LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Stadium, site of the Colorado High School State Track and Field Meet on May 15-17, was a busy place late afternoon Thursday.
Arvada, Bear Creek, D’Evelyn, Dakota Ridge, Green Mountain, Littleton, Pomona, Standley Lake and Wheat Ridge took part in the Jeffco Qualifier #2 in the final track meet before spring break for Jeffco Public Schools.
Isaac Green made history on Thursday morning, becoming the first athlete from his school to ever win a Gatorade player of the year award.
Green, a senior who stars in track and cross country, was named Colorado’s boys track and field athlete of the year by the organization.
He won the 800-, 1600-, and 3200-meter races at the Class 5A state meet last May, as well as running the lead leg of Monarch’s championship 4×800 relay team. The Coyotes finished second as a team thanks in large part to his efforts.
After the season, Green was named the 5A athlete of the year as part of the all-state teams.
Green, also a two-time cross country champion, is now a finalist for the national athlete of the year award, which will be announced later in June.
“Isaac is an outstanding athlete and an outstanding young man,” Monarch coach Kent Rieder said in a statement. “His accomplishments speak for themselves, in track and cross country, but for him, the team has always come first, over his individual ambitions.”
Green, who has a 3.68 GPA, will run at the University of Washington this fall.
Pomona High School graduate Brandon Micale, fourth from the right, after receiving the 48th annual Freddie Steinmark Award on June 9. Micale was also named the Class 5A Male Jeffco Athlete of the Year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Pomona High School graduate Brandon Micale has collected multiple awards after the end of the 2016-17 school year.
The three-sport (football, wrestling and track) not only picked up the Class 5A Jeffco Male Athlete of the Year award June 9 during the 32nd annual Jeffco Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, Micale was also presented the coveted Freddie Steinmark Award by the Colorado High School Coaches Association.
“It definitely means a lot to me to be recognized for all the accomplishments,” Micale said. “It seems like its just for this year, but it’s really for four years of hard work in the weight room and on the field.”
Micale, who will play football at the University of San Diego next fall, was also recognized at a Colorado Rockies game this month after being named the Colorado High School Activities Association Active Scholar Scholarship.
Pomona’s three-sport athlete Brandon Micale, left, stands with Mike Santarelli, Pomona Athletic Director. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
The Pomona graduate spent a lot of time last winter visiting multiple schools before deciding to head to the West Coast for college. Some of his visits included John Hopkins University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Micale helped lead Pomona to back-to-back 5A state football championship games. Was on back-to-back 5A state wrestling championship teams and helped the Panthers’ boys track team to a state title in 2016. All while tackling differential equations and linear algebra.
He finished off his outstanding prep athlete career winning the Class 5A boys discus event last month at the state track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium.
“That was huge for me,” Micale said of concluding his prep career by winning his lone individual state title. “I’ve won team titles with wrestling and track, but I always left at the end of the season with a fourth or third place individual title. It was the only season where I wasn’t like ‘darn’ at the end of the season. It was the first time I’ve ever rode home from a state championship happy. I left at the top.”
Ralston Valley’s four-sport (cross country, basketball, girls soccer and track) Sarah Bevington was named the 5A Jeffco Female Athlete of the Year.
Jeffco 5A Female Athlete of the Year Sarah Bevington, left, and Ralston Valley’s Athletic Director Jim Hynes. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Jim Hynes, Ralston Valley’s Athletic Director, described Bevington as “Wonder Woman” during his introduction of the Ralston Valley graduate who finished with 16 varsity letters during her four years as a Mustang.
Bevington will play soccer at Baylor University next fall.
Another four-sport athlete was named the Jeffco 4A Male Athlete of the Year. Dylan Jacob, who heads to Western State Colorado University to play football, left Green Mountain High School with a total of 14 varsity letters in football, basketball, boys swimming and baseball.
Green Mountain’s Dylan Jacob, middle, was named the 4A Jeffco Male Athlete of the Year. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
“He is an athlete who has meant the world to me over the last few years,” Green Mountain football coach Matt Pees said. “He is a young man who exceeded expectations every step of the way during his career.”
