Class 5A top 5 teams

1 Dakota Ridge: The addition of Kaitie Vanatta could carry the Eagles into the rankings nationally.

2 Heritage: The entire varsity is returning to compete for the traditionally strong squad.

3 Cherry Creek: With about 400 athletes in the program, the defending champ could have another strong team.

4 Arapahoe: The Warriors' popular program returns its top five runners and has enough talent to hold strong.

5 Rocky Mountain: The Lobos graduated the 2006 individual champ, but everyone else is back.

Top runners

Runner School Year 2006 finish

Kaitie Vanatta Dakota Ridge Jr. First (4A)

Alexa Rogers Dakota Ridge Sr. Fifth

Natosha Rogers Dakota Ridge Jr. Eighth

Jen Bremser Sand Creek Jr. Ninth

Katie Monnet Arapahoe Jr. 11th

Alexis Skarda Fairview Sr. 12th

Lauren Johnson Cherry Creek Sr. 15th

Clare Gallagher Cherry Creek So. 16th

Jessie Mann Monarch Jr. 18th

Haley Johnson Lakewood So. 20th

Class 4A top 5 teams

1 Mullen: The Mustangs are returning five runners and added a talented junior transfer from Florida.

2 Thompson Valley: The entire varsity squad returns for the defending state team champ.

3 Greeley West: Kendra Gerk and Erica Hinchcliffe hope to erase 2006 disap- pointments to push the Spartans to the top.

4 Glenwood Springs: The top runners return to a Demons team that fought for a sixth-place finish last year.

5 Evergreen: The Cougars, stacked with mostly freshmen and sophomores, finished eighth last year.

Top runners

Runner School Year 2006 finish

Lauren Dorsey-Spitz Pueblo Centennial Jr. Second

Lindsey Sowards Alamosa Jr. Third

Samantha Thompson Sierra Jr. Sixth

Alicia Nelson Moffat County Jr. Seventh

Anna Marshall Pueblo West So. Ninth

Briana Perkins Summit Sr. 10th

Brianne Beemer Mountain View Sr. 11th

Jessica Linder Battle Mountain So. 12th

Katrina Selsor Glenwood Springs Jr. 13th

Genevive London Evergreen Jr. 14th

Class 3A top 5 teams

1 The Classical Academy: Behind sophomore Kaitlin Hanenburg, the Titans are after a fifth consecutive team title.

2 Bayfield: The top five all return for the Wolverines, who hope to better their fourth-place finish from 2006.

3 Crested Butte: Senior Emma Coburn's quest for an individual title could help motivate the team.

4 Hotchkiss: Everyone returns for the Bulldogs, and the team has depth and strength.

5 Pagosa Springs: Junior Jacie Harms could take the 2006 runner-up far again.

Top runners

Runner School Year 2006 finish

Kaitlin Hanenburg The Classical Academy So. Second

Kat Robinson Nederland So. Third

Emma Coburn Crested Butte Sr. Fourth

Brooke Wells Roosevelt So. Fifth

Jacie Harms Pagosa Springs Jr. Sixth

Jhenya Nahreini Peak to Peak Jr. Seventh

Kelsey Brown The Classical Academy Jr. Eighth

Kara Slavoski St. Mary's So. 10th

Kassie Mazzocco The Classical Academy Jr. 11th

Johanna Reed Hotchkiss So. 12th

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