A strong set of relays, coupled with considerable individual talent, makes Fountain-Fort Carson one of the top contenders for this year's 5A boys state title. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Once again, it's a snow day on the north end of Colorado Springs. And that means it's time to do some shaking out of where teams stand in the season to date. As a caveat, a few meets from which I never received results are producing a few gaps in the rankings, but it is still a decent picture and nobody expects it all to end exactly as it is now, anyway.
So, here is what the meet results to date show.
5A Boys (scroll down for 5A Girls)
Fountain-Fort Carson has been raising eyebrows wherever they go. The Trojans are balanced and have the kind of strength to score points at state in several events. Right now, Jamarius Mathis and Brandon Parson are the biggest producers, but the Trojans should pick up points in smaller bundles from other athletes as well. And the FFC relays are running well enough right now to generate a lot of points. Although it's rarely comfortable to be in the favorite's seat, that is where the Trojans' performances to date have them.
So far, Littleton hasn't shown quite the same punch they had last year, but this is still a dangerous team. Perhaps more importantly, they know what it takes to win. Like Fountain-Fort Carson, they have balance and can score points in several different venues. Look for the Lions to make a surge in the next month. If that surge doesn't happen, they likely won't be able to repeat.
Littleton's next-door neighbor, Arapahoe, has things going very nicely in the distance events, but that's an arduous road to a state championship. We'll keep an eye on the Warriors just the same, though. Doherty has plenty of top-end talent in Jaden Terry and Kenny Chambers, but needs to find supporting points for their bid to come out on top.
Calculated as of April 23, 2010
These rankings were calculated by scoring the rankings as a meet. We took the individual rankings and relay rankings and scored them as a normal meet: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
| 1. | Fountain-Fort Carson High School | 68 |
| Brandon Parson (400m 10 = 10) | ||
| Devon McCormick (800m 2 = 2) | ||
| Jamarius Mathis (D 8 + S 10 = 18) | ||
| Kordale Taylor (TJ 1.5 = 1.5) | ||
| Markesh Woodson (200m 6 = 6) | ||
| Relay Team (22) | ||
| Trey Talley (110H 3 + LJ 4 + TJ 1.5 = 8.5) | ||
| 2. | Littleton High School | 49.25 |
| Ben Kiyotake (D 2 = 2) | ||
| Denzel Washington (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Jonathan Edmunds (LJ 8 + TJ 3 = 11) | ||
| Kevin Scheuerman (200m 2 + 400m 6 = 8) | ||
| Kumar Pinkney (200m 1 + 300H 10 = 11) | ||
| Relay Team (17) | ||
| 3. | Arapahoe High School | 46 |
| Cameron Durkin (PV 3 = 3) | ||
| Connor Jordan (300H 8 = 8) | ||
| Connor Winter (1600m 6 + 3200m 2 = 8) | ||
| Jason Kearns (3200m 6 = 6) | ||
| Lance Loken (400m 4 = 4) | ||
| Matthew Winfrey (1600m 5 = 5) | ||
| Relay Team (12) | ||
| 4. | Doherty High School | 43.25 |
| Jaden Terry (D 10 = 10) | ||
| Jordan Newman (300H 2 = 2) | ||
| Kenneth Chambers (100m 10 + 200m 10 = 20) | ||
| Matt Becar (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Relay Team (11) | ||
| 5. | Smoky Hill High School | 40.5 |
| Kyle Ames (3200m 4 = 4) | ||
| Mark Guss (100m 1.5 + 200m 3 = 4.5) | ||
| Matt Caldwell (1600m 3 + 3200m 8 + 800m 10 = 21) | ||
| Relay Team (11) | ||
| 6. | Cherry Creek High School | 35 |
| Ramel Sanchez (PV 3 = 3) | ||
| Relay Team (12) | ||
| Walter Schafer (1600m 10 + 3200m 10 = 20) | ||
| 7. | Loveland High School | 34 |
| Casey Riggs (110H 10 + 300H 3 = 13) | ||
| Relay Team (18) | ||
| Sean Stettner (PV 3 = 3) | ||
| 8. | Cherokee Trail High School | 33 |
| Alex Dillenbeck (1600m 1 = 1) | ||
| Relay Team (24) | ||
| Stephan Dickens (100m 3 + 200m 5 = 8) | ||
| 9. | Coronado High School | 31.5 |
| Dusty Solis (800m 4 = 4) | ||
| Glenn Albright (110H 2 = 2) | ||
| Relay Team (5) | ||
| Travvis Scott (400m 1 + HJ 8 = 9) | ||
| Tyree Deas (LJ 1.5 + TJ 10 = 11.5) | ||
| 10. | Eaglecrest High School | 30 |
| Kyle Thomas (LJ 10 = 10) | ||
| Marcus Harris (100m 8 + 200m 8 = 16) | ||
| Relay Team (4) | ||