Golden graduate Sydney Prey was named the Jeffco 4A Female Athlete of the Year. The basketball and golf standout wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, but she has a good reason. Prey was in Alamosa playing in the CHSCA All-State Games.
Prey, who will play hoops and golf at Colorado Mesa College, led the Demons to their first 4A Jeffco League girls basketball title in nearly a decade. She also became a four-time state golf qualifier, placing fifth in the 4A state tournament last month.
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Jeffco Athletics 2016-17 Awards
Athletes of the Year
Jeffco 5A Male: Brandon Micale, Pomona
Jeffco 5A Female: Sarah Bevington, Ralston Valley
Jeffco 4A Male: Dylan Jacob, Green Mountain
Jeffco 4A Female: Sydney Prey, Golden
Coaches of the Year
Jeffco 5A Coach of Male Sports: Sam Federico, Pomona
Jeffco 5A Coach of Female Sports: Stephanie Schick, Chatfield
Jeffco 4A Coach of Male Sports: Bret McGatlin, Chatfield
Jeffco 4A Coach of Female Sports: Sandi Patterson, Green Mountain
Assistant Coaches of the Year
Jeffco 5A Asst. of Male Sports: Todd Moore, Arvada West
Jeffco 5A Asst. of Female Sports: Gary Lash, Lakewood
Jeffco 4A Asst. of Female Sports: Dan Patterson, Green Mountain
Fred Steinmark Team Award
Jeffco 5A: Ralston Valley
Jeffco 4A: D’Evelyn
Paul Davis Sportsmanship Award
Jeffco 5A: Columbine & Chatfield
Jeffco 4A: D’Evelyn
A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights, interviews and schedules with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features state title action with the all-Jeffco Class 4A girls soccer championship match between D’Evelyn and Evergreen, along with Evergreen baseball’s improbable run to the 4A title game. Also, Ralston Valley’s girls golf team made history winning the 5A state team title. Dakota Ridge’s girls lacrosse team also made history advancing to the state quarterfinals. And finally, highlights of the state track and field meet.
Pomona’s Brandon Micale certainly was amazed and overwhelmed when notified that he had won the 2017 CHSCA Freddie Steinmark Award.
“Really? Oh man, this is amazing. Wow, I don’t know what to say! I didn’t think I would win it and it is such an honor,” he said. “Many other athletes are deserving of this award. I am thankful for what my coaches, teachers, teammates, and family have done for me. This is the highest high school award you can receive.”
Brandon Micale is the 48th winner of the Steinmark Award since it was established in 1972 (there were two winners in 1976 and 1979) and he is certainly deserving. He becomes the first Steinmark Award recipient in the history of Pomona High School.
The Steinmark Award honors Freddie Steinmark, who excelled in football, basketball, and baseball while attending Wheat Ridge High School in the 1960s. He was also an outstanding student and was active in several school and community-oriented endeavors before attending the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns to the national football title in 1969. He died from cancer in 1971 at the age of 22.
“Even to be nominated for this award is a tremendous honor and I am truly humbled to be among the applicants,” wrote Brandon in his nomination letter. “I would like to recognize my coaches and teachers for giving me the absolute best guidance I could ask for on the field and in the classroom. I would like to thank my teammates and lifelong friends for congratulating me after my most defining achievements and picking me up after my most humbling losses.” Brandon is also thankful for the influence of his parents, Jeff and Cheryl, as they helped point him in the right direction and have served as models of selflessness for him to strive to achieve in his future relationships.
“I will never be Freddie Steinmark. I will never be the athlete, leader, or man that Freddie Steinmark was. But I can do my absolute best to try to emulate his passion and spirit. I can compete against top tier athletes with a complete disregard for my undersized frame, and make up for it with my heart and passion. I can try my best to be a leader on the field and in the classroom, and I can do my best to rally others and help them perform at their absolute best. … Nothing I do will come close to the humbling example Freddie Steinmark left for others, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do my part to make the world a better place.”
(Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)
Brandon surely has had a positive impact in the classroom at Pomona High School where he graduated in the top 5 of a class of over 300 students. His weighted GPA of 4.46 carried over into a score of 33 on the ACT. Brandon was an AP Scholar with Honor and an invitee to the National Council of Science and Mathematics Conference.
