TCA sweeps Tri-Peaks titles

If you like wind, all-day wind, this was yet another meet suited especially to your tastes. Unfortunately, wind seems to have a detrimental effect on most track and field performances.

Although most events suffered to some degree from the persistent wind, probably no event was more impacted than the discus. Mason Finley managed a winning throw of "only" 178-5 and no other thrower topped 125 feet. A trailing crosswind rendered it nearly impossible for the discus throwers to get any sort of lift on their efforts. On the girls' side of the ledger, Florence's Kasey Becco had the best effort of the day with a throw of 103-8.

The shot put, however, was almost completely unaffected by the wind. After two puts that traveled around 55 feet, Finley, at left, unleashed a couple of monster throws, including his event-winning put of 65-1.75. Like Finley, Becco doubled up her titles in the throwing events with a toss of 35-7.5.

In the only straightaway event on the day to enjoy a legal wind reading, Buena Vista's Patty Fryc improved her state qualification with a 12.86 finish in the 100-meter dash. David Bush of Colorado Springs Christian School narrowly missed a sprint double on the boys' side, winning the 100 meters but being edged by La Junta's Adam Guadagnoli (at right) at 200 meters. Stephanie Kenney of CSCS won the other short sprint event of the day, taking the 200-meter dash in a wind-aided time of 26.33. CSCS also won the 4 X 100 meter relay and was second to The Classical Academy in the 4 X 200.

Ryan Cantu of St. Mary's continued to impress in both hurdle events. Cantu won the 300 meter hurdles rather easily in 41.22. The 100 meter hurdles (at left) was somewhat more closely contested, but Cantu pulled away to win in a wind-aided 15.64 after a close start.

The Classical Academy piled up a large share of their points in the distance events. Kaitlin Hanenburg won the girls 800 and 1600 meter runs, both over Kara Slavoski of St. Mary's. Trevor Waliszewski won the 1600 meters, but TCA's Sam Feldotto was held off down the finish straight by La Junta's Ben Velasquez in the boys' 800 meters. TCA was, however, unable to claim a title in either of the 3200 races. In the girls' race, Sydney Harris of St. Mary's (at right) broke away from the competition on the third lap and was never again threatened. Joe DeMoor of Buena Vista waited a bit longer to make his break from the field but he, too, finished with a decisive victory in the boys' 3200.

The Classical Academy easily won the meet on the girls side by a margin of 97 points over second-place St. Mary's. The competition for boys' title, however, provided the most compelling story of the day. Throughout the day, Manitou Springs, despite being down one or two key performers, hung tenaciously to a narrow lead in the team standings. With all events complete except the 4 X 400, Manitou Springs still clung to a 98-94 lead in the team standings. TCA would finish second in the 4 X 400 to claim eight points and thus finish with 102. Manitou Springs managed to add only three points to their total with a 6th-place finish and ended the day with 101 team points.

Most of the same teams will gather next Saturday a few short miles to the south at Gerry Barry Stadium for their 3A regional meet. Salida, Florence, Buena Vista, and Lake County, however, travel over Wolf Creek Pass for the regional meet in Bayfield.

Photo Gallery

Meet Results