H.S. cross country preview: Sierra senior gets second wind

Sierra cross country runner Samantha Thompson has found a renewed spirit in the sport she loves thanks in part to the support of her family and friends.

Everything began to click for the senior after she won the 1,500-meter event at the U.S. Junior Olympics in Omaha, Neb., in late July. She had been feeling burnt out after her older brother died prior to last October's regional.

"Since my brother passed away I wasn't feeling like myself," said Thompson. "Summer track really helped a lot. I couldn't have won nationals without God, my family, my coach, friends and my boyfriend. They really were supportive of me and helped me through a tough period in my life."

While at nationals, Thompson was inspired by her boyfriend Kevin Johnson, who runs for Falcon and placed third in the 5,000 meters.

"He was there to support her and they help each other out a lot," Falcon coach Cameron Magnall said. "They are very competitive with each other. If one places high at a meet, the other one wants to do just as well."

Thompson finished fifth in the 4A state meet last year and thinks she could finish in the top three this fall at Fossil Ridge High School on Oct. 25 in Fort Collins.

"I feel like I have more confidence this year," she said. "The girls I will be competing with are pretty good, but we'll see who the best is at the end of the day."

In 4A boys, senior Falcon runner Wes Rickman aims to bring home a state individual championship after placing second in 2007.

"He has high expectations this year and I think it's going to be a monumental year for him," Magnall said.

The Air Academy girls should have another strong year with the return of senior Allie McLaughlin, who finished eighth at the 5A state meet last year. Doherty's Lynnea Sjoersdma is another contender.

Despite losing three of his top four runners and moving up to 5A, Liberty coach Gary Weston believes that the boys team, led by senior Neil Bishop, could have another big year after placing second in 2007.

"We still have the potential to be one of the best area teams," he said.

The Classical Academy coach Alan Versaw doesn't want anyone to focus on winning another 3A title, especially his runners such as state individual champion Kaitlin Hanenburg. The girls will go for their sixth straight while the boys will try to win their third in four years.

TEAM PREVIEWS

Class 5A
Air Academy
Boys: Taylor Hollister is joined by newcomers Nathan Vail and Tate Gayson.
Girls: Senior Allie McLaughlin will lead the Kadets after an individual eighth-place finish at state in 2007. She is joined by returnees Hayley Lewis, Becca Barad, Kate Henley and Erin Richard.

Coronado
Boys: The Cougars look to be strong, led by junior Dusty Solis, who won the Metro League championships and placed third at regionals. Joining him will be senior Andrew Hugill and sophomore Jesse Mathews.
Girls: Senior Hannah Green is a possible top-five finisher at regionals. Also returning are juniors Lauren Young, Bailey Gearhart and Kaeli Vandersluis.

Doherty
Boys: The team will be led by Erik Williams, John Pauls, Pablo Quincy, Caleb Smith and Zach Brown with newcomer Sergio Logan.
Girls: Senior Lynnea Sjoerdsma is back along with returnees Jordan Bloesser, Aubrey Hilte, Leah Anderson, Krista Roy, Katrina Krause and freshmen Janelle Griffith and Allison Cox.

Fountain-Fort Carson
Boys: After placing third at regionals and 15th at state in 2007, coach Ben Montoya expects to have a strong team again with experienced runners Frank Socha, Justin Hansen, Jimmy Snare and Chris Basham back.
Girls: Transfer students Whitney and Deanna Maurer from Kentucky will give the team depth with returnees Devyn Pilgreen and Jeanette Van Duesen.

Liberty
Boys: After placing second at 4A state in 2007, Gary Weston's team hopes to do just as well with Neil Bishop, Andrew Scites, Ian Penn, Caleb Moseley and Tim Ambard joined by Texas transfer Steve Zagata.
Girls: Hannah Everson joins Amy Kress, Lauren Theune, Kristen Selke and Kim Matzke.

Palmer
Boys: Sophomore Andrew Godman (12th at regionals), Daniel Heck, Dustin Ordway, James Law and Nathan Dewey should do well.
Girls: Meg Rudy, who placed 11th at state, and Annie Whitford (21st at state) hope to duplicate last year's success with another top-three finish at state.

