Niwot takes 5A crown as Cherokee Trail runner posts top individual time

Niwot finished first in the 2026 Class 5A girls state cross country championship held on Oct. 31, 2026.

The event took place at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. Niwot accumulated 47 points to win the team title. Boulder placed second with 100 points, followed by Fairview at 116 points and Heritage at 155 points. Arapahoe finished fifth with 201 points. ThunderRidge scored 216 points for sixth place, while Northfield earned 232 points for seventh. Fort Collins took eighth with 270 points. Cherokee Trail finished ninth with 274 points, and Fossil Ridge placed 10th with 280 points.

Madison Lange of Cherokee Trail ran the fastest individual time among the top ten finishers. She completed the course in 17 minutes, 28 seconds. Ella McGowan of Heritage ran second with a time of 17:53.6. Sophie Roza of Boulder placed third at 18:08.6, and Maeve Vancik of Arapahoe finished fourth in 18:13.2. Calia Vaughn of Boulder ran fifth at 18:27.9. Josephine Lenart of Niwot took sixth with a time of 18:36.9. Mila Cimbura of Rock Canyon placed seventh at 18:37.2. Jenna Winn of Eaglecrest ran eighth in 18:40.8. Elise Hagen of Niwot finished ninth at 18:41.4, and Siona Kelly of Niwot took tenth at 18:41.9.

Several other runners from Aurora schools competed in the race. Clara Kapfer of Cherokee Trail finished 52nd with a time of 19:48.8. Kaylee Tait of Cherokee Trail placed 73rd at 20:11.7, and Jade McDaniel of Cherokee Trail finished 74th at 20:11.8. Elle Van Fossen of Cherokee Trail ran 102nd with a time of 20:51.0. Kinsley Wakefield of Cherokee Trail placed 105th at 20:54.8, and Ainsley Johnson of Cherokee Trail finished 111th at 21:02.3.

The results were recorded at the Norris Penrose Event Center on Oct. 31, 2026.