The National Football Foundation recently recognized Brandon as one of the top scholar athletes in Colorado. Brandon is excited for the opportunity to continue his academic, and athletic, career at the University of San Diego.
His hard work carried over to the athletic arena as Brandon was twice honored as part of the CHSAANow.com all-state football teams, including a first-team selection last fall. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Brandon played with energy and tenacity that helped him become a playmaker on his modestly-sized frame.
This energy showed up on the stat sheets with 121 tackles, of which 75 were solo tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback sacks. An outstanding football career was capped by a runner-up finish in 5A football and a selection to play in the Blue-Gray All-American Bowl.
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Brandon’s penchant for excelling in an undersized role carried over to wrestling, where he placed 3rd in the 285-pound class despite being outweighed by almost every opponent. A career wrestling record of 72-27 resulted in state placing of 5th his sophomore year and being a regional champion his junior year.
To round out Brandon’s outstanding athletic career, he was a standout in the fine group of throwers on the Pomona High School track and field team.
Again, he was not the biggest thrower in the ring, but his athletic ability and determination made him a two-time state qualifier in the shot put and discus. Brandon followed up a 4rh place finish in the discus as a junior with a championship performance as a senior. His throw of 160-1 was a new personal best and a wonderful way to cap off a tremendous high school athletic career.
His Twitter account later that day carried the message “Only took me 7 tries…finally a state champ…5A discus.”
Citizenship is also an important part of the Steinmark Award winner’s contributions to their school and communities. Brandon’s participation in this area is notable. In addition to volunteering at youth sports camps and being a youth wrestling instructor, Brandon spent time during his summers as an outdoor academic lab leader and a counselor in the Fit to be Kids Summer Program. These activities are important to Brandon as he continues to “chase my dreams while simultaneously helping others to reach theirs.”
Brandon’s track coach, Jeff Donnel, shared that, “Brandon believes that a strong body and strong mind are one in the same. He felt that it was important for kids to live a healthy lifestyle and he wanted to show them that you can be smart and athletic at the same time.”
(Matt Mathewes/MVPSportsPics.com)
Brandon was grateful for the opportunity to work with kids that have experienced obstacles in their lives and was extremely appreciative of the opportunity to work with children living with autism spectrum disorder.
The CHSCA Freddie Steinmark Award trophies will be presented to the Steinmark winners, June 9, 2017 as part of the CHSCA All-State Games hosted by Adams State University in Alamosa. Brandon will be joined by Douglas County’s Jordan Acosta, who will receive the girls Steinmark Award.
As noted, the trophies are for both boys and girls, and they must be seniors who have maintained a GPA of at least 3.0 and participated in at least two varsity sports and earned at least All-Conference in one sport and All-State in another.
Dave Logan of Wheat Ridge High School, and now the extremely well-known sports announcer for the Denver Broncos and other sports endeavors, was the first winner of the award in 1972.
Chris Canty of Sanford won the boys Steinmark last year and Tara Traphagan of Yuma was the winner for the girls.
Following is the list of boys who were nominated for the 2017 Steinmark Award: Darren DeLaCroix, Greeley West; Max Gonzalez, Cherokee Trail; Mikey Griebel, Columbine; Austin Herman, Holyoke; Bradley Rogers Johnson, Kit Carson; Chad Mikelson, Julesburg; Tanner Norman, The Classical Academy; and Cody Venem, Rocky Ford.
LAKEWOOD — Jeffco Stadium is where it all began for Sarah Yocum, at least in the realm of track and field.
The sensational Faith Christian sprinter and hurdler will have fond memories of a stadium that has become hallowed ground for Colorado track.
“I actually ran my first high school race ever here,” the Baylor University recruit said. “I ran the 100-meter hurdles. I was playing soccer at the time too and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I came out and I finished my first race and my coach said, ‘Congratulations, you just qualified for state.’ One of my teammates was like, ‘You just set the school record!’”
