Niwot’s Hunter Robbie Leads Team to Historic Cross Country Wins

Niwot High School senior Hunter Robbie has made headlines as he and his boys cross country team achieved remarkable victories this fall. They secured the state meet title for a third consecutive year, followed by winning the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) for the second straight time. This season, Robbie played a crucial role in leading the Cougars to unprecedented success.

In November, at the state meet held in Colorado Springs, Robbie finished in second place, contributing to a winning team score of 28 points. This score marks the lowest recorded in Colorado’s 5A classification at state level. The team then faced an even greater challenge at NXN in Portland, Oregon, where they clinched the high school national championship once again. Their score of 61 points in the boys’ race set a new record for the fewest points scored in the 21-year history of the event.

Robbie finished just 1.2 seconds behind his junior teammate Quinn Sullivan, placing fifth individually, while Sullivan took sixth. Reflecting on the team’s performance, Robbie noted, “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy (at NXN) because there were a bunch of great teams. But I feel like our team just tried harder this year and worked harder this year.” His commitment to the sport and the team contributed significantly to their historic achievements.

Despite the spotlight on the record-setting team, Robbie’s individual accomplishments deserve recognition. Throughout the fall season, he won three meets and secured second place in three others. His victories include the Centaurus Bernie Gay Invitational, which featured 25 schools, the 51-team St. Vrain Invite, and the Granite Peak League Championships. He finished behind teammate Rocco Culpepper at regionals, as well as to Ben Adams, who set a course record at state, and Utah’s Jackson Spencer at the NXN Southwest Regional.

Robbie’s passion for competition is evident. Kelly Christensen, the Niwot coach, remarked, “He’s begging me every week to race, even if it’s a JV race, asking if he can jump in and help pace. He just loves the competition. It fuels him.” This enthusiasm has caught the attention of collegiate programs, including Duke University, which expressed interest in Robbie’s running abilities.

Next year, Robbie will join the Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina, where he hopes to contribute to an improving program. “I think they’re an up-and-coming program, so I thought it would be cool to be a part of a team that is trying to get better every year,” he stated. His experience at Niwot, where the team steadily improved each season, parallels his aspirations for growth at Duke.

As the season concludes, Robbie’s achievements not only highlight his individual talent but also underscore the collaborative efforts of the Niwot cross country team, which has now etched its name in the annals of high school sports history.