DENVER — The 2019 Thomas Jefferson Twilight track meet was on Friday at All-City Stadium.
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Category: Girls Track
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Highland girls track finds room for improvement in 2019
Even with a state title in 2018 and two wins in its first three meets this spring, the members of the Highland girls track and field team believe the Class 2A Huskies can be even better in 2019.
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Schedule for the 2019 state track and field meet
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) A complete schedule for the 2019 state track and field meet held at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
The meet runs May 16-18 this season.
To purchase tickets, visit GoFan. Tickets are also available at the event.
Note: The 2A girls pole vault awards will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
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Download: PDF
May 16
Thursday morning session
Time Class Gender Event Race 7:50 AM National Anthem 8:00 AM 4A Girls 800m Medley Relay Prelims 8:10 AM 5A Girls 800m Medley Relay Prelims 8:25 AM 4A Girls 100m Dash Prelims 8:30 AM 4A Boys 100m Dash Prelims 8:35 AM 5A Girls 100m Dash Prelims 8:40 AM 5A Boys 100m Dash Prelims 8:45 AM 4A Girls 3200m Run Final 9:00 AM 4A Boys 3200m Run Final 9:15 AM 4A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 9:25 AM 4A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 9:35 AM 5A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 9:45 AM 5A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 9:55 AM 4A Girls 100m Hurdles Prelims 10:00 AM 5A Girls 100m Hurdles Prelims 10:05 AM 4A Boys 110m Hurdles Prelims 10:10 AM 5A Boys 110m Hurdles Prelims 10:25 AM 4A Girls 4 x 800m Relay Final 10:40 AM 4A Boys 4 x 800m Relay Final 10:55 AM 5A Girls 4 x 800m Relay Final 11:10 AM 5A Boys 4 x 800m Relay Final 11:25 AM Geoffrey Zaragoza Special Olympic 100m 11:45 AM 100m Paralympic 12:00 PM 4A Girls 200m Dash Prelims 12:05 PM 4A Boys 200m Dash Prelims 12:10 PM 5A Girls 200m Dash Prelims 12:15 PM 5A Boys 200m Dash Prelims 12:25 PM 200m Paralympic/Special Olympic 12:40 PM Break 1:00 PM 4A Girls 400m Dash Prelims 1:08 PM 4A Boys 400m Dash Prelims 1:15 PM 5A Girls 400m Dash Prelims 1:23 PM 5A Boys 400m Dash Prelims Thursday afternoon session
Time Class Gender Event Race 2:00 PM 2A Girls 800m Medley Relay Prelims 2:10 PM 3A Girls 800m Medley Relay Prelims 2:20 PM 1A Girls 800m Medley Relay Finals 2:30 PM 2A Girls 100m Dash Prelims 2:35 PM 2A Boys 100m Dash Prelims 2:40 PM 3A Girls 100m Dash Prelims 2:45 PM 3A Boys 100m Dash Prelims 2:50 PM Break 3:05 PM Break 3:20 PM 2A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 3:30 PM 2A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 3:40 PM 3A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 3:50 PM 3A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Prelims 4:00 PM 2A Girls 100m Hurdles Prelims 4:05 PM 3A Girls 100m Hurdles Prelims 4:10 PM 2A Boys 110m Hurdles Prelims 4:15 PM 3A Boys 110m Hurdles Prelims 4:30 PM 2A Girls 4 x 800m Relay Finals 4:45 PM 2A Boys 4 x 800m Relay Finals 5:00 PM 3A Girls 4 x 800m Relay Finals 5:15 PM 3A Boys 4 x 800m Relay Finals 5:30 PM 1A Girls 3200m Run Finals 5:50 PM 1A Boys 3200m Run Finals 6:05 PM 2A Girls 200m Dash Prelims 6:10 PM 2A Boys 200m Dash Prelims 6:15 PM 3A Girls 200m Dash Prelims 6:20 PM 3A Boys 200m Dash Prelims 6:30 PM 2A Girls 3200m Run Finals 6:45 PM 2A Boys 3200m Run Finals 7:05 PM 2A Girls 400m Dash Prelims 7:13 PM 2A Boys 400m Dash Prelims 7:20 PM 3A Girls 400m Dash Prelims 7:28 PM 3A Boys 400m Dash Prelims [divider]
May 17