What followed for Yocum was eight state championships in 3A — four in a row in the 300 hurdles, three in the 100 hurdles and one in the 400-meter dash — in what added up to be one of the greatest careers in Colorado history.
On Sunday, the final day of the 2017 state track meet, she simply was putting the finishing touches on that career with titles No. 7 and No. 8 in the 100 hurdles (14.36) and 400 (56.92). She also claimed the 300 hurdle crown on Saturday in a time of 43.95 seconds.
“This was my last race of high school, so obviously I wanted to finish it with a title,” she said of the 400. “I had never earned a title outside of the hurdles. I just want to enjoy this. I am really thankful for the girls I got to do it with.”
Yocum was the runner-up in the 200-meter dash as well, finishing in 25.26 seconds. She capped off an illustrious four years with 16 individual state medals, four every year in the 200, 400, 100 hurdles, and 300 hurdles. Junior teammate Payton Walter (15.27) finished second in the 100 hurdles.
Yocum has a way of standing out, but at a meet with all five classifications competing on the same days at the same venue, Yocum’s victories weren’t the only highlights on Sunday.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Isaac Green and his fellow Monarch Coyotes performed historically well in the distance events again. A day after Green, Charlie Perry and Zach Litoff swept the top three places in the 5A 3,200, with Green and Litoff teaming with William Dixon and Sean Gazarik to win the 3,200 relay for the second straight year, Green (4:21.98), Perry (4:22.44) and Litoff (4:22.70) swept the top places in the 1,600 in the same order.
Oh, and Cayce Reese also medaled for Monarch, placing eighth in 4:25.31.
In a dramatic 800 final, Denver East’s Hayelom Fitsum appeared poised to claim the crown with a lead throughout. But, a stumble and fall a few strides from the finish line allowed Green to sweep the distance events with a winning time of 1:52.92. Fitsum got up for sixth place in 1:56.43. Litoff placed fifth.
Monarch made a serious run at their first team title in boys track and field after winning 5A cross country in the fall as Monarch junior Cole Rowan (16-00) and sophomore Max Manson (15-01) finished first and second in pole vault. Nico Heineke also placed 4th in discus. The Coyotes tallied 101 points, but came up just short in the final standings to Fountain-Fort Carson (106).
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Fountain rode their usual firepower in sprints and jumps — Donovan Williams first in 100 and 200, Jequan Hogan first in triple jump and high jump, third in long jump and fifth in 110 hurdles, Jalen Lyon second in 400 and fourth in 200, Jason Farrell third in 300 hurdles — to their 18th state championship in boys track and field.
The Trojans won the title in dramatic fashion, clinching on the final event of the meet, with a second-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay.
They are now tied with Denver East for the second-most titles in boys track and field of any school in Colorado history, only trailing Fort Collins (20). The Trojans also won the 400-meter relay and placed second in the 800 relay. They were eighth in the 3,200 relay and Iosua Maika was fifth in the shot put. Fountain-Fort Carson has conquered 5A three of the past four years as a result.
Vista Ridge, a school that opened its doors in 2008, won their second state championship in boys track and field by claiming 4A. They also won in 2013. The Wolves were too tough to match this season as a group with relays that were fantastic, finishing first in the 400 relay (42.16), the 800 relay (1:29.14) and the 1,600 relay (3:19.92). They also scored a bundle of points in the field events.
The Lady Wolves of Vista Ridge also had a strong showing, winning the 800-meter sprint medley relay in 1:48.39 on Saturday. Alexis Dubiel was the discus champion as well.
Other highlights included:
Class 5A
Grandview won a girls track title for the first time with 120 points. The team crown never seemed in doubt after such a strong first day of competition. The Wolves won the 800 relay (1:41.12), the sprint medley relay (1:46.57) and the 1,600 relay (3:55). Freshman Lily Williams was runner-up in the 400, Kylee Harr won high jump (5-8), basketball star Michaela Onyenwere was 2nd in 100 and 3rd in 200, Brie Oakley shattered the Colorado record in the 3,200 (10:09), and the Wolves corralled plenty of other points in multiple events.
Rocky Mountain junior Gabriella McDonald swept the throws with marks of 42-3 in shot put and 154-3 in discus (new 5A state meet record).
