Elise Cranny, former Niwot High star, beats the heat to make Olympics in 5,000

Elise Cranny
Elise Cranny celebrates after winning the finals of women’s 5000-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Monday, June 21, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Elise Cranny used a late kick to pull away for the win the women’s 5,000 meters Monday at U.S. trials and make her first Olympic team.

Joining her in Tokyo will be Karissa Schweizer and Rachel Schneider.

Cranny, who went to college at Stanford after winning state titles as a high schooler at Niwot High School, finished in a season-best 15 minutes, 27.81 seconds on a sweltering day at Hayward Field. The temperature was 93 degrees when she crossed the finish line.

Cranny, 25, was the 2013-14 Denver Post female student-athlete of the year.

Niwot High School