DENVER – After an unprecedented season for Dolores cross country, the Bears can add a couple of recognitions to their postseason awards haul.
Courtesy of their strong finale in the 2A state championships, senior Elia Lowe and freshman Joseph Padilla landed on the 2A all-state honorable mention team. Lowe, who took 50th in the girls race for her highest placement in her two state appearances, capped her cross-country career alongside a senior class of Bears that led the program to their best stretch in school history. She led Dolores in virtually every race through her four years in the program before closing out her career at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs with a time of 22:42.
Lowe and the Bears took 14th as a team, matching their performance from the year prior, while DHS enjoyed their first two team state appearances in school history.
The boys team, meanwhile, made their first state appearance as a team behind the balanced running of a young squad. Padilla traded the top spot throughout the season with sophomore Owen Lowe and junior Aaron Nielson, with Padilla racing as the number one runner in both the regional and state meet.
The first-year Bears runner claimed 46th in the 2A field with a 5K clocking of 18:20, helping pace the Bears to 13th place in their inaugural state run.
CHSAA selected their all-state teams based on competitor finishing placement at the state championships, with the top seven runners taking first team honors, followed by the next seven earning second team, and the rest of the top 50 earning honorable mention.