Fort Collins senior Audra Koopman (Penn State recruit) defended her long jump crown by going 19 feet, one half inch.
Fellow Fort Collins senior Lauren Gregory (University of Arkansas) won a 5A double in the 800 (2:10.94) and 1,600 (4:50.77), overtaking Grandview standout Brie Oakley (4:51.01) by a slim margin in a fantastic race. Gregory finished her illustrious career with one title in the 800, one in the 1,600, two in the 3,200, and three in cross country.
Highlands Ranch (3:23.13) finished first in an entertaining 1,600 relay.
Rock Canyon junior Emily Sloan (13.58) blew away the field in the 100 hurdles while defending her championship from last year.
Rampart senior Xavier Bishop-falu (14.25) claimed the 110 hurdles crown.
For the second consecutive season, Denver East’s Arria Minor won the 100 (11.53), the 200 (23.57) and the 400 (53.30). She is already one of the premier sprinters in state history.
Hinkley senior Darrien Wells (47.62) won back-to-back titles in the 400. He was also runner-up in 100 and 200.
Fruita Monument senior Gunner Rigsby (22-10.50) claimed long jump.
Monarch freshman Mia Manson (12-6) won the pole vault. She has been the top freshman in America this spring in the event.
Cherokee Trail girls (Jaiden Paris, Taylor Watson, Chian Deloach, Sydnee Larkin) won the 400 relay in 47.48. Larkin (36-10.50) won back-to-back state titles in triple jump as well, holding off Loveland’s Tatum Rembao (36-8.25), a Creighton University basketball recruit.
Class 4A
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Air Academy won their first-ever state championship in 4A girls track. Senior Maria Mettler conquered the 800 and 3,200, while also finishing as the runner-up to Mountain View’s Lauren Offerman in the 1,600. Junior Olivia Whitaker won the 100 and was second in the 200.
Air Academy senior Nik Chapee also won the 200 (21.65) and 400 (47.90). Harrison freshman Tyrese Van Horne (47.95) was runner-up in the 400 in a time that ranks second out of all freshmen in America at the moment.
Niwot’s Alexis Carroll (long jump and triple jump champion) and Mary Gillett (200 and 400 champion, second in 100 and long jump) were fantastic for the Cougars, helping Niwot finish second as a team in 4A.
Valor Christian sophomore Anna Hall was the hurdle queen, topping all competitors in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. She is a budding phenom nationally as a heptathlete, also finishing second in high jump (5-6). Valor’s Chase McLean won pole vault as well.
Silver Creek junior Rylee Anderson is three-for-three in high jump crowns as she cleared 5 feet, 8 inches.
Palisade senior Zaccre Kenward (48-9.50) dominated the triple jump.
Palmer Ridge’s Jeremy Meadows (4:15) ran away in the 1,600, while Silver Creek’s James Lee (1:54) did the same in the 800. Lee’s teammate, Brock Knechtel, tossed further than anyone in the discus throw (176-4).
Canon City senior Aaron McCoy (10.66) won the 100, while Thompson Valley’s Charlie Brunner (14.74) won the 110 hurdles.
Montrose senior Ian Meek was first in the 3,200 (9:23), second in the 1,600 (4:18), and ran on a winning 3,200 relay (7:58).
Pueblo South’s Jeremy Cody (6-9) was wildly impressive in winning high jump. Pueblo West’s Frank Nash the same in long jump (23-6.25).
Class 3A
The Classical Academy kept a proud tradition in track going, easily winning 3A girls with 101.5 points. Junior Erika Willis shattered the 3A state meet record, previously held by sister Andrea, in the pole vault with a mark of 12 feet, 5 inches. The record was 11-6 from 2014. Freshman sister Kristina Willis placed fifth and TCA won the 1,600 relay in 4:00.97. The Titans topped 4A last season and now have 10 state championships in girls track, only one less than Mullen with a state record 11.
Lutheran junior Maya Evans, one of the top long jumpers in the nation with a personal best of 20 feet, 10 inches, didn’t disappoint with 3A titles in the long jump, 100, 200, and 400 relay (48.95, 3A state meet record). Madi Bottin, Riley Darnell and Nyah Streib also ran on that relay. Evans is now a five-time state champion in individual events.
