Kimberly Peterson readies for an attempt at last year's state meet. Photo by Jeff McCoy.
The power of the pole vault to tilt a state title in the direction of one team or away from another team is greatly underestimated. Two years ago, a Lakewood girls team very nearly claimed a state title largely on the strength of placing four girls in the pole vault. Only a once-in-a-lifetime set of relays from Loveland kept the trophy from falling into the hands of the Tigers. And, it's not just 5A where that happens. As we dig through the classifications here, we'll note that there are a handful of teams here that could be banking heavily on their pole vaulters to help carry them to the top this spring.
Megan McCabe was well out ahead of the field last spring, but the revisionist tale of the indoor season is that a couple of 5A girls have closed up the gap. Looking like serious contenders for the throne are Stephanie Bess of Arvada West and Christina Stathakis of Castle Vie...