| 11. | Regis Jesuit High School | 27 |
| Casey Young (110H 5 + 300H 6 = 11) | ||
| Jt Vanveen (D 4 = 4) | ||
| Ryan VanPortfliet (1600m 4 + 800m 8 = 12) | ||
| 12. | Palmer High School | 23 |
| Ben Goodman (400m 8 = 8) | ||
| Reginald Allison (110H 8 + 300H 1 + TJ 6 = 15) | ||
| 13. | Fort Collins High School | 22.5 |
| Blake Reimer (400m 5 = 5) | ||
| Caleb Spaulding (D 6 + S 6 = 12) | ||
| Ray Bozmans (100m 4 + 100m 1.5 = 5.5) | ||
| 14. | ThunderRidge High School | 21 |
| Dave Day (HJ 10 = 10) | ||
| Keifer Johnson (1600m 8 + 3200m 3 = 11) | ||
| 15. | Heritage High School | 16 |
| Relay Team (8) | ||
| Seth Kisselman (200m 4 = 4) | ||
| Wes Korisky (S 4 = 4) | ||
| 16. | George Washington High School | 15.25 |
| Trey Richardson (PV 7.25 + TJ 8 = 15.25) | ||
| 17. | Poudre High School | 15 |
| Jacob Haas (300H 4 = 4) | ||
| Kade Koster (HJ 5 = 5) | ||
| Relay Team (3) | ||
| Tanner Hunt (HJ 3 = 3) | ||
| 18. | Bear Creek High School | 14.5 |
| Armoni Brewington (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Jake Utley (S 3 = 3) | ||
| Vinnie Delmonico (110H 4 + PV 7.25 = 11.25) | ||
| 18. | Rampart High School | 14.5 |
| David Krumland (PV 7.25 = 7.25) | ||
| Tyler Nieves (PV 7.25 = 7.25) | ||
| 20. | Chatfield High School | 11 |
| John Dunbar (100m 5 = 5) | ||
| Shaw Gifford (100m 6 = 6) | ||
| 21. | Mountain Range High School | 10 |
| Alexandre Kizirian (D 1 + S 5 = 6) | ||
| Justin Ellis (S 1 = 1) | ||
| Shaun Maestas (400m 3 = 3) | ||
| 22. | Mountain Vista High School | 9 |
| Cameron Carter (TJ 4 = 4) | ||
| Trevor Tolar (HJ 5 = 5) | ||
| 23. | Pomona High School | 8.5 |
| Adam Sinda (3200m 1 = 1) | ||
| Jared Jenkins (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Jeff Brown (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Ryan Duman (D 5 + S 2 = 7) | ||
| 24. | Grandview High School | 8 |
| Austin Miller (HJ 5 = 5) | ||
| Relay Team (3) | ||
| 24. | Arvada High School | 8 |
| Mark Weeks (S 8 = 8) | ||
| 26. | Legacy High School | 7.5 |
| Camren McWee (HJ 0.25 + LJ 5 = 5.25) | ||
| Justin Muench (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Tim Schmuhl (400m 2 = 2) | ||
| 27. | Columbine High School | 7 |
| William Kincaid (1600m 2 + 3200m 5 = 7) | ||
| 27. | Chaparral High School | 7 |
| Brenden Austin (D 3 = 3) | ||
| Nathan Purdue (800m 1 = 1) | ||
| Relay Team (3) | ||
| 29. | Rocky Mountain High School | 6.25 |
| Ethan Farnsworth (PV 1 = 1) | ||
| Ethan Karp (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| Graham Gilliland (TJ 5 = 5) | ||
| 30. | Gateway High School | 6 |
| Marcus Irons (LJ 6 = 6) | ||
| 30. | Central (Grand Junction) High School | 6 |
| Aaron Wallway (300H 5 = 5) | ||
| Scott Davison (110H 1 = 1) | ||
| 30. | Westminster High School | 6 |
| Jarod Fiorini (800m 6 = 6) | ||
| 30. | Boulder High School | 6 |
| Relay Team (3) | ||
| Ryder Tam (800m 3 = 3) | ||
| 30. | Ralston Valley Senior High School | 6 |
| Robert Wasinger (110H 6 = 6) | ||
| 35. | Monarch High School | 5.25 |
| Kirk Webb (800m 5 = 5) | ||
| Matt Collins (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| 36. | Overland High School | 3 |
| Miles Harper (LJ 3 = 3) | ||
| 37. | Douglas County High School | 1.5 |
| Christian Archibald (LJ 1.5 = 1.5) | ||
| 38. | Grand Junction High School | 0.25 |
| Nelson Rock (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| 38. | Liberty High School | 0.25 |
| Mike Ashton (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) | ||
| 38. | Hinkley (William C.) High School | 0.25 |
| Jahleel Lavallais (HJ 0.25 = 0.25) |
5A Girls
If you've been paying attention to results so far this spring, you know Cherry Creek is capable of putting up big points. The Bruins aren't so much an invitational team, but they are talent-rich enough to be an excellent state team--where quality trumps quantity. Much will hinge on whether or not Olivia Anderson attempts the 400-300H-800 triple and, if so, how that goes for her. Clare Gallagher, Rachael Opgenorth, and Alyse Harris should be able to contribute points. If the Bruins win the title this spring, it will be a first-ever state track and field title for a school that has won just about everything else (and multiple times, too).