Friday morning session
Time Class Gender Event Race 8:10 AM National Anthem 8:20 AM 3A Girls 3200m Run Finals 8:40 AM 3A Boys 3200m Run Finals 9:00 AM 3A Girls 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:08 AM 3A Boys 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:15 AM 4A Girls 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:23 AM 4A Boys 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:35 AM 2A Girls 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:43 AM 2A Boys 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:50 AM 5A Girls 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 9:58 AM 5A Boys 4 x 100m Relay Prelims 10:10 AM 5A Girls 3200m Run Finals 10:30 AM 5A Boys 3200m Run Finals 10:50 AM 3A Girls 300m Hurdles Prelims 10:55 AM 4A Girls 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:00 AM 2A Girls 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:05 AM 5A Girls 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:15 AM 3A Boys 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:20 AM 4A Boys 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:25 AM 2A Boys 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:30 AM 5A Boys 300m Hurdles Prelims 11:40 AM Break 11:55 AM 3A Girls 800m Medley Relay Finals 12:00 PM 4A Girls 800m Medley Relay Finals 12:05 PM 2A Girls 800m Medley Relay Finals 12:10 PM 5A Girls 800m Medley Relay Finals Friday afternoon session
Time Class Gender Event Race 12:20 PM 1A Girls 800m Run Finals 12:25 PM 1A Boys 800m Run Finals 12:30 PM 2A Girls 800m Run Finals 12:35 PM 2A Boys 800m Run Finals 12:40 PM 4A Girls 800m Run Finals 12:45 PM 4A Boys 800m Run Finals 12:50 PM 3A Girls 800m Run Finals 12:55 PM 3A Boys 800m Run Finals 1:00 PM 5A Girls 800m Run Finals 1:05 PM 5A Boys 800m Run Finals 1:20 PM 1A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:25 PM 1A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:30 PM 3A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:35 PM 3A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:40 PM 4A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:45 PM 4A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:50 PM 2A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Finals 1:55 PM 2A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Finals 2:00 PM 5A Girls 4 x 200m Relay Finals 2:05 PM 5A Boys 4 x 200m Relay Finals 2:10 PM Past Champions 2:30 PM 1A Girls 4 x 800m Relay Finals 2:50 PM 1A Boys 4 x 800m Relay Finals 3:10 PM 3A Girls 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 3:23 PM 3A Boys 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 3:35 PM 4A Girls 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 3:48 PM 4A Boys 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 4:00 PM 2A Girls 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 4:13 PM 2A Boys 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 4:25 PM 5A Girls 4 x 400m Relay Prelims 4:38 PM 5A Boys 4 x 400m Relay Prelims [divider]
May 18
Saturday morning session
Time Class Gender Event Race 9:15 AM National Anthem 9:30 AM 3A Girls 100m Hurdles Finals 9:33 AM 4A Girls 100m Hurdles Finals 9:37 AM 1A Girls 100m Hurdles Finals 9:40 AM 2A Girls 100m Hurdles Finals 9:44 AM 5A Girls 100m Hurdles Finals 9:50 AM 3A Boys 110m Hurdles Finals 9:53 AM 4A Boys 110m Hurdles Finals 9:57 AM 1A Boys 110m Hurdles Finals 10:00 AM 2A Boys 110m Hurdles Finals 10:04 AM 5A Boys 110m Hurdles Finals 10:15 AM Officials Awards 10:30 AM 3A Girls 100m Dash Finals 10:33 AM 3A Boys 100m Dash Finals 10:37 AM 4A Girls 100m Dash Finals 10:40 AM 4A Boys 100m Dash Finals 10:43 AM 1A Girls 100m Dash Finals 10:47 AM 1A Boys 100m Dash Finals 10:50 AM 2A Girls 100m Dash Finals 