Technological difficulties kept The Classical Academy junior Mason Norman from comparing notes with his brother Tanner before the state cross country meet.
“My phone broke about a week ago. I couldn’t really text people,” Mason said. “But I talked to him last night.”
Mason came in loud and clear Saturday, though, beating Tanner’s 2016 course record by 11 seconds and winning his second straight 3A title at Norris-Penrose Event Center.
Mason finished in 15:33.4, shaving off nearly 23 seconds from last year’s state time. The boys’ team finished in third place with 107 points.
2018 Colorado State Cross Country
Junior Mason Norman of The Classical Academy crosses the finish line after breaking the record with a time of 15:33.4 for the 2018 Boys' 3A Colorado Cross Country State title at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
The Classical Academy Girls cross country team celebrate their 3A 2018 Colorado Cross Country State team title with a score of 34 at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Colorado Springs School junior Kate Griffin runs through the creek during the 2A 2018 Girls Colorado Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain senior Chris Montross, center, runs over the bridge during the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Palmer Ridge junior Hans Larson runs in the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Competitors in the Boys 3A 2018 Colorado Cross Country State Championships catch their breath at the finish line at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Rampart runners embrace after their race during the 2018 Colorado Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
A few of The Classical Academy runners catch their breath after they competed in the 3A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
A few of The Classical Academy runners celebrate with their friends after they competed in the 3A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
The Classical Academy girls hold their trophy and banner after winning the team title during the 2018 Colorado Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Runners in the 2A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships near the finish line at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Runners in the Boys 3A race take off from the start during the 2018 Colorado Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
The Classical Academy senior Kaylee Thompson kisses the team trophy as she won both the individual title and helped with the team title for the 3A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center on Oct. 27 in Colorado Springs.
2A runners compete in the 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
2A runners cross the creek as they compete in the 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
4A runners cross the bridge as they compete in the 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Palmer Ridge senior Brandon Hippe runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Palmer Ridge junior Hans Larson runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain senior Chris Montross crosses the creek during the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Palmer Ridge junior Daemon Kuo runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Boys Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
4A runners cross the bridge as they compete in the 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Palmer Ridge sophomore Isabella Prosceno runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain junior Brooke Heinicke runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain junior Jensen Enterman runs through the creek in the 4A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
4A runners cross the creek as they compete in the 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships were held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
Centaurus sophomore Natalie Kramer makes her way through the creek during the 4A 2018 Colorado Girls Cross Country State Championships at the Norris-Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Saturday October 27, 2018. (Dougal Brownlie, The Gazette)
“I haven’t felt too amazing about my season so far, so I was really wanting a last race like this to really just make myself happy about how this season’s gone,” Norman said.
The TCA girls ensured the Titans weren’t finished.
Peak to Peak’s Quinn McConnell looked well on her way to a second straight state title, leading at the first and second mile. But Titans senior Kaylee Thompson’s red hair flashed around the final corner first.
“I just kept hunting and kept my eyes up and kept on trying to get to her,” Thompson, who said she caught and passed her in the last half mile, recalled.
Thompson finished in 18:19.2, 18.6 seconds ahead of Peak to Peak’s Anna Shults and 24.1 ahead of McConnell, and with a course record to her name.
Teammates Katie Flaherty (fifth, 19:02.6), Kennedy McDonald (seventh, 19:10.4) and Thompson’s sister, Rebecca (ninth, 19:14.4) joined her on the podium.
“I love my sister so much, and it’s been so fun to run with her this season,” Kaylee said.
Flaherty counted the Titans crossing the finish line and burst into tears as she realized what it meant. TCA’s girls won the team title for the first time since 2012.
Peak to Peak had won the past two team and individual titles. “We have such respect for them and it seemed impossible for us to ever get in with them,” Flaherty said. “Peak to Peak is a phenomenal team. This has just been our dream.”
Mason Norman has one more year and another milestone to work toward — he can go for a third individual title. But the seniors’ work for the Titans is over, and all that’s left is to bask in their accomplishments.
“Sarah Burroughs, Kaylee Thompson and I, we’ve been racing in these exact same singlets since we were freshmen, and I was just thinking, this is the last day I get to put it on,” Flaherty said. “I just wanted it to be a good one.”
