The Cherry Creek cross country invite gave reason to remember Emry Schwalm

It was 10 percent luck, 20 percent skill, 15 percent concentrated power of will, 5 percent pleasure, 50 percent pain, but 100 percent reason to remember the name Emry Schwalm.

While Mike Shinoda stitched together Fort Minor’s statement hit “Remember The Name” a couple of years before Schwalm was born, the song seems fitting, given how she’s emerged as the fastest runner in the state this fall.

Schwalm once again flirted with the 17-minute marker — this time at the Cherry Creek Steve Lohman Invitational Saturday morning, clocking 17 minutes, 14 seconds.

It’s of note that this was run on a new course — one that started and finished on thick grass and included a fairly spicy hill that took the sting out of most kicks.

But not Schwalm’s.

The Heritage senior kicked down the back of the boys field, which started five minutes before the girls race.

In two outings, Schwalm has dropped the two fastest performances in the state this season — a 17:07 win at the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede two weeks ago, and a 17:14 victory at the Cherry Creek Steve Lohman Invitational.

And it’s not just about speed — the Heritage senior took down an absolutely stellar field that included Cherry Creek’s Emily Cohen, Mountain Vista’s Claire Guiberson, Cherokee Trail freshman phenom Madison Lang, and Heritage teammate Caroline Fender.

“Honestly, it’s intimidating coming into these kinds of races because you just know how much talent you’re going to be surrounded by,” Schwalm admitted. “But as soon as that gun went off, it felt comforting.”

To borrow from the opening lines of “Remember The Name”: For those of you who want to know what (Schwalm) is about — it’s like this.

Alright, drop the beat.

On the topic of names to remember, cue Madison Lang.

Lange continued to make a statement in her first high school cross country season. The Cherokee Trail freshman finished second in a personal best of 17:21, which was just ahead of Cherry Creek’s Cohen, who finished third in 17:25, and Mountain Vista’s Guiberson, who finished fourth in 17:30.

Seven girls cracked the coveted 18-minute mark, which — one this course — was quite impressive.

Mountain Vista took the girls team race, tallying 53 points, while Heritage took second with 70, and Air Academy took third with 87.

While Schwalm ran away with the girls race, the boys race went down to the line.

Mountain Vista’s Ben Adams picked up his second consecutive victory and his first sub-15 clocking of the season to edge out Coronado’s Xavier Campos.

Adams took the win, clocking 14:58. Campos simply ran out of real estate in his late charge to the finish, as he nearly caught Adams at the line, running 14:59. Air Academy’s Carslon Smith took third in 15:13.

Five boys dipped under 15:30, including Rock Canyon sophomore Micah Sulzen, and Heritage’s Liam Folk, who were both clocked at 15:24.

While Rock Canyon, Air Academy, and Coronado put two inside the top-10 overall, it was Rock Canyon’s depth that won the team competition, tallying 67 points. Mountain Vista took second with 90 points, while Air Academy finished third with 108.

It’s of additional note that the current state-leader — Coronado’s Oliver Horton — did not race.

Run Around The State

Joe Vigil Invitational: The Classical Academy’s Vivian Jack stormed to a 17:56 course record. Jack’s performance led TCA to an impressive team title, where the Titans tallied 53 points.

Centaurus Bernie Gay XC Invitational: The defending Nike Cross National Champions ¬— the Niwot boys ¬— opened up their season here. Hunter Robbie led the team with an individual victory, clocking 15:40. Niwot put all five scoring runners inside the top-11 to tally 30 points.

Likewise, the Niwot girls upped the ante. Anna Prok and Addy Ritzenhein went 1-2 with Prok taking a cloth-thin victory, clocking 18:41.4 to Ritzenhein’s 18:41.5. Broomfield freshman Savannah Fernandez with a close third, running 18:42. Niwot put five inside the top-eight to tally 22 points.