TCA wins girls' title in first year competing as a 4A program

Having dominated 3A competition to the tune of nine consecutive girls’ state cross country titles, The Classical Academy moved up to 4A and continued where it left off, topping the 30-team field Saturday at the state meet at Norris-Penrose Event Center.

Senior Megan Brunette finished sixth and junior Lauren Hamilton came in right behind, leading the Titans to a 29-point finish over Coronado.

“The feeling is truly indescribable,” Hamilton said. “We didn’t come in here expecting to win and psych ourselves out. Coming up from 3A, we had a complete change in attitude. We weren’t afraid to lose, but were excited to win. We had nothing to lose.”

TCA had built a cross country dynasty in the past decade, and longtime coach Alan Versaw decided to enter a new frontier.

Mission accomplished.

“We did this to find out what was inside of us, and they responded,” Versaw said. “I’d hate to put any obstacle in front of them and tell them they couldn’t do it.”

It truly was a historic day at Bear Creek Park and Norris-Penrose, where Coronado’s boys won their first cross country title in school history and TCA’s girls kept their streak intact, despite a daunting move into a bigger class.

“Our team is so tight; we all know everything about everybody since we’ve known each other for so long,” Brunette said.

“It’s not about what class we’re in and if we’re the favorite or not.”

Sophomores Maddie Mullen and Hannah Williams finished 16th and 18th, respectively, while senior Brittany Droogsma placed 51st to give TCA its winning total of 98 points.

Air Academy finished four points behind Coronado to give the Pikes Peak region a stranglehold of the top three places.