10:53 AM 2A Boys 100m Dash Finals 10:57 AM 5A Girls 100m Dash Finals 11:00 AM 5A Boys 100m Dash Finals 11:10 AM 3A Girls 1600m Run Finals 11:20 AM 3A Boys 1600m Run Finals 11:30 AM 3A Girls 400m Dash Finals 11:33 AM 3A Boys 400m Dash Finals 11:37 AM 4A Girls 400m Dash Finals 11:40 AM 4A Boys 400m Dash Finals 11:43 AM 1A Girls 400m Dash Finals 11:47 AM 1A Boys 400m Dash Finals 11:50 AM 2A Girls 400m Dash Finals 11:53 AM 2A Boys 400m Dash Finals 11:57 AM 5A Girls 400m Dash Finals 12:00 PM 5A Boys 400m Dash Finals 12:10 PM 1A Girls 1600m Run Finals 12:20 PM 1A Boys 1600m Run Finals Saturday afternoon session
Time Class Gender Event Race 12:30 PM Graduation 12:50 PM 4A Girls 1600m Run Finals 1:00 PM 4A Boys 1600m Run Finals 1:10 PM 3A Girls 200m Dash Finals 1:14 PM 3A Boys 200m Dash Finals 1:18 PM 4A Girls 200m Dash Finals 1:22 PM 4A Boys 200m Dash Finals 1:26 PM 1A Girls 200m Dash Finals 1:30 PM 1A Boys 200m Dash Finals 1:34 PM 2A Girls 200m Dash Finals 1:38 PM 2A Boys 200m Dash Finals 1:42 PM 5A Girls 200m Dash Finals 1:46 pm 5A Boys 200m Dash Finals 2:00 pm 3A Girls 300m Hurdles Finals 2:03 pm 4A Girls 300m Hurdles Finals 2:07 pm 1A Girls 300m Hurdles Finals 2:10 pm 2A Girls 300m Hurdles Finals 2:14 pm 5A Girls 300m Hurdles Finals 2:20 pm 3A Boys 300m Hurdles Finals 2:23 pm 4A Boys 300m Hurdles Finals 2:27 pm 1A Boys 300m Hurdles Finals 2:30 pm 2A Boys 300m Hurdles Finals 2:34 pm 5A Boys 300m Hurdles Finals 2:45 pm 2A Girls 1600m Run Finals 2:55 pm 2A Boys 1600m Run Finals 3:05 pm 3A Girls 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:10 pm 3A Boys 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:15 pm 4A Girls 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:20 pm 4A Boys 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:25 pm 1A Girls 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:30 pm 1A Boys 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:35 pm 2A Girls 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:40 pm 2A Boys 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:45 pm 5A Girls 4 X 100m Relay Finals 3:50 pm 5A Boys 4 X 100m Relay Finals 4:05 pm 5A Girls 1600m Run Finals 4:15 pm 5A Boys 1600m Run Finals 4:25 pm 3A Girls 4 X 400m Relay Finals 4:33 pm 3A Boys 4 X 400m Relay Finals 4:40 pm 4A Girls 4 X 400m Relay Finals 4:48 pm 4A Boys 4 X 400m Relay Finals 4:55 pm 1A Girls 4 X 400m Relay Finals 5:03 pm 1A Boys 4 X 400m Relay Finals 5:10 pm 2A Girls 4 X 400m Relay Finals 5:18 pm 2A Boys 4 X 400m Relay Finals 5:25 pm 5A Girls 4 X 400m Relay Finals 5:33 pm 5A Boys 4 X 400m Relay Finals [divider]
Field events
Thursday Event Class Gender Time Pole Vault 4A Boys 8:30 am 4A Girls 11:00 am 2A Boys 1:30 pm 1A Girls 4:00 pm Long Jump 4A Girls 8:30 am 4A Boys 11:30 am 3A Boys 2:00 pm 1A Boys 4:00 pm Triple Jump 5A Girls 8:30 am 5A Boys 11:00 am 2A Boys 2:30 pm High Jump 5A Boys 8:30 am 5A Girls 11:00 am 2A Girls 1:30 pm 3A Girls 4:00 pm Shot put 5A Boys 8:30 am 5A Girls 11:30 am 3A Boys 2:00 pm 1A Boys 4:00 pm Discus 4A Boys 8:30 am 4A Girls 11:00 am 2A Boys 1:30 pm 1A Girls 4:00 pm Friday Event Class Gender Time Pole Vault 3A Boys 8:30 am 3A Girls 11:00 am 2A Girls 1:30 pm Long Jump 5A Boys 8:30 am 3A Girls 11:00 am Paralympic/ Special Olympic 12:30 pm 5A Girls 2:00 pm Triple Jump 1A Boys 8:30 am 2A Girls 10:00 am 1A Girls 12:30 pm 3A Boys 2:00 pm High Jump 1A Girls 8:30 am 4A Girls 10:30 am 4A Boys 1:30 pm Shot put 2A Boys 8:30 am 4A Girls 10:30 am Paralympic/ Special Olympic 11:45 am 3A Girls 12:30 pm Discus 3A Boys 8:30 am 2A Girls 11:00 am 1A Boys 1:30 pm Paralympic/ Special Olympic 4:00 pm Saturday Event Class Gender Time Pole Vault 1A Boys 8:30 am 5A Boys 11:00 am 5A Girls 1:30 pm Long Jump 1A Girls 8:30 am 2A Boys 10:00 am 2A Girls 1:00 pm Triple Jump 4A Boys 8:30 am 4A Girls 11:00 am 3A Girls 2:00 pm High Jump 2A Boys 8:30 am 3A Boys 11:00 am 1A Boys 1:30 pm Shot put 1A Girls 8:30 am 4A Boys 10:30 am 2A Girls 12:30 pm Discus 3A Girls 8:30 am 5A Boys 11:00 am 5A Girls 1:30 pm -
