COLORADO SPRINGS | Madison Lange’s first step in Saturday’s Class 5A girls state cross country meet didn’t go well, but the rest were golden.
The Cherokee Trail sophomore slipped, though she didn’t go down, as she came off the starting line at the Norris Penrose Event Center, but recovered and got herself to the front of the pack at the start of the 3.1-mile race.
Lange’s misstep turned into ancient history by the end of the race, as she pulled away at the midway point and went on to win the race handily with a time of 17 minutes, 28 seconds. She became the first state champion — boys or girls — in Cherokee Trail cross country history.
“I just had to throw that out and remind myself I’m still here,” Lange said. “I still had three miles left in the race. I just had to bounce back up. I was still able to get where I wanted to be.”
Once she got her legs under her, Lange — who was coming off a sizeable victory at the 5A Region 1 meet a week earlier at City Park — took the lead along with Heritage freshman Ella McGowan and Arapahoe junior Maeve Vancik, who she lost to at the Centennial League Championship meet.
Then, she made her move about the midway point.
“I was just trying to be patient throughout the first mile, trying to make sure I felt good,” said Lange, who won the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede on the same course in August. “Once we got up the hill, about a mile and a half in, I just dug in. I talked with my coaches before that that was where I wanted to make my move and I just committed to it.”
That commitment proved too much to match, as Lange pulled away.
She made the move up into the stadium alone and crossed the finish line a full 25 seconds ahead of McGowan.
Lange’s effort helped coach Tristam Winship’s Cherokee Trail team to ninth-place in the final 5A team standings.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