Pine Creek
Boys: Jacob Smelker returns along with Jason Szaraz and Shane O'Donnell and newcomer Tim Bannister.
Girls: Upperclassmen Allie Sojourner, Bridget Tiernana, Ruth-Ann Hadjiz, Cora Gann and Britany Pollard will contend.

Rampart
Boys: Senior Brennan Jarvis and returnees Simon McIntire, Johnny Farquhar and A.J. Skains return to improve on an eighth-place state finish last fall.
Girls: After finishing sixth at regionals last year, Hannah Eder, Stephanie Hawk, Katie Simmons, Kirsten Farquhar and Erin Ray along with newcomers Amy Li and Tamara Pratt could surpass that success this fall.

Sand Creek
Boys: Coach Eric Bauer is excited about the team's newcomers.
Girls: Jen Bremser, fifth at state, should contend for a state title as a senior this fall.

Class 4A
Cañon City
Boys: After placing 46th at state, junior Tabor Stevens hopes to finish in the top 25.
Girls: Ashley Brown returns and should help the team qualify for state.

Cheyenne Mountain
Boys: Seniors Lance Knight and Zack Casias return.
Girls: The regional champs will be strong again with Emily Duncan, 20th at state, along with Kali Maxwell, Casey Powell, Danielle Grossman, Cat Fairchild, Sam Sloan and Ann Elder back. Abbey Poremba adds depth.

Falcon
Boys: After placing second at state, Wes Rickman aims to win it all while leading other runners Kevin Johnson (11th at state), Chris Stearns, Brandon Barkley, Jordan Teeples, Dominic Patton and Dane Mahaffey.
Girls: Morgan McFadden, Genevieve Patton, Bianca Kriel and Courtney Brown lead an inexperienced group.

Harrison
Boys: Will Edwards will be joined by newcomers Daniel Whiteman, Antonio Deherrera and Joseph Archuleta.
Girls: Joanna Arellano and Danielle Tova return.

Lewis-Palmer
Boys: The Rangers will contend with seniors Blake Johnson and Jordan Stairs and juniors Steven Bell, Derek Kirchhoefer, Bryan Kulow and Alex Maqerko back.
Girls: Five of the top seven return, led by state qualifier Maddie Kruger. Also returning are Mackenzie Hughes, Michaela Diamond, Jenny Healy and Kacee Child.

Mesa Ridge
Boys: Seniors Shane Swearingen and Tim Antolini will lead a new crop of freshmen.
Girls: Sophomore Cali Antolini, 13th at regionals last year, is joined by Bethany Herschler, Emma Espinoza and Stephanie Saldivar.

Mitchell
Boys: Juniors Sam Applin, Toni Ernst, Ian Reinhard, Cristel Enriques and Eric James are back and should form a formidable unit.
Girls: Amanda Stoudt returns to lead a group of newcomers.

Palmer Ridge
Boys: Brandon Schow, Spencer Wenck, and Connor Campbell join the new program.
Girls: Brandi Schneweis, Abbie Frier, McKenzie O'Hara, Diane Light and Ellen Jackson will build the program.

Sierra
Boys: After placing 12th at regionals, Emilio Trujilio returns with Michael Brock and seniors Anthony Cordova and Carlos Cruz. Freshmen Reuben Cano and Jerald Charley add depth.
Girls: Samantha Thompson, one of the area's best, will lead a group that includes Darlene Rincon, Marilyn Rincon, Rebecca Hepworth, Natashia McLaughlin and Samantha Saldano.

Vista Ridge
Boys: Newcomers include freshmen Kevin Headley and Adam Noel.
Girls: Beth Luckel, Rachel Mozzetta, Amanda McCann, Emily Noel and Racquel Valdez will start the program.

Wasson
Boys: Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind runner Max Wilding is back.
Girls: Senior Callie Blair and sophomore Missy Montemayor return.

Widefield
Boys: Junior Paul Gallogly will lead returnees David Powers, Luke Wall, Sean Zimkas, Daniel Mahoney and Ben Gallogly.
Girls: A good mix of talent includes senior Grace Norris and juniors Kimberly Powers and Jessica Shoop along with newcomers Audra Bergman, Kat Bergman and Karisa Sabisch.

