Colorado's Final Week Before State

Alan Versaw


With a little cooperation from the weather, things definitely heated up for state qualifying in the last week. 

This week will be the final week of state qualifying, and the most tension-laden week of all. Relatively few of the athletes in the various top 18s come into this week knowing their marks will withstand this week's onslaught. And, many more line up their last attempt at a top 18 slot this week.

So, it's time to get it done or gone home and start training for the next season.

Please not that CHSAA has stated that results for this week's meets must be turned in and published in timely fashion. So, I will not be holding results from publication until the end of the week. Results will go up as they are received, and they should be received within 24 hours of the completion of the meet (sooner, if the meet ends on Saturday).

Here are the meets we'll be watching this week:

Black Forest League Championships

This is a combined middle school and high school meet. That helps with the recovery time between events, which is almost always a concern at a small-school meet such as this one. 

Elbert HS Track Elbert, CO
May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Meet Info

Venue Records: Elbert HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Calhan High School
  • Colorado Deaf & Blind School
  • Elbert High School
  • Ellicott Middle School
  • Evangelical Christian Academy
  • Fountain Valley School of Colorado
  • Hanover Middle School
  • Miami-Yoder High School
  • Miami-Yoder Middle School
  • Peyton Middle School
  • Pikes Peak Christian

Grand Valley Cardinal Invitational

The Western Slope leagues enjoyed their league meets this past week, so it's down to last-chance invitationals for the Western Slope teams this week. Grand Valley's brand-new facility takes on the Grand Junction and Cedaredge for a share of the crowd of teams looking to make their final bids. Figure the division of teams splits mostly down the lines of larger/smaller schools and north/south geography. 

Grand Valley HS Track Parachute, CO
May 13, 2017

Venue Records: Grand Valley HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Grand Valley High School

Grand Junction Tiger Invitational

The Western Slope meet with all the tradition behind it is the Grand Junction Tiger. They run this one as a two-day meet and run the 3200s in the twilight of day one. Since Grand Junction is already getting a little toasty by this time of year, that allows the distance types a fighting chance to post big marks. But, the 3200 types will be far from the only ones with something on the line here.

David Pressgrove has the coverage assignment for Colorado Track XC.

Stocker Stadium Grand Junction, CO
May 11, 2017 May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Stocker Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Caprock Academy
  • Central (Grand Junction) High Sc
  • Dolores High School
  • Dove Creek High School
  • Durango High School
  • Fruita Monument High School
  • Grand Junction High School
  • Mancos High School
  • Moffat County High School
  • Montezuma-Cortez High School
  • Nucla High School
  • Ouray High School
  • Rifle High School
  • Roaring Fork High School
  • Telluride High School

Pueblo West Cyclone Invitational

Pueblo West mostly hosts at CSU-Pueblo these days, but this one returns to the Cyclones' home digs. And, one question almost everyone is already asking is whether on not Frank Nash will be long jumping again. Last week, Nash went to the long jump pits without an established reputation. Those days might as well be 20 years behind him now. A 24-6.5 will do that for you.

It should be a solid crowd of teams and athletes making their final bids for State.

Pueblo West High School Stadium Pueblo West, CO
May 11, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Pueblo West High School Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alamosa High School
  • Crowley County High School
  • Fowler High School
  • John Mall High School
  • Primero High School
  • Pueblo Centennial High School
  • Pueblo Central High School
  • Pueblo County High School
  • Pueblo East High School
  • Pueblo West High School
  • Sand Creek High School
  • Swallows Charter Academy
  • Swink High School
  • Weld Central High School

T-Bird Last Chance Qualifier

The track at Aurora Public Schools Stadium has hardened over the years. That makes it no-so-friendly for distance, but a great place for sprinters to make that final push for State. 

