A Foreboding Gale Blows in at the Air Force Open


Lauren Gale closes in on the finish of a 25.00 indoor 200. Photo by Alan Versaw.

One of the cool things, and perhaps even the coolest thing, about indoor meets is the little window they provide into what's coming in the outdoor season ahead.

And one of the visions we got a window on Friday evening was the world of 4A girls sprinting. Ladies and gentlemen, get accustomed to hearing the name Lauren Gale.

Gale opened her Colorado high school career with a 7.93 60. A couple hours later she came back with a 25-flat 200. And, yes, that's including negotiating the turn on an indoor track. She figures to be wearing the purple and black of Discovery Canyon this spring. That should turn a few heads around Colorado Springs.

Another take-notice kind of performance was dropped by Andrea Willis in the pole vault. This time out, Willis cleared 13-6.25 in the pole vault, adding another inch to the Colorado all-time record for high school girls in the event. As of last month, Willis already owned the record, but this puts it a tiny bit further out of reach.

Maya Evans topped the high school finishers in the 60 with a 7.69. Gale's effort topped Evans by nearly a quarter of a second in 200. Julia Hall, Simone Watkins, and Anna Hall each opened the season with a sub-60 400. Julia Hall led that pack with a 57.24. Lilliana Hamilton ran 2:28.47 to take first among the high school girls in the 800. And, Emily Sloan's 8.69 topped the high schoolers in the 60 meter hurdles, solidly ahead of Kiana Gomez at 9.21 and Marlee Brown at 9.22.

Elsewhere, in girls field events, it was Anna Hall at 5-1 for high jump honors and Iesha Essien at 17-6 for long jump honors. High school participation was light overall in the field events.

Boys top marks included a 6.98 for Javan Lanier in the 60. Brock Miller led the high school finishers in both the 200 and 400 with marks of 22.51 and 51.63. Miller just managed to edge Lanier's 22.65 in the 200. Kai Rogers was strongest in the 800 at 2:06.25. Matt Hanson earned a 9.28 in the (42-inch) 60 meter hurdles. Palmer Ridge sophomore Drew Vidano was the lone high school competitor in the mile, posting a 5:34.

High school participation in the field events was a bit scattered, but Kyle Rex cleared bars at 6-0.75 in the high jump and 14-1.25 in the pole vault. Kharon Hall went 20-3 in the long jump and 45-7.25 in the triple. 

Early next week, and after Saturday's results come in from Boulder, we'll review Colorado positions in the national indoor rankings.

Complete Results and Photos