Madison Shults, a Stanford-bound senior at Niwot High in Colorado and a four-time Class 4A team champion in cross country as well as a national winner in track representing Real Training, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss returning Nov. 19 to Arizona to compete at NXR Southwest at the Coyote Run Golf Course at Leisure World in Mesa. Shults is the lone remaining link to the Niwot lineup that took third in 2019 at NXR Southwest and then placed third at Nike Cross Nationals at Glendoveer Golf Course in Oregon. She reflects on that experience and how instrumental it was in Niwot becoming a nationally recognized program and how the group has continued to build on that success in recent years by producing individual and relay champions at Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, as well as winning the Garmin RunningLane Championships girls team title last year at John Hunt Park in Alabama. Shults explains how meaningful it is to have Nike Cross Nationals back on the schedule Dec. 3 in Portland and the motivation it has provided for Niwot to contend for the girls team championship. She revisits Niwot placing eight athletes in the top 20 and winning Sept. 30 at the Desert Twilight Festival at Coyote Run Golf Course and how valuable that experience will be at the regional meet against elite competition from Colorado and Utah in the girls championship race. Shults examines how much the presence of freshmen Addison Ritzenhein and Anna Prok have added to Niwot's roster, especially replacing four seniors from last year's lineup. She also speaks about how inspirational it has been to have fellow senior Lex Bullen back healthy and competing following medical issues during the summer, and how reassuring it is to have the entire Niwot lineup healthy entering the regional meet. Shults expresses gratitude for Niwot and Real Training coach Kelly Christensen and his guidance and leadership throughout her career, and also thanks assistant coach Katie Rainsberger, a New Balance professional athlete training with Team Boss as well as an Air Academy graduate for her support. She also acknowledges future Stanford teammate and former Niwot competitor Taylor James for convincing her to attend the school and join the program as a freshman in 2019. Shults also speaks about her decision to choose Stanford and reuniting with another former Niwot standout Zane Bergen, along with James, and why she believed it was the ideal fit for her academically and athletically, and how excited she was to see both Cardinal teams win titles Nov. 11 at the NCAA Division 1 West Regional in Washington.

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