Friday was perfect for running, with the cooler temperatures, cloudy skies and not a shadow in sight.

After spending the past few seasons in the background while their respective teammates earned success and recognition, Cherry Creek junior Walter Schafer and Dakota Ridge senior Natosha Rogers are emerging into top contenders for state titles, earning impressive victories at the Cherry Creek Invitational cross country meet at Cherry Creek Reservoir.

"I'm feeling great about this today, I'm really happy about winning this," said Schafer, who completed his home course in 15 minutes, 30 seconds. "I took the lead right from the start and ran the race by myself."

Schafer spent last year running behind Charles White, who competed for the Bruins as a senior and finished second in the Class 5A state meet while Schafer finished eighth. With White having graduated, Schafer hopes this could be his year.

He also hoped to race against Dakota Ridge senior Evan Appel, the 5A defending state champion, who was sick and decided to skip the race to be ready for the Liberty Bell Invitational next week. Without Appel to set the pace, Schafer took off and sprinted to an early lead.

Along with Mullen's Andrew Berberick, the Wheat Ridge pack of Dart Schwaderer, Henry Cowhick and Scott Fauble continued to stay in the hunt and changed positions throughout the race. With a mile remaining, Schwaderer broke away from the chase pack and made his move.

"He (Schafer) did so much out there by himself, and I went out a little slow so he got a huge gap on us," said Schwaderer, who finished 4 seconds behind Schafer. "I started to catch up to him in that last mile and got him in my sights in the last 50 meters, but it just wasn't enough."

Berberick broke Mullen's school record with a time of 15:47 to finish third, and Cowhick and Fauble finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The Farmers crew settled for third place in the team division, as Cherry Creek won with 81 points, ahead of Chaparral (95) and Wheat Ridge (109.)

Fort Collins won the girls team title with 38 points, ahead of Doherty (91) and Dakota Ridge (95.)

But Dakota Ridge had the clear winner with Rogers, who is running her first season without her older sister, Alexa, the 2007 5A state champion who is running for Vanderbilt.

"She used to always set the pace when we ran," said Rogers, who finished fourth at the 5A state meet last year. "But now I almost feel like I'm running harder because I miss running with her so much."

Rogers also broke away from the rest of the field early, knowing that Fort Collins' Miranda Benzel and Cherry Creek's Clare Gallagher weren't going to give up without a fight. The two finished Nos. 2-3, respectively, behind Rogers in the meet last week at Fossil Ridge.

"I had them just a few feet back the whole way, and I could hear their feet behind me," said Rogers, who completed the course in 18:02 ahead of Benzel (18:20) and Gallagher (18:34.) "But I really wanted to win this. I just felt it in me today."

Cherry Creek Invitational

BOYS

Team scores: Cherry Creek 81, Chaparral 95, Wheat Ridge 109, Heritage 132, Fort Collins 133, Dakota Ridge 141, Monarch 162, Falcon 189, Cheyenne Central, Wyo., 237, Doherty 264, Bear Creek 302, Chatfield 327, Lewis-Palmer 367, Arvada 376, Columbine 377, Air Academy 378, Cheyenne East, Wyo., 477.

Individuals: 1, Walter Schafer, Cherry Creek, 15 minutes, 30 seconds; 2, Dart Schwaderer, Wheat Ridge, 15:34; 3, Andrew Berberick, Mullen, 15:47; 4, Henry Cowhick, Wheat Ridge, 15:54; 5, Scott Fauble, Wheat Ridge, 15:59; 6, Austin Appel, Dakota Ridge, 16:22; 7, Alex Balsinger, Chaparral, 16:40; 8, Devin Rathburn, Cheyenne Central, 16:49; 9, Erik Williams, Doherty, 16:50; 10, Cameron Delhia, Heritage, 16:51.

GIRLS

Team scores: Fort Collins 38, Doherty 91, Dakota Ridge 95, Mullen 122, Chaparral 163, Cherry Creek 165, Cheyenne Central, Wyo., 222, Monarch 239, Wheat Ridge 247, Columbine 274, Heritage 285, Lewis Palmer 294, Air Academy 299, Bear Creek 321, Chatfield 405, Cheyenne East, Wyo., 410, Ralston Valley 491.

Individuals: 1, Natosha Rogers, Dakota Ridge, 18:02; 2, Miranda Benzel, Fort Collins, 18:20; 3, Clare Gallagher, Cherry Creek, 18:34; 4, Paige Lillo, Dakota Ridge, 18:57; 5, Lynnea Sjoerdsma, Doherty, 19:12; 6, Rachel Viger, Fort Collins, 19:18; 7, Tati Ogan, Fort Collins, 19:29; 8, Kirsten Follett, Fort Collins, 19:33; 9, Caroline Hine, Chaparral, 19:38; 10, Jessica Lemaster, Cheyenne Central, 19:39.