Aurora Public Schools Stadium Aurora, CO
May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Aurora Public Schools Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alameda International High Schoo
  • Arvada High School
  • Aurora Central High School
  • DSST: Green Valley Ranch
  • Englewood High School
  • Faith Christian Academy
  • Falcon High School
  • Manual High School
  • Northglenn High School
  • Ridge View Academy
  • Shining Mountain Waldorf High Sc
  • SkyView Academy
  • Westminster High School

4A/5A Colorado Springs Metro League Meet

Running two league meets concurrently, and especially over a two-day schedule, means athletes should have plenty of recovery time. The 4A/5A part of the CSML is a bit of a misnomer for track and field these days. The Classical Academy, Woodland Park, Sierra, and Elizabeth are all 3A schools that are a part of the Colorado Springs Metro 4A League. So, the 3A folks who want to be in the know will be keeping an eye on this meet. 

I have the Colorado Track XC coverage for this meet. 

Garry Berry Stadium Colorado Springs, CO
May 11, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Garry Berry Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Canon City High School
  • Classical Academy, The
  • Doherty High School
  • Fountain-Fort Carson High School
  • Harrison High School
  • Liberty High School
  • Mitchell High School
  • Palmer High School
  • Rampart High School
  • Sierra High School
  • Widefield High School

Jeffco 4A/5A League Meet

Everything we just said about the Colorado Springs Metro meet applies here as well. Two leagues, a multi-day schedule, and D'Evelyn represents the 3A crowd at this meet. So, it's not just the 4A and 5A folks who will be paying attention. 

Jeffco Stadium Lakewood, CO
May 9, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Jeffco Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Arvada West High School
  • Bear Creek High School
  • Chatfield High School
  • Columbine High School
  • D'Evelyn High School
  • Dakota Ridge High School
  • Golden High School
  • Lakewood High School
  • Littleton High School
  • Pomona High School
  • Ralston Valley High School
  • Standley Lake High School

Monte Vista High School Last Chance Meet

Part of the allure of this one is the opportunity to compete at a newly-refurbished facility. There's something about a venue that still feels new. As you can see from the list of teams, this one will be an almost-exclusively San Luis Valley meet. 

Monte Vista HS Track Monte Vista, CO
May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Monte Vista HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alamosa High School
  • Bayfield High School
  • Centauri High School
  • Centennial High School
  • Center High School
  • Creede High School
  • Crested Butte Community School
  • La Veta High School
  • Monte Vista High School
  • Sanford High School
  • Sargent High School
  • Sierra Grande High School

Burlington Invitational

Burlington welcomes the eastern Colorado teams with league meets already in the bag. 

Burlington HS Track Burlington, CO
May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Burlington HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Arickaree High School
  • Bethune High School
  • Burlington High School
  • Byers High School
  • Deer Trail High School
  • Genoa-Hugo High School
  • Idalia High School
  • Merino High School
  • Otis High School
  • Rocky Ford High School
  • Stratton/Liberty High School

North Central League JH/HS Meet

One of those eastern Colorado leagues without their league meet already in the bag is the North Central. And, as small as the schools in this league are, it's a good thing it joins with a junior high meet. Otherwise, the meet could be done in about two hours, especially considering that Akron has a 10-lane track for hosting. Who needs any stinkin' multiple-heat events? Just stack them all on the track at once and shoot the pistol!

Akron HS Track Akron, CO
May 9, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Akron HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Briggsdale High School
  • Briggsdale Middle School
  • Fleming High School
  • Pawnee High School
  • Peetz High School
  • Prairie High School
  • Weldon Valley High School
  • Weldon Valley Middle School

Tri-League Meet

Another eastern Colorado league with league meet business to attend to is the Tri League, a kind of loose confederation of three once-independent leagues. But, the population out in southeastern Colorado ain't what it used to be, so this consolidation makes good sense.

Holly HS Track Holly, CO
May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Holly HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Cheyenne Wells High School
  • Granada High School
  • Kit Carson High School
  • Plainview High School
  • South Baca
  • Springfield High School
  • Wiley High School

Continental League Championships

Echo Park Stadium has seen a lot of track and field this season. It's final hurrah for 2017 is the Continental League meet. Most of the teams have been here several times over already this season. It's very nearly a district meet for the Douglas County Schools (the same ones that call this stadium home), but there will be an extra team or two in attendance. It's probably worth doing a facility top ten list for this venue. I'll try to get that done this week so people competing on Thursday and Saturday can see where they rank against the legends on this track.

