(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Valor Christian junior Cole Sprout was named Colorado’s boys cross country runner of the year by Gatorade on Monday.
It is the second-straight year that Sprout has won the award. He was also named the boys track and field athlete of the year last spring by Gatorade.
Sprout now becomes a finalist for the national award.
“Cole is the grittiest athlete I’ve ever coached,” said Valor Christian coach Greg Coplen. “He has incredible self-discipline and a strong faith.”
Sprout won the Class 5A cross country championship last fall, finishing in a course-record of 15:16.1. He also won the Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional championships, and was third at the NXN Final.
In the classroom, Sprout has a 3.98 GPA. He volunteers locally on behalf of a soup kitchen and Operation Christmas Child.