NEDERLAND — The Nederland Cross Country team set out for Morrison, Colorado, to race at the Foothills League Championship on October 8. The championship is a meeting of schools of similar sizes and location all categorized into one league. The Foothills League consists of a group of Front Range 2A schools.

It is one of the more competitive races of the season and is the starting point for all the State meet and end-of-season qualifications, which brings anticipation and pressure. The race is a time for teams full of immensely committed, hard working, and strong athletes to fight for a good position and secure their school a good spot at the top.

Unlike most, this race was not about time, or personal improvement, but position. Every point matters in the league meet. Each person passed is more points toward the team. Each member on a cross country team counts for points—every single person on the team, and every single person that they pass, matters. 

Amika Begin and Libby Chandler tied for second place during the race in Morrison.

Photo Courtesy of Kathy Butler

The Nederland girls’ team accepted this difficult challenge with open arms, ending the race with five Nederland girls in the top 15: Amika Begin in first place, Libby Chandler in second, Isla Harmon in seventh, Emmeline Rosenblum in eighth, and Eva Wrobel in 15th place. 

The course was one of the hardest, if not the hardest, cross country courses the team will ever run. It took place on a motocross pump track, starting up a giant hill, with rarely any flat spots throughout the race.

The race itself consisted of three loops around the motocross track, up hills so large that many people had to crawl and scramble up them, buckling their knees on the way down.

There were many tears shed at the race. The finish line looked almost like a battle scene, with runners sprawled across the dirt, overheated and exhausted.

Nederland sophomore, Isla Harmon described the difficulty of the race as “the three H’s”—hot, hard, and hilly. At some points, it almost felt quicker to walk than to run, since the track was around 70 degrees, and had just as many hills as Eldora ski resort.

“We all struggled," seventh-place finisher Harmon said, "but we did our best. Finding out we won meant the struggle and pain was worth it.”

“Its something we’ve been working toward for a long time now," Head Coach Gavin Coombs said. "The whole team had put in so much work all year that this is a fitting accomplishment for them.”

Walking away from this championship victory leaves the team with more confidence and even more aspirations. The victory showed that big goals can be achieved, heading into the rest of the season with the biggest meets still to come.

The Nederland Girls' Cross Country Team after their Foothills League win. From left to right, Lily Troy, Eva Wrobel, Isla Harmon, Emmeline Rosenblum, Amika Begin, and Libby Chandler.

Photo Courtesy of Andrea Begin

“With our two most competitive meets coming up, I’m really excited to see our girls step up and take their performances to the next level," Coombs said. "We definitely expect to make it to State and continue to improve. Our best races of the season are still to come.”

Assistant coach Kathy Butler agreed. “I'm very excited for the team to continue to benefit from all of their hard work as they peak for the final races of the season,” she said.

Regionals, the State-qualifying meet, looms around the corner: October 22 in Lyons. Nederland has a lot to look forward to. In the days leading up, the team will run hard, rest, and prepare for what will surely be a great race.

The Panthers are champions, and it shows.