Isabel Allori adds 4 state titles to resume as one of best runners in Fort Collins history

LAKEWOOD — Isabel Allori doesn't take the wins for granted.

Because the Liberty Common standout never expected them early in her now-storied preps career.

"I didn't burst onto the scene. I wasn't always winning races," she said days before the state meet.

"I remember finishing like 18th as a freshman at state cross-country. And it was a great race for me! So, I've always felt like I’m chasing."

Everybody else is chasing Allori now, as she's entered rare air for Fort Collins and Colorado distance runners.

The Eagles' senior had a perfect meet at the 2024 Colorado track & field championships at JeffCo Stadium, winning the 800-, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races and anchoring Liberty Common's 4X800 relay title team.

She started by taking the 3A girls 3,200-meter after propelling Liberty Common to the 3A 4x800 relay crown on Thursday.

"It feels amazing, especially getting to share one with my teammates," Allori said. "That was definitely the best part."

She wasn't finished yet.

Allori followed Friday with a 3A state meet record time (2:09.16) to win the 800 for her third championship of the meet. She made it 4-for-4 and a distance sweep in Saturday's 1,600 meters, breaking her own 3A state meet record by over 10 seconds in 4:45.44.

"The quadruple feels incredible," Allori said after embracing her parents along the fence.

The hardware haul is unreal for a new legend in the Fort Collins high school running pantheon.

Allori's resume? Sparkling.

Back-to-back 3A cross country state titles . Six individual track championships, plus two relay wins.

Pay no attention to the classification, either.

Allori set a Colorado all-class state record in the 3,200 meters (10:04.16) just two weeks ago. Her state-qualifying marks would have ranked first in every Class 5A long-distance race. She also won the 3,000-meter run at the nationally prestigious Arcadia Invitational this spring.

It's all put Allori among the best Fort Collins runners in recent memory, a distinguished list.

We're talking names like Fort Collins High School's Lauren Gregory , Christian Groendyk and Luke Sheesley over the last decade and change. Throw 2023 Heritage Christian graduate Jack Nauman in there, too.

Add post-2000 stars like the Lambkins' Noah Shannon and Erin Hooker or Rocky Mountain's Hilary Bontz to the list. There's over 20 state titles between those seven runners.

"It’s amazing to see her add to that legacy," said Liberty Common coach Rory Schulte. "She’s going down as one of the great Colorado athletes. Being part of that Fort Collins distance community makes it even more special."

Another local sweep: Windsor's Mikey Munn didn't run track until last year. Now he's a 3-time Colorado sprinting champ

Allori herself isn't caught up in all that.

The Notre Dame signee is aware of the tradition, sure. But her humble running beginnings constantly meant something to prove, not legends to chase.

From a "Mighty Milers" program in her Oklahoma middle school to that freshman cross-country finish, which she credits as kickstarting her "true commitment" to being an elite runner.

"You get caught up in the progression," she said. "You're just trying to lower your times and win races and sometimes you forget what is being accomplished.

"It even took me a while for the state record to sink in. Everything is more zoomed in than zoomed out."

This weekend was the final close-up and a redemption story.

Allori would likely already have had more gold medals if not for an ill-timed injury.

Like this weekend, she entered last year's state track meet as the top seed in all three distance events, a sweep very much in play.

"Everything went downhill so quickly," Allori said. "My foot started hurting the Saturday before state and just didn't get better until (the summer). That's definitely been fuel for the fire this time."

Also fueling Allori is the dedication to her track teammates, especially her fellow seniors.

When she was healthy two seasons ago, Liberty Common rolled to the 2A team title, largely thanks to Allori's hand in three wins.

"That state title, she added the missing piece and scored a ton of points for us," Schulte said.

It was on display again in the Eagles' 4x800-meter relay win Thursday. Allori turned a five-second deficit at the final handoff into a four-second win with a virtuoso half-mile finishing kick into the finish.

"We did it, state champs!" she yelled with her exhausted, exhilarated relay teammates (Ella Howe, Grace Berkhausen, Ali Gomez) as they embraced after the race.

"The 4x800 meant the world to me," she added later. "Honestly, I’ve been stressing about it all season because I wanted to win it so bad with those girls."

Less than two hours later, Allori delivered another masterclass, winning the 3A 3,200-meter title.

She stayed patient after Eaton's Delaney Reuter opened up a big early lead and controlled the final mile, cruising ahead to win by six seconds.

"I got the nerves out on the relay," she said. "I’ve run so many crazy competitive 3,200s, so this one was about mentally staying composed and trusting my instincts."

"It’s so special to be back at JeffCo," Allori said. "Every time I come down the home stretch, it’s a moment to soak in."

Even though she didn't match her recent two-mile state mark, Allori still broke the 3A girls state meet record (one that stood for over two decades) with a time of 10:39.03.

Saturday's win was practically a formality, with Allori leading wire-to-wire and cruising down the back stretch to raucous cheers from the crowd as the PA announced called her, "One of the greats in Colorado history!"

What's left beyond these wins is "bittersweet."

A step up to college competition that she's ready to handle. She chose Notre Dame intentionally because the team has so many runners far faster than even Colorado's best.

Allori craves that competition.

"I’m excited to have more people to train with. I log a lot of miles alone right now."

She's been miles ahead (figuratively, of course) the last two seasons, culminating in one last historic chase.

Consider it a benchmark for the next great Fort Collins runner. Or just about any Colorado girls athlete.

"Isabel's a special athlete and has prepared for these exact moments," Schulte said.

"She gets to leave one final stamp in Colorado running history."

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Isabel Allori adds 4 state titles to resume as one of best runners in Fort Collins history