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Niwot's Girls Lay Down The Hammer At Desert Twilight

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You could call the Niwot girls' performance on Saturday at the annual Desert Twilight Festival in Mesa, Arizona, the type of moment that lays the groundwork for all future efforts. 

And it was the kind of race that showcased just how dangerous the Cougars are at this stage of the season. 

Behind upperclassmen leaders in Madison Shults and Mia Prok, who finished fourth and sixth overall, respectively, three underclassmen rounded out the top five, ushering through the line just 34 seconds opposite of one another as the program scorched the Sweepstakes competition with a dominant 42 points. 

What's more, though, Niwot had eight girls officially through the line in 18:25,  and its one through eight were separated by less than 60 seconds. 

Niwot dispatched second-place Air Academy's girls by 50 points, while Valor Christian was third with 127 points and Highland was fourth with 141. 

Valor Christian's Brooke Wilson won the overall race over Bethany Michalak by a significant gap, winning in 16:57.80. Michalak was second in 17:06 while Valor's Keeghan Edwards was third in 17:32 and Shults was fourth in 17:36. Air Academy's Tessa Walter was fifth in 17:37.

GIRLS SWEEPSTAKES TEAM SCORES
PLACE	TEAM	POINTS	SCORERS	TIMES
1	Niwot High School	42	4+6+9+11+12 (13+14)	0:33 1-5 Split | 17:54 Avg
2	Air Academy High School	92	2+5+17+27+41 (45+85)	2:23 1-5 Split | 18:24 Avg
3	Valor Christian High School	127	1+3+15+53+55 (61+97)	2:59 1-5 Split | 18:34 Avg
4	Highland High	141	19+21+24+35+42 (44+58)	0:46 1-5 Split | 19:08 Avg
5	Fort Collins High School	213	7+23+29+64+90 (112+130)	3:13 1-5 Split | 19:22 Avg

Meanwhile, the upwardly mobile season of Christian Groendyk continued on Saturday, with the Fort Collins senior winning the Sweepstakes race in 15:05.40. 

That performance marked Groendyk's third straight win on the season, following his recent conquest at Liberty Bell. 

In doing so, the Coloradan had to hold off Catalina Foothills senior Brandon Martz, who was second in 15:10, and David Mora, whow as third in 15:15. 

Valor Christian's Dane Eike and Drew Costelow managed to follow in fourth and fifth, respectively, in 15:21.20 and 15:23.30. 

Fortunately for the No. 22 ranked Eagles, it was that combination running and tight spread that ultimately paved the way for the team's best victory of the season. 

Valor Christian held off No. 16 Cherokee Trail, posting an 87-94 victory over the upstart Colorado program. Niwot, which fell off the national rankings, was third with 99 points. 

BOYS SWEEPSTAKES TEAM SCORES
PLACE	TEAM	POINTS	SCORERS	TIMES
1	Valor Christian High School	87	2+3+10+34+38 (44+71)	1:00 1-5 Split | 15:48 Avg
2	Cherokee Trail High School	94	9+16+18+25+26 (31+76)	0:33 1-5 Split | 15:58 Avg
3	Niwot High School	99	5+15+19+23+37 (51+69)	0:47 1-5 Split | 15:58 Avg
4	Fort Collins High School	193	1+33+46+53+60 (75+83)	1:38 1-5 Split | 16:13 Avg
5	Highland High	203	22+39+42+43+57 (67+111)	0:37 1-5 Split | 16:26 Avg