Team Nationals Girls Quick Recap: Saratoga Springs Dominates

RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS | MEET COVERAGE

PORTLAND, Ore. | One of the country's storied programs added to its recent success Saturday morning amid cold and windy conditions. 

Saratoga Springs soared across the country as favorites to claim the Team Cross National title, and they soared over the competition to do just that.

With four returning from their 2019 squad who won nationals, Saratoga Springs blitzed the field with an impressive 1-5 spread of just 23-seconds. 

While the team race appeared all but wrapped up, Anya Belisle closed the door, finishing 59th to solidify Saratoga Springs' US No. 1 ranking. 

Saratoga Springs claimed the title with 81 points.

With the team title decided, the question shifted as to how everyone else would fare, as US No. 2 Buchanan and US No. 3 Niwot were also in the field. 

The answer was this one came down to single digits, and it went to Niwot.

The Colorado squad tallied 109 points to take the runner-up spot - a program best. Buchanan was third just seven-points back in 116.

Meanwhile, Irene Riggs stated her intentions early. 

The Morgantown senior set a hot early pace, leaving the pack to decide on whether or not to pace themselves, or give chase. 

Within the first kilometer Riggs held a lead of several seconds, and it only lengthened from there. The Morgantown senior used the second mile to put this race away. 

Heading into the final mile her lead was nearly 100 meters. 

While Riggs was off running in her own race, a pack of three battle it out for the two remaining podium spots. 

Valor Christian's Brooke Wilson led Air Academy's Bethany Michalak and Wayzata's Abbey Nechanicky into the final mile. 

It's of additional note that Wilson and Michalak -- both Coloradans -- have been racing each other since their middle school days. 

Riggs kept the pedal to the floor through the final mile, as she stormed up the final double-hill and to her first national title in dominating fashion. Her early work allowed her to have the entire final straightaway to herself. Riggs capped her senior year with an unblemished record, running the fastest time on this course ever - a 16:40 clocking.

What made Riggs' victory all the more impressive was the fact that she revealed she had a freak-injury early in the season -- her right foot was mashed under the tire of a car, and she missed three weeks of running.

Saturday's result was the culmination of a comeback season that couldn't have finished any better.

With the individual national title decided, still up for grabs were second and third-place.

Wilson's attack of the final mile led her up the double-hill with a slight lead, while Nechanicky battled to hold off a late-charging Michalak. 

Wilson maintained her spot all the way down the final straight, while fellow Coloradan and friend Michalak stormed into the the final podium spot over the final 150 meters. 

Wilson -- the Colorado 5A State Champ -- finished in the runner-up spot in 16:54. Michalak took third a second-back in 16:55, while Nechanicky also dipped under 17-minutes, running 16:59.

TOP 10 RESULTS