COLORADO SPRINGS — Addy and Jude Ritzenhein are brazenly aggressive. They race within the swimming pool, then battle for “Mario Kart” dominance.
They even play a recreation of ‘Who can eat essentially the most gross-flavored jelly beans?’ … Arduous to find out the true winner there.
Working-wise, nonetheless, they’re strictly supportive.
On Saturday on the CHSAA state cross nation championships, senior Addy added to her already embellished highschool legacy, sealing a person three-peat by successful the 5A ladies race. Jude, in the meantime, completed sixth in his freshman debut, and the Cougars celebrated each a ladies’ and boys’ crew title.
“It’s so particular to have this final yr with him,” Addy, the Northern Arizona commit, mentioned.
In chilly circumstances at Norris Penrose Occasion Middle, the state’s largest title in ladies operating couldn’t break the course document (16:54.70) she set in 2024, however she nonetheless gained the 5A race by greater than 30 seconds, at 17:08.50.
“Jude is so proficient,” she went on. “Like, he’s going to be a giant title within the subsequent couple of years. I do know he’s going to do one thing tremendous particular and shock everybody … however I additionally wish to be sure there’s no strain on him.”
Like Addy, Jude and the Cougars’ boys crew dominated en path to a 3rd straight title, scoring simply 28 factors in one of the vital dominant showings ever seen on the state meet.
The one time fewer crew factors had been posted in a state race scoring 5 boys runners over the previous decade was Cheyenne Mountain’s 26 in 2021. It was additionally the final time the Cougars didn’t win the crew crown as they completed second to Purple-Tailed Hawks in 4A that season.
“Like initially of the season, I didn’t suppose I’d even be on varsity,” Jude admitted. “And I knew I wasn’t going to be pretty much as good as (Addy) my freshman season. However then, I come into state, and get sixth as a freshman … and that’s simply, like, so cool.”
Hunter Robbie led 5 Niwot runners within the prime 10, inserting second (15:06.40). He adopted in Mountain Vista’s Benjamin Adams (15:03.30), who did an ice-cold gesture — both in celebration or as a result of temperatures had been within the 30s — as he crossed the road for the person win.
Quinn Sullivan was third (15:14.30) for the Cougars, Jude was sixth (15:19.40), Ryder Keeton seventh (15:21.60) and Gabriel Marshall tenth (15:27.10).
“Coming in, clearly our purpose was to win a state title,” mentioned Robbie, who’ll subsequent lead MileSplit’s top-ranked crew within the nation at Nike Cross Regionals-Southwest in Arizona later this month. “We simply wished to have enjoyable with it.”
Lower than 90 minutes after the boys’ win, Addy blew away the 5A ladies discipline because the Cougars (103 factors) edged Heritage (107) for the crew title.
Elise Hagen (18:39.00) was twenty second for Niwot, Anna Prok (18:42.90) twenty fifth, Siona Kelly thirty sixth (18:46.90) and Emily Bolda thirty ninth.
It was the seventh ladies title in eight seasons for the Cougars — they completed fifth of their first yr in 5A a season in the past.
For this system as a complete, it was the fourth time since 2018 it gained the girls and boys crew title in the identical season. They now a dozen crew titles between them.
For the Ritzenheins, the most recent two felt most particular of all.
“I’ll all the time be his No. 1 supporter,” Addy mentioned of her brother Jude. “And I do know he’s most likely my No. 1 supporter as properly.”