Jeffco student-athletes sign their National Letter of Intent
JEFFERSON COUNTY — It was another banner day for student-athletes in Jeffco Public Schools on Wednesday, Feb. 6.
More than 100 signed their National Letter of Intent to a wide range of colleges and universities across the country. Arvada West, Chatfield, Columbine, Dakota Ridge, Golden, Pomona and Ralston Valley all held celebrations Wednesday to honor their students who will continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level.
To date, more than 150 student-athletes from Jeffco have signed National Letter of Intents this school year. That number will surely grow with three more final signing days coming up April 1, May 15 and August 1.
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Jeffco’s signers on National Letter of Intent — Feb. 6
Arvada West High School
Christaana Angelopulos, softball, University of Wisconsin
Chase Biel, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Ashleigh Burr, women’s soccer, Colorado Mesa University
Cory Carignan, football, Minot State University
Anthony Cass, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Timothy English, football, Presentation College
Dominic Folks, baseball, Barstow College
Christopher Gist, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Makenna Fowler, women’s soccer, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Gianna Haley, softball, Black Hills State University
Mark Hunter, baseball, Blue Mountain College
Madison Johnson, women’s soccer, Wayne State College
Latham Kleckner, men’s soccer, Gustavus Adolphus College
Johnny Krutsch, football, Bethel University
Brady Legault, football, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Chris McEahern, football, Colorado State University
Ella McShane, women’s swimming & diving, Chapman University
AJ Ortez, football, Fort Lewis College
Theresa Price, women’s tennis, Hastings College
Devin Smith, cross country & track, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Dori Sterne, women’s soccer, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Michael Vandenberg, football, Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityBear Creek High School
Megan McGriff, women’s lacrosse, Marietta CollegeChatfield Senior High School
Sam Low, baseball, Mesa Community College
Luke Lachance, baseball, Doane University
Ben Kornegay, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Jack Kornegay, baseball, Northeastern Junior College
Dalton Dillard, baseball, Barstow Community College
Julia Geiger, volleyball, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Kayleigh Conner, volleyball, Doane University
Alexa Alameddin, volleyball, Fort Lewis College
Tedy Reed, women’s basketball, Colorado College
Bailey Truex, women’s lacrosse, Fresno State University
Kevin Peterson, men’s soccer, Colorado College
Noah Haddad, men’s soccer, Radford University
Christian Holmes, men’s tennis, Utah State University
Anthony Johnston, football, Western Colorado University
Broc Doughty, football, Bethany College
Cameron Austin, football, Bethany College
Sydney Williams, cross country/track, Colorado School of MinesColumbine High School
Jake Gimbel, baseball, Lamar College
Chance Goodson, baseball, Southeast Community College
Braiden Fritz, baseball, Hastings College
Logan DeArment, football, Colorado School of Mines
Cole Parrott, football, University of Northern Colorado