Lutheran boys also fared well, keeping a four-year team title streak alive with a dominant 104-point tally. They also won 3A in 2016 and 2015 and 2A in 2014. Adam Dawson (203-1 in discus) and Jacob Dack (51-6.50 in shot put) were individual champions for Lutheran. Several relays finished runner-up.
Sterling’s Austin Chavez (6-5, also fourth place in pole vault) and Jayson Frank (6-3) finished first and second in the 3A high jump as teammates Victor Zimmerman (second), Brady Krier (third) placed high in pole vault as well. Kylie Chavez was the triple jump champion (36-11.50).
Aspen senior Sunday Abarca broke his own 3A state meet record in the 400 with a time of 48.12, bettering his 48.54. He also won the 200 in 21.39 and was second (10.80) to Sierra’s Dante Thomas (10.71) in the 100.
Eaton senior Tarynn Sieg, a Colorado State recruit, not only broke her own 3A state meet record in shot put (45-5.50) but also won discus (143-4, nearly a record).
Peak to Peak broke the 3A state record in the 3,200 relay (9:12.44) with sophomores Tiana Bradfield, Quinn McConnell and Anna Shults, along with senior Rachael Metzler. Shults also finished first in the 3,200 (11:15) and the 1,600 (5:00.71). McConnell was second in the 800 and 1,600 and Bradfield was fourth in the 800 and third in the 1,600. Metzler finished sixth in the 1,600 as well.
Salida senior Taryn Ceglowski set a new standard in 3A in the 800 with a time of 2:09.19, bettering the previous record of 2:11.24 by Emily LaValley of The Classical Academy in 2010.
Tanner Norman of TCA won the 1,600 (4:16.85) and 3,200 (9:14, 3A state meet record). He signed with Iowa State University. Norman’s brother Mason, a freshman, placed fifth in the 3,200 in 9:45.
Faith Christian freshman Cole Sprout was the runner-up in the 1,600 (4:22) and 3,200 (9:28). He was also second at the 3A state cross country meet in the fall.
Class 2A
Paonia girls (110 points) joined The Classical Academy (3A champs from 2006-2010) and Mullen (4A champs from 1997-2003) as the only girls track and field programs in state history to win five championships in a row. Brianna Van Vleet defended her long jump crown successfully and Sophia Anderson and Mckenna Palmer finished first and second in triple jump. Anderson and Emily Pieper finished first and second in the 200.
Cedaredge boys (97 points) went back-to-back as a team, planting the seeds of a potential dynasty of their own. They ran away from everyone in the 800 and 3,200 relays and boasted depth that no team could counter.
Telluride junior Soleil Gaylord claimed the 1,600 (5:16) and 3,200 (11:25) crowns in back-to-back years. Sophomore teammate Maya Ordonez was runner-up in the 1,600. Gaylord was also second in the 800. Gaylord and Ordonez helped lead the 3,200 relay to a title as well.
Hayden freshman Hannah Wilkie (2:18.58) won the 800.
Burlington senior Ellie Berry swept the throws, winning shot put (40-11.75) and discus (133-5).
Shane Finegan won the 200 (22.53) and 400 (50.17) for Wiggins, and anchored the winning 1,600 relay in 3:30.44 with Tyler Hein, Teggan Freauff and Connor Kaufman. Finegan also anchored the winning 400 relay with the same group, except for Fukumaru Ogawa in place of Kaufman.
Meeker girls won the 400, sprint medley and 1,600 relays.
Soroco junior Ben Kelley swept the distance trio of 800 (1:54.75, bettering his own state meet record), 1,600 (4:22) and 3,200 (9:47). Sophomore teammate Grant Redmond (6-6) conquered high jump.
Hotchkiss sophomore Kaiya Firor claimed first in the 300 hurdles and 400.
Highland freshman Remington Ross won the girls 100 (12.28).
