For those of you who can't make it to Penrose this Saturday -- MileSplit Colorado has you covered! We'll be live streaming the finish line: WATCH LIVE

TEAM- Boys

The Classical Academy looks as strong as ever. 

Not only do they gave the potential for a 1-2 punch here, but they could close up their scoring within the first 15-finishers. 

TCA has been strong all year, claiming stellar victories at the Berthoud XC Festival, Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational, Rim Rock Classic in Kansas, and the Air Academy Kadet Invitational where they went 1-2-3. 

More recently they nearly claimed perfection, going 1-2-3-4, and putting five inside the top-six to tally 16-points to win the 3A Region 5 title. 

They've got the low-stick, and the pack to run away with this one. 

The race here looks like it's for second. 

On paper Frontier Academy, Salida, Manitous Springs, Holy Family, and Jefferson Academy are in the mix. All five squads have runners who coult put up single-digits, which will be huge in the team race. 

Frontier took the 3A Region 4 title by seven-points over Berthoud, while Salida slid by Manitou Springs 54-62 at Region 2. Likewise, Holy Family inched by Jefferson Academy 36-44 at Region 3.

Podium positions are up for grabs - because it looks like 2-6 could be insanely tight. 

It might seem repetitive writing these words, but they ring true across nearly every team race: every runner - every point - will matter.

INDIVIDUAL

Matthew Edwards won this race as a freshman in 2021. 

The Classical Academy junior finished third last year. 

This year?

He looks to be in prime position to recapture the state title. 

Edwards has run himself onto another level in 2023. 

He torched a 14:54 to finish second at the Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational, then went on to string together a slew of great performances, including a 15:20 course record at the Air Academy Kadet Invitational. 

Edwards ran 15:27 on the state meet course at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede (Pre-State) nearly two months ago - that's seven-seconds faster than he ran when he won state in 2021.

Edwards has been undefeated against 3A competition this fall, making him the favorite heading to Penrose this Saturday.

TCA teammate Nathan Meister could help give the Titans a 1-2 finish, which would be huge in the team race. Meister ran 15:20 at Liberty Bell, which was just ahead of Frontier Academy's Darren Hayden, and Jefferson Academy's Sean Beasley, who ran 15:32, and 15:37.

Hayden and Beasley are both coming off region titles. 

The boy's 3A Championships are scheduled for 12:20 p.m.

TEAM- Girls

This one could be close. 

Really close. 

Single-digits close.

The Classical Academy head to Penrose as the No. 1 ranked squad, but Holy Family and Alamosa are hot on their heels. 

TCA is coming in scorching off a 17-point region title, where they put seven inside the top-eight. Add that TCA finished second at the Air Academy Kadet Invitational to the US No. 2 Air Academy several weeks ago. 

Likewise, Holy Family put five inside the top-eight to dominate the 3A Region 3 field, tallying 24-points. 

Alamosa claimed the 3A Region 2 title, tallying 45-points. 

So, we have three squads all with region titles. Two of them absolutely ran away with it. 

On paper, Alamosa has perhaps the best 1-2-3 punch, though when it comes to the pack, Holy Family has the edge, and when it comes to depth, TCA has the edge. 

Single-digit scorers go a long way in a big race like state, meaning this race will be decided on the day of - every point will matter.

INDIVIDUALS

Isabel Allori has been in her own race most of this season. 

The Liberty Common heads to Colorado Springs undefeated, with a streak of five victories. 

Her biggest win this season came at the Liberty Bell Cross Country Invitational, where she ran 16:51 to down a stellar field.

A year ago she torched the field, and a 17:10 to claim the 3A Colorado State Cross Country Championship title. Her performance marked the third-fastest ever on the course (it would've been the second, but Brooke Wilson cracked 17-minutes several hours earlier in the 5A State Championships.) She went on to finish 14th at the Nike Cross Nationals a little over a month later. 

When it comes to the individual race, the question isn't really "Will Isabel Allori win?" - it's: "How Fast Will She Run?"

In other words: Is Brooke Wilson's 16:59 course record in jeopardy? 

We have one course to make any comparison here - and that's Liberty Bell. 

Wilson ran 16:53 last year at LB. Allori ran 16:51 this year. 

So, yeah. I think we can say a course record may fall here...

Beyond Allori, the race is really for second. 

Stargate's Allison Pippert has put together a great season of her own. She's won a staggering six out of eight races, with her only losses coming in the 4A/5A race at St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational , and to Allori at the The Summit Stinger at Copper. She's run a PR of 17:40 this season from the Horizon Invitational. Pipper is coming in off a dominating 3A Region 3 title. 

A year ago she finished third at State, making her the No. 2 returner this year.

A wildcard in the girl's race could be Delaney Reuter. The Eaton freshman has finished in the top-three of every race she's run in this season - what makes that stat all the more impressive is the fact that she's raced nine times. She PR'd in her 18:20 victory at the Thornton Invitational.

The girl's 3A Championships are scheduled for 1:40 pm