Behind Cherry Creek in the current rankings are Littleton and Loveland. Both have some top-end talent, but need major contributions from relays to make it to the top. Come state, these two teams will likely rise or fall on the fortunes of their relay teams.
The current rankings don't have Fountain-Fort Carson getting points from GinAsia Hamilton in the 100. It's been a short season to date for Hamilton, and that situation will almost certainly change. Look for FFC to be a player in the state title race.
Doherty gets plenty of points from Jordan Rand and Alexis Cooks, but needs to find more points at state to make a serious run at the title. Highlands Ranch will make a climb in the rankings if you figure 3200 points for Eleanor Fulton (she's run 10:45 already this season in a meet for which I did not get results), but the Falcons will need more supporting points to make a serious run.
Calculated as of April 23, 2010
These rankings were calculated by scoring the rankings as a meet. We took the individual rankings and relay rankings and scored them as a normal meet: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
| 1. | Cherry Creek High School | 63.5 |
| Alyse Harris (100H 4 = 4) | ||
| Clare Gallagher (1600m 6 + 3200m 8 + 800m 1 = 15) | ||
| Olivia Anderson (300H 10 + 400m 8 + 800m 8 = 26) | ||
| Rachael Opgenorth (100m 5 + 200m 5.5 = 10.5) | ||
| Relay Team (8) | ||
| 2. | Littleton High School | 52 |
| Dana Gaetani (200m 4 + 400m 10 = 14) | ||
| Jenna Adams (PV 10 = 10) | ||
| Kaela Edwards (300H 2 = 2) | ||
| Relay Team (26) | ||
| 3. | Loveland High School | 50 |
| Caylee Packham (100H 6 + 300H 4 = 10) | ||
| Kailie Hartman (1600m 8 + 800m 4 = 12) | ||
| Maggie Anderson (100H 5 = 5) | ||
| Relay Team (23) | ||
| 4. | Fountain-Fort Carson High School | 45.29 |
| Audra Parmer (HJ 2.14 = 2.14) | ||
| GinAsia Hamilton (200m 10 = 10) | ||
| Relay Team (26) | ||
| Yahna Harris (300H 5 + HJ 2.14 = 7.14) | ||
| 5. | Doherty High School | 43 |
| Alex Wendt (TJ 1 = 1) | ||
| Alexis Cooks (D 10 + S 10 = 20) | ||
| Jordan Rand (LJ 8 + TJ 10 = 18) | ||
| Relay Team (4) | ||
| 6. | ThunderRidge High School | 35.5 |
| Dominique Gerard (1600m 2 + 3200m 1 = 3) | ||
| Elisa Isakson (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| Erin Bowers (300H 3 = 3) | ||
| Hannah Krumreich (1600m 5 + 3200m 6 = 11) | ||
| Relay Team (16) | ||
| 7. | Heritage High School | 35 |
| Andi Slouka (100m 8 + 200m 5.5 = 13.5) | ||
| Jenna R Pinto (200m 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Relay Team (21) | ||
| 7. | Arapahoe High School | 35 |
| Relay Team (8) | ||
| Stephanie Gerber (100H 8 + 300H 8 + TJ 4 = 20) | ||
| Taryn Phipps (200m 3 + 400m 4 = 7) | ||
| 7. | Chaparral High School | 35 |
| Julia Costin (D 8 + S 6 = 14) | ||
| Paige Follett (100H 2 + HJ 7 + TJ 6 = 15) | ||
| Relay Team (6) | ||
| 10. | Highlands Ranch High School | 30 |
| Eleanor Fulton (1600m 10 + 800m 10 = 20) | ||
| Pam Yu (LJ 5 + TJ 3 = 8) | ||
| Tierra Shumpert (100m 2 = 2) | ||
| 11. | Pine Creek High School | 27.5 |
| Ava Hildebrandt (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| Beth McCarthy (D 3 = 3) | ||
| Heather Bates (1600m 4 + 3200m 10 = 14) | ||
| Libby Westfall (PV 8 = 8) | ||
| 12. | Fort Collins High School | 26.14 |