Class 1A
Heritage Christian boys (105 points) have been a recent powerhouse and nothing they did this weekend changed that. They conquered 1A for the second year in a row and the fourth time in five seasons. Josh Damir won the 300 hurdles and Seth Bruxvoort and Isaiah Bowsher placed first and second in the 3,200. The 800 relay of Jojo Bork, Jaden Johnson, Damir and Josiah Bowsher shattered the 1A state meet record of 1:33.25 with a time of 1:33.08.
Heather Graham of Genoa-Hugo (40-5) won the shot put with a great throw.
Shining Mountain junior Emma Schaefer claimed the 1,600 (5:32) and 3,200 crowns (12:24).
Erik Enriquez-Acosta, a senior from Idalia, won the 400 (50.05) and 800 (2:00.87). He finished first or second all four years at state in the two-lapper. His teammate, senior Alex Weyerman (9-8), claimed the girls pole vault crown.
Lake City swept the boys (8:39) and girls (10:49) 3,200 relays.
The Springfield girls claimed their first state championship in any girls sport with 73.5 points. They won both the sprint medley relay (1:54.59 with Julia Mondragon, Ally Loflin, Audrey Rau, and Tatelyn Lasley) and 800 relay (1:49.81 with Mondragon, Lasley, Rau, and Kylie Parks). Springfield has a youthful group that could make another run next season.
DeBeque junior Jentry Largent doubled up on crowns in the 100 and 200, while also anchoring a 400 relay that shattered the 1A record with a time of 51.41.
Prairie senior Emily Kaiser was tremendous in the long jump (first) and triple jump (34-8.50, 1A state meet record).
Bowman Ellis, a senior for Springfield, won the 100 (11.34) and 200 (22.94).
Kiowa senior Melanie Deering ran away with titles in the 400 (59.23) and 800 (2:22).
Pawnee teammates Drew Ellis (20-5) and Bryce Schnug (19-9) swept gold and silver in long jump.
LAKEWOOD — What a way to begin the final Colorado prep meet of your career, Brie Oakley.
During the opening events of the state track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium on Saturday morning, Oakley shattered the all-classification record in the 3,200 with a winning time of 10 minutes, 9.26 seconds.
The Grandview senior, a Nike national champion in cross country in December, proved every bit as capable on the track in separating just enough from Fort Collins senior Lauren Gregory (10:16.43, second-fastest in state history) to claim the 5A crown in back-to-back years. The previous Colorado record in the girls 3,200 was 10:17.48 by Niwot’s Elise Cranny in 2014.
“I feel really great,” Oakley said of the achievement. “That was also a big PR for me, about 14 seconds.”
The pair of Division I recruits — Oakley signed with the University of California and Gregory with the University of Arkansas — have combined for multiple state championships, state records and national accolades. The tandem pushed each other to historic heights.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
For the first seven of eight laps Gregory tucked in behind Oakley, letting the No. 1 seed do much of the work. The smooth striding senior, a two-time state champion in the event in 2014 and 2015, seemed in perfect position to potentially overtake Oakley.
But it was Oakley who shifted into a gear Gregory couldn’t match on the final lap. Still, the race was memorable for both competitors.
“I knew she was going to be right on me,” the new state record holder said. “She’s run a 10:30 this season. I think having her right on my back really helped push me to go even faster than I thought I could.”
Oakley also ran the anchor leg of a 3,200 relay that finished fourth in 9:28.45. Fairview’s foursome of Sarah King, Hannah Freeman, Isabella Rowland, and Marlena Preigh overtook Broomfield on the final leg to win in 9:13.42. Broomfield was the runner-up in 9:20.92, while Mountain Vista finished third in 9:26.64.
Grandview girls are off to a substantial lead in the team tally after day one with 70 points, not only winning the 3,200 but also the high jump (junior Kylee Harr at 5 feet, 8 inches). Alisha Davis (5-2) also tied for fourth in high jump for Grandview and Leilah Vigil (40 feet, 9.75 inches) was fourth in shot put.
The Wolves were impressive in two other relay finals as well; claiming state championships in the 800-meter sprint medley (1:46.57) and 800-meter relay (1:41.12).
