Marybeth Sant and Nick Betz were both at the top of their game in their signature events last weekend. Photos by Ashley Green and Alan Versaw.
It’s been a great season to be a hurdler in Colorado. The competition has been stiff, the times have been fast, and hurdlers have been making numerous showings as athletes of the week. Yet again this weekend, the hurdle events proved to be a highlight, and Colorado Track XC honors Nick Betz as the male athlete of the week.
Nick Betz of Discovery Canyon won both hurdle events at the Coronado Cougar Classic on Friday, finishing the 110 in 14.30 and the 300 in 39.00. The senior currently holds the top position in the state for the 300 with a 38.54 he ran earlier this season at the John Tate Challenge Cup and, after this weekend, is now ranked second in the 110.
Both of Betz’s races this weekend were impressive, but the 110 was especially exciting for Betz.
“I knew going into that race that the competition would be really stiff,” he said. “I knew I’d be running against guys like Chris Cutcher and Kyree Goodman--I was excited because I knew it would push me harder. I had had a great week of practice and was looking forward to it.”
What followed was an explosive, neck-to-neck race that resulted in Betz clenching the win. “When my coach said I had ran a 14.3, I couldn’t believe it,” said Betz.
That time now places Betz .02 seconds behind 4A state leader Alec Willard in the event. “Alec and I were training partners this winter and in the club season,” explained Betz. “We’re always chasing each other, but it’s a friendly competition.” A hurdling showdown between the two at state is in the near future.
Betz realizes, however, that he may not be near as fast if it weren’t for that competition he gets from those other top hurdlers. “The times this year are unbelievably fast,” said Betz. “I love being in those close races with those guys. It pushes me to work harder in practice because if I slack, those guys are going to catch me.”
Speaking of close races, another highlight of this weekend occurred at the Liberty Bell Invitational in the 100m. Marybeth Sant barely edged out Ana Holland to win the event in a blistering-fast time of 11.49 (Holland finished a mere .02 seconds behind her). It’s a win and a meet record for the very competitive and prestigious invitational and this makes Sant Colorado Track XC’s female athlete of the week.
Similarly to Betz, Sant acknowledges that her success from this weekend could not have come without great competition. “It only made me better to have her [Holland] next to me in the race and to be surrounded by great talent,” said Sant.
The senior at Valor Christian High School, who has signed to run with University of Oregon next year, is nothing but excited about the way her season has been going. Sant is propelling off of a very strong indoor season in which she ran a 7.30 60m, the number one time in the nation for the whole season. That success is now translating into a dominating outdoor season and Sant currently holds the second fastest 100 time in the nation.
“It’s awesome being second, of course, but it only makes me strive to be number one,” said Sant whose 100 time is only .02 seconds off of the nation’s fastest. “That fact that it’s so close makes me want it even more.”
These final weeks of Sant’s season are looking incredibly promising. “I’m so happy with my time right now,” said Sant, “but I hope to keep improving. I want to keep working hard and keep getting faster.”
Congratulations to both Nick Betz and Marybeth Sant for their impressive races this weekend and for being honored as Colorado Track XC’s athletes of the week. Keep training, keep dreaming and keep enjoying the competition!