Evan Durbin, football, Drake University
Ben Earnest, football, Kearney University
Jaden Armbrust, football, Concordia University
Cody Ramming, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Corbin Curry, football, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Grant Keim, football, Luther College
Maddie Hadden, women’s rugby, Central Washington
Taryn Elsner, women’s soccer, Knox College
Kelsey Akins, volleyball, Lake Forrest College
Grayson Mix, men’s water polo, University of California-San Diego
Teagan Simons, men’s lacrosse, Monmouth CollegeDakota Ridge High School
Joseph Ashley, men’s golf, Buena Vista University
Andrew Eickelman, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Jacob Eickelman, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Riley Fisher, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Ryan Kissinger, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Jackson Lamb, men’s basketball, Case Western Reserve
Elliot Pigati, baseball, Alvin Community College
Ryan Stohr, baseball, Air Force Academy
Austin Vancil, cross country, University of ColoradoD’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Isabella Porreco, softball, Yavapai CollegeGolden High School
Elizabeth Henshaw, women’s soccer, Culver-Stockton (MO)
Katie Dunson, softball, Lamar Community College
Jonah Wimbish, boys soccer, Augustana (IL)
Jack Walters, football, Colorado School of MinesLakewood High School
Pierce Holley, football, Georgetown University
Jacob Brunner, men’s lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University
Elyse Hatch Rivera, women’s soccer, Macalester College
Isaac Garcia, men’s swimming, St. Ambrose UniversityPomona High School
Justin Pacheco, wrestling, Air Force Academy
Theorius Robison, wrestling, University of Northern Colorado
Colten Yapoujian, wrestling, Cornell University
Brooke Weins, gymnastics, University of Oklahoma
David Ross, football, University of Northern Colorado
Colten Muller, football, Colorado Mesa University
Luke Rohweder, football, Colorado Mesa University
Jack Thiele, football, University of Wyoming (preferred walk-on)
Billy Pospisil, football, Washington State University (early graduate)
Michael Marquez, football, Dakota College at Bottinuea
Jaime Wolf, softball, Garden City Community College
Peyton Westphal, women’s soccer, Hastings College
Jim Gassman, baseball, Tabor College
Trevor Abernathy, baseball, Marshalltown Community College
Cameron Berthold, men’s golf, Southern Virginia UniversityRalston Valley High School
Peyton Anderson, women’s ice hockey, Northeastern University
Savannah Brown, women’s soccer, Johnson and Wales University
Mackenzie Friedman, women’s rowing, University of Wisconsin
Levi Johnson, football, Colorado School of Mines
Jessica Lemmon, women’s soccer, Laramie County Community College
Keaton Maring, men’s swimming, SUNY Oswego
Lexi Mueldener, women’s golf, Grinnell College
Maya Provencal, women’s track, Duke University
Brad Roberts, football, Air Force Academy
Ben Schneider, football, University of Northern Colorado
Tanner Spirek, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Isaac Townsend, football, University of Oregon[divider]
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Gilpin County’s new football field and track is a jewel in the mountains
BLACK HAWK — It’s a jewel cut into the side of a mountain. And come Friday nights this all, that jewel will be shining bright above the casinos just down the road.
Gilpin County High School is nearing completion of a $1.7 million renovation to its athletic field, which includes a new six-lane track. Included is a set of lights; for the first time, the Eagles will play their home games on a Friday night. Under the lights.