Cherokee Trail (31), Mountain Vista (29), Fort Collins (26), Loveland (21), Rock Canyon (21), and Cherry Creek (21) round out the top teams in the current standings, but Grandview has to feel positive about their chances of winning a first-ever girls state championship in track and field on Sunday.
In Class 4A, Air Academy’s Maria Mettler (10:47.25) ran away from Denver North’s Kayla Young (10:56.25) and Mountain View’s Lauren Offerman (11:08.24) to claim the 3,200.
Peak to Peak sophomore Anna Shults the 3,200 title in 3A with a winning 11:15.62. She also claimed the 1,600 crown as a freshman.
Telluride’s Soleil Gaylord (11:33.16) won the 2A 3,200 and Shining Mountain’s Emma Schaefer (12:24) claimed 1A.
There were a number of other standout performances on day one of the state meet, including Valor Christian sophomore Anna Hall winning the 4A 300 hurdles in 43.17 seconds and Paonia girls setting a new 2A state record in the 800-meter relay (1:43.95 with Sophia Anderson, Emily Pieper, Brianna Van Vleet, Lyla Hayutin-Baril).
The Peak to Peak girls 3,200 relay of Tiana Bradfield, Anna Shults, Rachael Metzler, and Quinn McConnell broke the 3A state record of 9:24.95 by The Classical Academy in 2012 with a 9:12.44.
Lutheran junior Maya Evans won the 3A 200-meter dash (24.35) and long jump (3A state meet record of 19-5.25). Eaton senior Tarynn Sieg broke her own 3A state meet record in the shot put with a mark of 45-5.50. D’Evelyn senior Sarah Cerrone broke the 3A state meet record in high jump with a mark of 5-7.50.
Denver East sophomore phenom Arria Minor put away the 5A field in the 200-meter dash with a blistering 23.57, while Niwot junior Mary Gillett was the 4A champion in 24.83. She placed second in long jump behind only teammate Alexis Carroll.
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Isaac Green leads the way for Monarch
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
As for the top-flight boys competitors on Saturday, Monarch swept the 5A top three places in the 3,200 with Isaac Green (9:26), Charlie Perry (9:27) and Zach Litoff (9:31). Green and Litoff teamed with William Dixon and Sean Gazarick (7:50.04) to dominate the 3,200 relay as well.
Monarch and Fountain-Fort Carson (Donovan Williams first in 200 in 21.63, Jason Farrell third in 300 hurdles in 38.89, Jequan Hogan first in triple jump at 50 feet, 7.25 inches, second place in 800-meter relay) are in a battle in the 5A team competition.
Hogan, a junior, gave his team a major boost with one of the top triple jump marks in Colorado history on his fourth and final jump. Hogan actually scratched his first two jumps, but leaped 49 feet, 7 inches on his third attempt. Fruita Monument senior Gunner Rigsby (49-00.50) was the runner-up.
“After they said that second jump was a foul, I was kind of mad,” Hogan admitted. “I was kind of angry and I think it helped me jump a little harder and push a little harder. I picked it up and jumped a 50.”
Hinkley also had a promising first day as senior Darrien Wells (runner-up in 200) and junior Angel Heredia (now two-time state champion in 300 hurdles) were two legs of an 800-meter relay that nipped Fountain-Fort Carson 1:27.25-1:27.43 for the 5A crown.
Veterans like Montrose’s Ian Meek (4A 3200 champion in 9:23) and The Classical Academy’s Tanner Norman (9:14.45 for 3A state meet record) were distance stars again. Montrose (7:58.93) held off Silver Creek (7:59.56) in an entertaining 4A 3,200 relay.
Mountain View’s Nolan Kembel (37.94) claimed the 4A 300 hurdles and Pueblo West’s Frank Nash (23-6.25) won the 4A long jump. Lutheran’s Jacob Dack (shot put) and Adam Dawson (203-1 in discus) swept the throws in 3A.
The final day of the state track and field meet at Jeffco Stadium will begin with field events at 8:00 a.m. and track events at 9:00 a.m.
LAKEWOOD — The top track and field athletes from Jeffco Public Schools were at Jeffco Stadium on Sunday, May 21, for the final day of the Colorado Track & Field Championships.
