Kyle Smith grew up running on the Nebraska plains. He recently moved to Colorado, working as an intern at the Olympic Training Center.
But after winning the Bash the Bluffs 5K, his first race in Colorado, he think she may have found a home.
"This is great," Smith said. "I can see myself living here."
The Bash the Bluffs course is a tough one, with plenty of hills that burn the legs of some of the area's best runners."
Smith clocked a 17:20, tracking down second-place Andy Rinne (17:34) in the last mile.
Paul Mann of Colorado Springs finished third in 7:42.
In the women's race, Clare Bar captured the top spot with a time of 20:46, followed by Nicole Erlacher (22:41) and Katelyn Swiatek, 22:54.
The race is a fundraiser for the Ed Burke Memorial Scholarship fund.
Burke was a science professor at UCCS.