title. Senior Kaitlin Hanenburg seeks her third straight 3A title while the Titans race for a seventh consecutive crown.

TCA is ranked seventh in the Milesplit Girls Fab-15 national rankings while Hanenburg has posted the state’s third-best time (17:58). Titans senior Emily LaValley (18:32) has the state’s No. 10 time. She was fifth at state last year while  Shelby Stableford, now a sophomore, took third. TCA’s boys won regional as well, but on a tiebreaker.
Palmer junior Andrew Goodman was eighth at state last year, less than a second behind Solis, and was 2 seconds behind a winning Solis at regionals last week.

Pine Creek freshman Heather Bates has the state’s second-best time in 5A girls (18:21, seventh overall), far behind unbeaten Boulder junior Kelsey Lakowske (17:19).

Pine Creek coach Max Oliver, asked to assess his team’s chance of winning state, said, “Fort Collins is just too good. There are five teams really close after that and we’re one of them.”

In 4A girls, Cheyenne Mountain is led by junior Dani Grossman, fifth at state last year. Senior Emily Duncan (22nd at state last year) and junior Kali Maxwell (29th) provide quality depth as the Indians seek to better last year’s runner-up finish. The boys captured their regional title.

Woodland Park’s Shawn Dubbs and Palmer Ridge’s Spencer Wenck are top qualifiers among the area’s 4A boys.

Vanguard had first-place 2A regional finishers in Chelsea Kilgore and Jeremiah Evangelista and the girls team advanced behind Fountain Valley. Sophomore Micah Tate qualified in 2A boys and is the first runner from Pikes Peak Christian to compete in the state meet.