| Erin Hooker (3200m 3 = 3) | ||
| Kirsten Follett (3200m 4 = 4) | ||
| Laresa Dern (D 5 = 5) | ||
| Monica Franco (HJ 2.14 = 2.14) | ||
| Rachel Viger (3200m 2 = 2) | ||
| Relay Team (10) | ||
| 13. | Overland High School | 19 |
| Krystal Thomas (100H 3 = 3) | ||
| Relay Team (13) | ||
| Tianna Porter (100m 3 = 3) | ||
| 13. | Rangeview High School | 19 |
| Katie Pham (D 6 + S 3 = 9) | ||
| Relay Team (1) | ||
| Rikki Gonzales (1600m 1 + 800m 3 = 4) | ||
| Shilay Willis (400m 5 = 5) | ||
| 15. | Aurora Central High School | 17.14 |
| Sabrina Jones (HJ 2.14 + LJ 10 + TJ 5 = 17.14) | ||
| 16. | Regis Jesuit High School | 17 |
| Ana Holland (100m 4 + 200m 8 + 400m 1 = 13) | ||
| Relay Team (4) | ||
| 17. | Lakewood High School | 16 |
| Ewelina Pena (HJ 10 = 10) | ||
| Haley Brogan (300H 6 = 6) | ||
| 18. | Montbello High School | 15 |
| Kayla Fisher-Taylor (100m 10 + 200m 2 + 400m 3 = 15) | ||
| 19. | George Washington High School | 14 |
| Brittany Lewis (LJ 1 = 1) | ||
| Relay Team (13) | ||
| 19. | Eaglecrest High School | 14 |
| Danielle Williams (TJ 8 = 8) | ||
| Sieana Tracey (LJ 6 = 6) | ||
| 21. | Fairview High School | 12 |
| Kristen Narum (400m 2 + 800m 6 = 8) | ||
| Relay Team (4) | ||
| 21. | Rocky Mountain High School | 12 |
| Erika Musante (HJ 7 = 7) | ||
| Valentina Pauna (PV 5 = 5) | ||
| 21. | Thornton High School | 12 |
| Amanda Miller (D 4 + S 8 = 12) | ||
| 24. | Denver East High School | 10 |
| Kami Mendez (100H 10 = 10) | ||
| 25. | Durango High School | 9 |
| Lindsay Chamblee (D 1 + S 5 = 6) | ||
| Tasha Fitts (LJ 3 = 3) | ||
| 26. | Ponderosa High School | 8.5 |
| Amanda Lark (400m 6 = 6) | ||
| Kelly Flynn (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| 27. | Mountain Range High School | 7.14 |
| Alesha Knudson (800m 5 = 5) | ||
| Autumn Gardner (HJ 2.14 = 2.14) | ||
| 28. | Grandview High School | 6.5 |
| Dede Longo (PV 2.5 = 2.5) | ||
| Morgan Gradishar (S 4 = 4) | ||
| 29. | Bear Creek High School | 6 |
| Danni Thenell (PV 6 = 6) | ||
| 29. | Liberty High School | 6 |
| Gina Hauptman (1600m 3 + 800m 2 = 5) | ||
| Relay Team (1) | ||
| 29. | Arvada West High School | 6 |
| Carly Delorenzo (100m 6 = 6) | ||
| 32. | Boulder High School | 5 |
| Sam Lewis (3200m 5 = 5) | ||
| 32. | Grand Junction High School | 5 |
| Jamie Derrieux (100H 1 = 1) | ||
| Relay Team (2) | ||
| Sarah Versluis (LJ 2 = 2) | ||
| 34. | Ralston Valley Senior High School | 4 |
| Relay Team (4) | ||
| 34. | Central (Grand Junction) High School | 4 |
| Jamie Pomaski (D 2 + S 2 = 4) | ||
| 34. | Green Mountain High School | 4 |
| Mackenzie Comstock (TJ 2 = 2) | ||
| Relay Team (2) | ||
| 34. | Horizon High School | 4 |
| Rachel Bollinger (LJ 4 = 4) | ||
| 38. | Standley Lake High School | 2.14 |
| Jamie Hart (HJ 2.14 = 2.14) | ||
| 38. | Fruita-Monument High School | 2.14 |
| Meriah Redding (HJ 2.14 = 2.14) | ||
| 40. | Poudre High School | 2 |
| Relay Team (2) | ||
| 41. | Cherokee Trail High School | 1.5 |
| Nicole Williams (200m 0.5 = 0.5) | ||
| Relay Team (1) | ||
| 42. | Pomona High School | 1 |
| Kaitlin Krattenmaker (S 1 = 1) | ||
| 42. | Dakota Ridge High School | 1 |
| Kayla Johnson (300H 1 = 1) | ||
| 42. | Smoky Hill High School | 1 |
| Zainab Sanni (100m 1 = 1) |