For a while, the wind was the main thing that whipped around the track Friday night at the St. Vrain Invite at Everly-Montgomery Field.
That was until Kaitlin Hanenberg hit the track. The sophomore from The Classical Academy tamed the wind with wins and meet records in both the 3200 meter run and 1600 meter run. While the 3200 meter run would be done all alone, she would have plenty of company in the girls 1600. That race turned out to be the best race of the entire meet. With Kendra Gerk (Greeley West) and Laura Tremblay (Thompson Valley) in the field, many distance coaches knew that this one was going to be a race to watch.
Nothing about the race disappointed. All three girls finished within a second of each other, and each ran under 5:08. Kendra Gerk set the early pace on the field, taking them through the 800 in just over 2:30. Hanenburg and Tremblay ran behind Gerk, and on the third lap the race began in earnest. Hanenburg began to assert herself, slowly closing the gap on Gerk. By the fourth lap, it was a three-person race with Hanenburg, Gerk, and Tremblay each battling for the title. Hanenburg finally pulled away over the last 100 meters, winning with a time of 5:06.66, Tremblay closed hard, but finished second in 5:06.98. Gerk finished third with a time of 5:07.68. Truly one of the best miles races this year, or any year, in the state of Colorado.
After the race Gerk admitted, “I expected it to be fast, and knew there was a good chance of going under 5:10.” She added, “It was really exciting being in a race like that,” a thought that was echoed by both Tremblay and Hanenburg. Tremblay said her “plan was to stay behind the leaders, I wasn’t looking to PR at all.” It only goes to show that when you get the best together on one track there is bound to be great performances. Although the 1600 had three certifiable stars, the day belonged to Hanenburg.
On the boys side, while Matt Butcher may be going to Oregon in the fall, the senior still has unfinished business to attend to for Longmont High School. Winning another state title is first on that list. On Friday at the St. Vrain Invite, he had an easier day, running the 100 meter dash as his only individual event. But much like everything the senior does, he did it in style, setting a new meet record of 11.02. Matt was taking it easy this week after coming off a huge weekend at the Boulder County were he was named most valuable athlete. Like many others, Butcher was using this meet as a tune up for the conference meet that began Tuesday for the Trojans.
But Butcher wasn’t the only one setting meet records, as Broomfield’s Nick Zissimos (at left) demonstrated again that he should contend for a state title in 4A, throwing the discus 166-8.
Butcher and Zissimos were, however, the only boys to break meet records on a day when the wind prevented many athletes from getting qualifying marks.
One team that impressed at this meet where team scores are not kept was Roosevelt High School. The 3A school from Johnstown showed that it is a team to contend with at state. The Rough Riders are ranked as the top 3A track and field team in by the Rocky Mountain News and they lived up to their ranking. Roosevelt head coach Ken Howell said, “We are getting ready to move to 4A, and one of my goals is to upgrade the programs with new uniforms and equipment, and take the program to a new level.” He appears to be well on his way.
The former college coach has found a home in high school track. Howell said one of the things he enjoys about coaching high school students is, “High school students are great. It’s the small stuff that students do that cracks you up, it may be the purest version of our sport.” Howell believes that going to the next level for this team is living up to the standard that has been set. The boys are hoping to win the state 3A title. If they do, it would be a first for the Rough Riders, but the goal is on the table. The Rough Riders will be a team to watch over the next few weeks. With a knowledgeable coach, and committed athletes the Rough Riders will be a team to contend with at State.
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Complete Meet Results
For a while, the wind was the main thing that whipped around the track Friday night at the St. Vrain Invite at Everly-Montgomery Field.
That was until Kaitlin Hanenberg hit the track. The sophomore from The Classical Academy tamed the wind with wins and meet records in both the 3200 meter run and 1600 meter run. While the 3200 meter run would be done all alone, she would have plenty of company in the girls 1600. That race turned out to be the best race of the entire meet. With Kendra Gerk (Greeley West) and Laura Tremblay (Thompson Valley) in the field, many distance coaches knew that this one was going to be a race to watch.
Nothing about the race disappointed. All three girls finished within a second of each other, and each ran under 5:08. Kendra Gerk set the early pace on the field, taking them through the 800 in just over 2:30. Hanenburg and Tremblay ran behind Gerk, and on the third lap the race began in earnest. Hanenburg began to assert herself, slowly closing the gap on Gerk. By the fourth lap, it was a three-person race with Hanenburg, Gerk, and Tremblay each battling for the title. Hanenburg finally pulled away over the last 100 meters, winning with a time of 5:06.66, Tremblay closed hard, but finished second in 5:06.98. Gerk finished third with a time of 5:07.68. Truly one of the best miles races this year, or any year, in the state of Colorado.