This may be the last year for regional qualifying in 4A, but the teams in the 4A region 5 track meet showed that it is important to not look ahead.
On the women’s side it was a battle between Longmont and Broomfield for the team title with Broomfield winning the team title by eight points. The Eagles rode the coattails of their two dynamic sprinters, Kayla Wein and Ashley Mikins. The duo split the hurdle races, with Wein winning the 100m hurdles and Mikins winning the 300 hurdles. Kayla also won the 100 proving that, with or without barriers in her way, she wants to win a state title.
Those two weren’t the only champions for the Eagles as Brooke Bosman won the 3200 meter run, and finished third in the 1600, Chaundra Sewell won the high jump (5-2) and finished third in the discuss with a throw of (106 – 1). Behind these four girls and some relays that are strong the Eagles could be making some noise at the state meet.
While Broomfield was the regional champion, it was a Trojan that stole the day. Once again Elizabeth Stover showed why she is not only the best in the state but, one of the best in the nation. At a regional meet in which she did not even have to vault, Stover vaulted to a tie for the fifth in the nation and new state record (13-4). With her sights set higher, Stover had three good looks at (13-7). Look for a new state record when the state meet comes around.
Stover is not the only Trojan that will be competing next week. The Trojans have state competitors at every level of the state meet. If one team falters, the lady Trojans could and will surprise some teams at state. On the girls side, it was the Niwot distance team that really showed up on Tuesday and Friday. Lead by standout Megan Horsch, the Cougars went 1-2 in the 800 and Horsch qualified in the mile as well with a second place finish. Look for Horsch to be competitive in the distance events at state.
The defending champs however, will not go down with a fight. They, too, have scorers at every level--including one place the Trojans do not have: distance events. Scott Ingram could be the difference for Cherokee Trail. In this region however, it was the Trojans dominance in the jumps that propelled them to a second place finish. They swept the pole vault, won the long jump and went second and fourth in the high jump. The showdown continues next week with a few more teams thrown in to add to the excitement.