Echo Park Stadium Parker, CO
May 11, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Echo Park Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Chaparral High School
  • Douglas County High School
  • Legend High School
  • Ponderosa High School
  • Regis Jesuit
  • ThunderRidge High School

Joe Shields Invitational

You might wonder why anyone would go to a meet in Kremmling on the final week before State. The potential downsides are all too apparent--very high altitude for distance runners, a high potential for colder weather, and substantial travel for most teams. The potential payoff, however, comes in the sprints and, possibly, horizontal jumps. Thinner air means less air resistance. Less air resistance means faster times. If you need a top-18 sprint time, this place could be calling your name.

West Grand HS Track Kremmling, CO
May 11, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: West Grand HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Clear Creek High School
  • Hayden High School
  • Middle Park High School
  • Soroco High School
  • Summit High School

St. Vrain New Balance Invitational

There really is no debate about this. If you're not committed to a league meet this week and you want the best possible competition, there is no place other than Longmont to be. The St. Vrain owns legendary status among the ranks of last-chance meets. Plus, you have a remote chance of witnessing the first sub-4 mile on Colorado soil if you go (yes, they're chasing that one again on Friday night). 

Nobody leaves this one disappointed in the meet. Ashley Green has photo coverage for this one. I'll wrangle the meet write-up--and there will be one.

Everly-Montgomery Field Longmont, CO
May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Everly-Montgomery Field

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Boulder High School
  • Peak to Peak Charter School
  • Resurrection Christian High Scho
  • Sedgwick County
  • Thompson Valley High School

Cedaredge Bruin Invitational

The Delta County schools get to stay close to home the week before State. In my mind, that's a smart move and a consideration that, all by itself, makes it worth the effort for Cedaredge to host this meet. I'm guessing the folks at Hotchkiss and Paonia pitch in a little with meet management duties as well. Cedaredge's boys and Paonia's girls currently sit in very nice qualifying positions, but even the Bruins and Eagles have things to take care of on Saturday. It should be an exciting day of track and field.

Cedaredge HS Track Cedaredge, CO
May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Cedaredge HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Cedaredge High School
  • Ouray High School
  • Paonia High School

Centennial League Varsity Championships

It's the Centennial League, what else needs to be said? There will be boundless great competition. Jeff Bliven has the coverage assignment. 

Stutler Bowl Greenwood Village, CO
May 11, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Stutler Bowl

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Eaglecrest High School
  • Grandview High School
  • Mullen High School

Denver Public Schools League Meet

If you haven't noticed that DPS track and field has been on a recent upswing, you've been missing something. Like every other league in the state, there are state meet berths on the line at this one, and probably more than there have been in several years.

All-City Stadium Denver, CO
May 11, 2017 May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: All-City Stadium

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Denver North High School
  • Denver South High School
  • John F. Kennedy High School

Tri-Peaks League Meet

They all make a long trip to Lamar for this one. That means some folks get out of bed mighty early on Saturday morning and pray the heat doesn't build too much during the day out in Lamar. There should be some outstanding throwing action to take in at this one. The suggestion I gave earlier in the season about wearing a helmet if you're outside the stadium still holds for this meet.

Savage Stadium (Lamar HS Track) Lamar, CO
May 13, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Savage Stadium (Lamar HS Track)

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • La Junta High School
  • Salida High School
  • Trinidad High School

Highland Invitational

Highland is a 2A school with a kind of 3A swagger. In short, Highland never lost the 3A mentality when they left for 2A, and that helps them when it comes to attendance at a meet like this. Given the other meet options for schools in the area, this probably won't be an especially large meet, but don't be surprised to see a few nice performances emerging out of this one--performances that upset the rankings apple carts a little.

Highland HS Track Ault, CO
May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Highland HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Roosevelt High School
  • Yuma High School

John Martin Invite

The Front Range League meet is done, so it's down to last chances for a whole lot of athletes along the north end of the Front Range. And, if you couldn't get into the St. Vrain or didn't want to fight the crowds of people trying to get in, this is not at all a bad alternative place to be.

Fort Collins HS Track Fort Collins, CO
May 12, 2017
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Fort Collins HS Track

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Discovery Canyon High School
  • Legacy High School
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