On Saturday, Sept. 27, Colorado College’s cross country team dominated the Ted Castaneda Classic, a home meet named after the former runner and CC coach. Athletes commemorated the milestone 50th year of women’s sports by wearing tiger-striped ribbons, and President Manya Whittaker fired the starting gun.
The women secured a 33-point lead over the second-place team, received a perfect score of fifteen points for the second consecutive year, and accounted for 12 of the top 15 finishers. They sported the usual glittery glam and raced in packs of two or three, led by senior Alison Mueller-Hickler, who finished second to an unaffiliated runner. Mueller-Hickler was followed by Charlie Flint ‘27, Abby Goodfried ‘26, Brooktie Frogge ‘26, and Sadie Honig ‘29, in a CC sweep of the top five collegiate scorers–a perfect score.
“This meet was incredible,” said sophomore Chloe Johnson, who was competing in the meet for the first time. “Celebrating 50 years of women’s sports at CC felt extra special alongside my beautiful, powerful, dangerous, gold teammates.”
The men began their 8k race at 9 a.m. and received second place overall, scoring 34 points to Air Force’s 22. In cross country, the fewest points wins. Will Shuflit ‘27 won the men’s race for the second year in a row. After their race, the men gathered to sing “Happy Birthday” to teammate Dominic Schwein ‘25 and then cheered on the women as they ran.
CC was the only NCA DIII school at the meet, competing against Air Force, Chadron State, Trinidad State, and Colorado Northwestern Community College. Despite the steep competition, the Tigers saw many personal and team successes.
The cross country team is sending ten runners from each team to Bethlehem, Penn., on Friday, Oct. 3, for the Paul Short Run.