Woodland Park
Girls: Jackie Johnson, Winter Spencer, Kaylene Bales, Lindsey Wetzel along with newcomer Hillary Moore will try to grab the top spot in Metros after being runner-up in 2007.
Boys: Cripple Creek's Shawn Dubbs, who finished 14th at state, and Graham Ruhmann will lead an inexperienced team.

Class 3A
The Classical Academy
Boys: Senior Sam Feldotto, John Metzger, Jacob Mueller, Ben Loftin and freshman Jonathan Isaac will hope their state experience will result in a third team title since 2004.
Girls: Junior Kaitlin Hanenburg, Kelsey Brown, Emily Husted, Kassie Mazzocco and Elena Roy along with freshman Shelby Stableford will try to add a sixth-straight team state title.

Colorado Springs Christian School
Boys: David Wickert (29th at regionals) leads his team.
Girls: Maddie Schneider, who finished sixth at regionals and 13th at state, will return with Sarah Guhl.

Discovery Canyon
Boys: Sophomore Amman Beeftu returns along with Jack Skinner and newcomer Michael Carricato.
Girls: Sophomore Janae Johnson, 60th at state, will be joined by freshmen Allie Morgan and Molly Spalding and sophomore newcomers Casey Garmling and Autumn Surage.

Ellicott
Boys: Brent Roberts returns from injury last year along with Blaze Gustafson, Benji Pacot and Dylan Funk. There is no girls team.

Florence
Girls: Newcomer Angelina Martinez joins letter-winners Rachel Packard and Crysta Bradley. There is no boys team.

James Irwin
Boys: Senior Marco Alicea is joined by juniors Sergio Ortega, Michael Paris and Justin McConnell.
Girls: Senior Jacquelin Alequi is joined by freshmen Kyla Kearns, Grace Farrington and Helen Melonas.

Manitou Springs
Boys: An experienced group of seniors, including Jesse Struble, Witt Keller, Mark Alsberg, Phil White, Zach Morris, Forrest Alvarez and Harrison Smith, are joined by Denzel Bland.
Girls: Jenny Peck, Suzi Stasi, Shelby Carpenter and Makayla Lavigne return along with freshmen Courtney Shaw and Clea Payne.

Peyton
Boys: Senior Chandler Bartlett hopes to finish a standout career with his fourth state qualification. He is joined by sophomore Mick Baca and junior Travis Cuchares.
Girls: State qualifiers and seniors Cassie Pierce (43rd place) and Sydney Sachse (67th) are joined by sophomore Heather Maginetti and freshman Britney Holmquist.

St. Mary's
Boys: Arizona transfer Matt Kloenne joins returnees Graham Stringert, Eric Kater and Richard Ackerman.
Girls: The Pirates return four state qualifiers - standout Kara Slavoski, Sydney Harris, Zoe Harris and Lily Donelson.

Class 2A
Colorado Springs School
Boys: State qualifier Blake Ramsey is joined by fellow senior Skylar Warner.
Girls: Returnee Alex Pappas will lead newcomers Caroline Friend, Paige Adam and Amaya Rodriguez in a growing program.

Fountain Valley
Boys: Steven Stoot, who finished second at the Tri-Peaks league meet and 17th at state, will join returning letter-winner Eric Hinkle and newcomers Eli Karp, Logan Ford, Austin Yancy and TJ Knecht.
Girls: Newcomers Hannah Carese and Lulu Maher will keep the Danes competitive.

Kiowa
Boys: Nick Wendrych and Adam Alberti are joined by newcomer D.J. McWilliams.
Girls: State qualifier Erin Kochivar will return along with Bridget Leary.

Pikes Peak Christian
Boys: Senior Matt Tavera will lead the few Eagles in their debut season.
Girls: Sophomore Sarah Lee Landry hopes individual success can build the new program.

The Vanguard School
Boys: State qualifier Jeremiah Evangelista returns with sophomore David Alexander.
Girls: Newcomers Chelsea Kilgore and Jillian Heckman will join returnees Erin Jones, Annabel Custer and Brittany Crippen.