“It’ll light up the whole community,” said Craig Ball, the head football and boys track coach at the high school.
Craig Ball. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) Gilpin County, which encompasses both Black Hawk and its neighbor Central City, sits just south of Nederland. The county was established in 1861, two years after the discovery of gold in Black Hawk. It was named for William Gilpin, the first territorial governor of Colorado, and is the second-smallest county in terms of area in the state — due to its relatively large population at the time it was formed.
The high school itself was established in 1921, and it was relocated to its current location off Highway 119 in 1978. That same year, a natural grass athletic field was built on the west side of campus, overlooking a lake and mountainous terrain topped by a forest.
But that natural grass did present some challenges, especially at the elevation of 8,954 feet. They’d have to stop watering it by October, and the ground would often freeze under cold temperatures.
“We had a pretty rocky and hard field at the end of the year,” Ball said. “So it was a pretty rough last month of the season. Not too many teams wanted to come play us here. But now I think they will.”
In recent years, Ball helped to spearhead a campaign for a new field and track, citing the hazards created by maintaining a natural grass field at elevation, as well as the overall lack of a flat surface in Gilpin County. He also pointed to the recent growth of the school’s track program, and the fact that that team didn’t have an actual track.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) In March 2017, construction started on the new field. Because plans called for a track, everything had to shift 30 yards to the west. That also meant digging out part of the nearby mountainside and using that earth as a way to extend the flat surface. It took the entire summer of 2017 to excavate, and it cost $300,000.
“We had to fill it all in,” Ball said. “There’s just no flat areas up here. It’s either up or down.”
The money came, in large part, from grants via the Colorado Health Foundation and the Allen Green Foundation.
“It’s a nice flat area that we haven’t really had in Gilpin,” Ball said. “This will be something nice for the community to be able to walk and exercise, and that’s part of the Colorado Health Foundation grant. It’s a community health grant.”
Construction on the field itself started in April 2018.
The project left plenty of room for the expected growth of the high school. Gilpin’s enrollment was 102 in October 2015. Last October, it was 123. Ball said the school is adding five to ten students per year.
So even though the Eagles play 8-man football, they built an 11-man field. (The current cutoff for 1A is 150 students.) The field will have separate lines for 8-man, however.
In addition, it is also lined for soccer, even though Gilpin County doesn’t currently have a team.
“And it’s a community-oriented thing, too,” Ball added. “We don’t have soccer as a school, but we could still host a youth game.”
The track, which includes a long jump pit, will also be done this fall, allowing the team to finally host a meet. Shoot, it will also allow them to practice on a real track. Asked where they had practiced in the past, Ball said, simply, “Hallways. Stairs.”
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) But because of the cold weather, the most realistic chance of hosting a meet will come in May. With the state meet held in mid-to-late May each year, the only meets that month are typically “last chance” meets — events where athletes have one last shot to qualify for state. And an event of that nature at high altitude wouldn’t exactly be a huge draw.
So Ball envisions a type of pre-state meet on their track, hosting athletes from all classifications who have already qualified for state, and want to train at high altitude just prior to the big event. “Come to elevation, and the next week you go to state, and go down,” he said.
The field and track are only the first phase of a larger project at Gilpin County. The next steps include raised bleachers where the mountainside was dug out, and a press box looming above. (Right now, teams film from the aspen grove 30 feet above the field.)
Also included: a two-level fieldhouse, complete with a wrestling room and concession stand. The current wrestling room is in a log cabin that overlooks the field.
The new state-of-the art field will also provide much more cushion than the previous natural grass turf.
“With our other field, when you’re talking about a health concern, later in the season, when you couldn’t water — both middle school and high school had to practice on it,” Ball said. “We don’t have this other spot you can go. You go to West Grand, and they have three other fields. Most places have practice fields. We have to excavate to even get one. We just don’t have that kind of stuff. It would really get worn down. So the amount of injuries we can save just from practice is going to be huge for us.”
