Those that have been following the high school sports scene in Summit County over the last four years have grown accustomed to seeing the names Ella Hagen and Josh Shriver.

The two distance runners have fundamentally shaped the cross-country and track programs at Summit High School since they joined the team as freshmen. Not only have the athletes placed highly at the annual state competitions the past few years, but they also played a major role in Summit sweeping the Class 4A Region 1 cross-country meet for the first time in program history this past fall.

Due to the accomplishments of both athletes, Hagen and Shriver were inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame on Tuesday, April 8. As one of the four high school girls receiving an award at the event, Hagen earned the women’s 2025 Outstanding Colorado High School Runner of the Year award. 

“It is a special one just knowing that the community that has given me so much has brought me to these places,” Hagen said. “It is a special one, knowing the legacy of running in Colorado and how many incredible athletes there have been that have begun their journey here.”

With two, cross-country state titles and a track and field state title to her name, Hagen was more than deserving to receive the award. Beyond her placings at the state meet, Hagen has personal best marks of 4:54.35 in the 1600, 10:06.19 in the 3200, and 16:45 in the 5k — all of which are school records.

Additionally, Hagen has had a name, image and likeness deal since the summer of 2024. Upon graduating later this spring, Hagen will become a member of the University of Colorado’s cross-country and track and field programs in Boulder.

Hagen joins a strong core of former female Outstanding Colorado High School Runner of the Year award winners like Addison Ritzenhein (2024), Emma Stutzman (2023), Riley Stewart (2022) and Parker Wolfe (2021).

“Getting to share that with Josh as well was a special moment,” Hagen said. “Having that with a teammate who I have been training with for so many years was super special and a really cool part of it. I had a lot of emotions and gratitude for it.”

Cheyenne Mountain High School’s Aiden Le Roux won the men’s 2025 Outstanding Colorado High School Runner of the Year award.

Shriver won one of the 2025 High School Achievement Awards at the hall of fame ceremony. With only current seniors being eligible to win the award, Shriver and Cheyenne Mountain High School’s Brogan Collins were recognized for their contributions to the high school running scene in Colorado.

“Everyone is young once and they have the people they look up to,” Shriver said. “Whether that is on your own team or across the state. … It is such an honor and a privilege to be recognized in that regard. I kind of set the precedent and model for the generation of runners coming up behind me that are going to be pushing it to higher heights than me and my age group ever reached.”

Shriver has seen a fairly steady progression since his freshman year. Shriver most notably took 10th place at the 2023 and 2024 Colorado state cross-country meet and placed fifth in the 1600 at the state track meet his junior year. 

Shriver owns personal bests of 1:57.89 in the 800, 4:14.72  in the 1600, 9:21.08 in the 3200 and 15:14 in the 5k. Shriver owns the 1600 and 3200-meter school records. 

Beyond Shriver and Collins, Denver East High School’s Rosie Mucharsky, Fossil Ridge High School’s Tatum Berg and Air Academy High School’s Tessa Walter also received High School Achievement Awards. 

Now midway through their senior track seasons, Hagen and Shriver will travel to California to compete in the Arcadia Invitational. Considered one of the most competitive meets in the country and as the “Home of National Records”, Hagen and Shriver will attempt to run fast times at Arcadia High School from Friday, April 11, through Saturday, April 12.

Hagen will compete in the women’s 2-mile run with Shriver toeing the line in the men’s 3200-meter run and the mile. Hagen has ran in the meet since her sophomore season while Shriver will be making his debut at the meet.

Last spring, Hagen ran 10 minutes, 6.19 seconds in the 3200, a seven-second improvement from her time during her sophomore season. A little over a month away from the Colorado state track and field meet in Lakewood, both athletes will work on race tactics and running in ultra-competitive fields in California.

“I am looking forward to getting out there, competing and having some fun,” Hagen said. “It is an incredible field this year, it has been the last few years. The energy at the meet — where everyone is there to try their hardest — is pretty special. It is a lot of fun. Just excited to go out there and race as hard as I can.”

“I am incredibly excited to fly out there this year,” Shriver said. “The 3200 is an event I have struggled with, but that is not saying that I am content with the setbacks and frustrations I have faced. I have worked a lot with my coach on having a better mindset towards the 3200. … When I have the fitness, it is kind of that mental side that limits me. That is something I want to work on this weekend and I think it is going to help me have a great race.”

Shriver led off the action on Friday night in the men’s 3200 before turning his focus to the mile on Saturday at 8:59 p.m. Hagen will run in the 2-mile on Saturday night at 9:06 p.m. Both athletes will be joined by junior Faith Fox who will compete in the girls 300-meter hurdles on Saturday afternoon at 2:42 p.m.

A livestream will be provided on RunnerSpace.com.