Imagine this as your photo backdrop on Saturday morning!
Entries are steadily coming in for Saturdays running of the National High School Trail Championships in Salida on Saturday. And, for a first-year event, they aren't looking bad.
Here's a sneak peak at a few names on the list (which isn't necessarily a guarantee that all of them will actually show up to run): Paige Embaugh, Lauren Gregory, James Gregory, Winter Boese, Maggi Congdon, Sam Schaffer, Taryn Ceglowski, Mary Fox, Andrew Rudnicki, and many, many more.
Temperatures look to be starting out in the 50s on Saturday morning and will probably be in the 60s or low 70s by race time. A good chance of rain all week should help keep the dust down on the trails for the inaugural running of the event.
Race trophies are being designed by Salida cross country parent Mark Minor and will have a distinctively Salida-esque flair to them. If you've ever attended the Salida Cross Country Invitational, you've come to expect nothing less.
A sneak preview of an unfinished trophy is provided below:
Online registration continues through July 27. There is a race-day registration option available as well, but at a steeper asking price.
More information about the race itself can be found at the event website.
As I am committed to attending the Colorado High School Coaches Association Multi-Sport Clinic that day, I am actively welcoming photo submissions to accompany a coverage article of the event.
Racing begins at 7:30 AM with the Beas Knees Citizens Race.