Completion is mere weeks away now, and the final details that are coming together. The school’s shield “G” logo — designed by Ball years ago — is centered on the field, and the elevation is proudly displayed along each sideline. (Gilpin’s new turf field will be among the highest in the nation.)
The facility will get its first real use when football practice begins on Aug. 6. It’ll be home to a team which just completed its fourth-straight winning season, and made the playoffs.
The first game is Aug. 24 against Caliche, on a Friday night. Under the lights.
The new field, and the view it reveals, is breathtaking. On a quiet summer morning, a soft wind winds through the trees. Birds can be heard overhead. The lake behind sits still.
“Isn’t it something?” Ball wondered aloud.
A comparison of the Gilpin County football field in 2017 and 2018. (Craig Ball/Gilpin County HS) [divider]
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Colorado track athletes compete at U20 World Championships in Finland
(John Nepolitan/dyestat.com) Anna Hall (Valor Christian), Arria Minor (Denver East) and Lauren Gale (Discovery Canyon) each represented their schools and their country over the past week during the IAAF World U20 Championships in track and field hosted in Tampere, Finland.
Hall and Minor will begin their senior years this fall, while Gale graduated from DCC in May and will run track at Colorado State.
Hall, representing the United States, placed ninth in the world in the heptathlon, accumulating 5,655 points. Included was a second-place finish in the high jump, fifth in the 200 meters, and sixth in the 800 during the competition.
Hall was the top American finisher in the heptathlon. She set the national high school heptathlon record during a meet in June.
At the state championships in May, Hall won the long jump, as well as the 100 and 300 hurdles in Class 4A. She was named the 4A athlete of the year, and Colorado’s Gatorade girls track athlete of the year after the season.
Gale, who represented Canada, competed in the 200 meters. She placed seventh in her heat with a time of 24.78.
A native of Ottawa, Gale moved to Colorado Springs from Canada in the summer of 2015.
During the state championships, Gale swept the 100, 200 and 400 meters for the second time in her career.
Minor also represented the United States as part of its relay pool. She helped the Americans finish first in their heat with a time of 3:33.11.
The American team would go on to win gold the next day.
During the high school season, Minor set all-classification records in the 200 and 400 at the 5A state meet. Her time of 51.92 in the 400 was the fastest by a high school girl this season, and she also had the fastest indoor time (52.74) by a high school girl.
She was named the 5A girls track athlete of the year after the season.
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Simplification of uniform rule continues in track and field, and cross country
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) INDIANAPOLIS — Further simplification of the uniform rule in track and field, and clarification on the method of determining the order of finish in cross country highlight 2019 rules changes in those two high school sports.
Seven changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee at its June 11-13 meeting in Indianapolis, and all changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
In Rule 4-3-1, the interpretation of a foundation garment was expanded to include any item worn under the uniform top and/or bottom. The rule now states that “any visible garment worn underneath the uniform top and/or bottom is considered a foundation garment. A foundation garment is not subject to logo/trademark/reference or color restrictions.”
In addition, Rule 4-3-2 was rewritten to allow schools more options in meeting the uniform rule. The rule now states that “all relay and cross country team members must wear uniforms clearly indicating, through predominant color, school logo and color combination of all outer garments worn as a uniform, that members are from the same team.”
“It has become increasingly more difficult to officiate the uniform rule given the increase in the number of programs nationwide that are allowing individual team members the option of independently purchasing either all or part of their team uniform,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field/Cross Country Rules Committee. “Slight differences in design of uniform do not negatively impact the identification of a relay or cross country team. The expectation of this rule is that all relay and cross country team members can be clearly identified as representing the same school.”
The revised 4-3-2 NOTE states that “the official shall have no uncertainty in determining that all members are from the same team.”
In cross country, regardless of the system used to determine the places of runners, the order of finish should be based on when the torso of the runner crosses the finish line. Changes in Rule 8-3 state that whether hand timing, transponder/chip or image-based timing systems are used, the torso is the determining factor in order of finish.
The committee also revised Rule 8-1-1 regarding the cross country course which better describes a legal course layout.
The remaining changes concern field events in Rule 6. In the discus and javelin, measurement shall be recorded to the nearest lesser inch or centimeter. The addition of centimeter allows states using the metric system to give a fairer depiction of the actual performance.
In Rule 6-9 regarding the long jump and triple jump, the committee established ranges of distances in the events. Rule 6-9-5 NOTE states that the “distance from the foul line or takeoff board may be adjusted to accommodate different levels of competition. Competitors may change which foul line or takeoff board they are using during competition, but only with the prior notification and confirmation of the event judge.”
According to the 2016-17 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, track and field is the most popular sport for girls with 494,477 participants and is No. 2 for boys with 600,136. Cross country ranks sixth for girls with 226,039 and sixth for boys with 266,271 participants.
A complete listing of the track and field/cross country rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Track and Field/Cross Country.”
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Anna Hall, Arria Minor named to USA Track and Field’s U20 roster
(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Anna Hall (Valor Christian) and Arria Minor (Denver East) were each named to USA Track and Field’s under-20 roster, and will represent their country at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Finland next month.
Both girls will be seniors at their schools this fall.
The U20 World Championships are being held in Tampere, Finland from July 10-15.
Hall will be competing in the heptathlon, an event she won at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships earlier this month. Hall set the national high school heptathlon record at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic on June 1, scoring 5,798 points.
During the state championships this past spring, Hall won the long jump, and the 100 and 300 hurdles, setting a state meet record for Class 4A, and also breaking the previous all-classification record by finishing in 40.76. She was also second in the 200.
After the season, Hall was named the 4A athlete of the year as part of the all-state teams, and also Colorado’s Gatorade girls track athlete of the year.
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) Minor will represent the U.S. as part of the relay pool in the 4×400. She finished third in the event at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships, behind two collegiate runners.
An emerging star nationally, Minor set all-classification records in the 200 and 400 at the 5A state meet this season.
Minor’s time of 51.92 in the 400 is the fastest by a high school girl this season. She also had the fastest indoor time (52.74) by a high school girl.
Minor was named the 5A girls track athlete of the year as part of the all-state teams after the season.
The duo now give Colorado three representatives at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships. Discovery Canyon’s Lauren Gale will represent Canada.
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Crested Butte alum Emma Coburn captures steeplechase title at USA Track’s Outdoor Championships
(USATF) Emma Coburn, who graduated from Crested Butte in 2008, won her seventh national title at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships on Saturday.
Coburn won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:17.70. It was the seventh consecutive year she’d won the event at the American championship, including Olympic Trials years. A two-time Olympian, Coburn also won the steeplechase at the World Championships last summer.
“I was just trying to be relaxed, trying to run my own race,” Coburn told USATF after the race. “I was just really trying to focus on running a race that maximized my skills, given the conditions, given that it would be maybe warm, maybe a little windy.”
At Crested Butte, Coburn won multiple championships over the course of her career in the 800, 1600 and 3200 races at the state track and field championships.
She went on to compete in track and cross country at the University of Colorado, and won two NCAA championships.
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Valarie Allman, Silver Creek alum, wins discus at USATF Outdoor Championships
Silver Creek alum Valarie Allman won a national title on Thursday when she won the discus at the U.S.A. Track and Field Outdoor Championships.
Allman, who graduated from Silver Creek in 2013, won the event with a throw of 63.55 meters, or 208 feet, six inches. It is her first national title.
“During it, you’re kind of just taking it moment by moment,” Allman told USATF after the event. “We always say that the train’s gonna take off, and you’ve got to jump on when it starts to go.”
Allman recently graduated from Stanford, where she was a six-time All-American, and twice won the discus at the Pac-12 championships.
Her championship-winning throw on Thursday also broke a Stanford record that had stood since 1983.
Allman’s throw is the longest by an American this season.
At Silver Creek, Allman set the all-classification state record in the discus, a mark (183-03) which still stands through this past season. She was a two-time champion in the discus.
Allman was also co-valedictorian at Silver Creek.