Samantha Chamberlin and Kita Alvares give Cheyenne Mountain a formidable one-two punch in the 100 and 300 Hurdles (photo by Alan Versaw).
Much as it appears to be in the 4A boys classification, the favorites in the 4A girls race are drawn from last year's top contenders. Each of the major players from last year brings back a substantial portion of last year's team and promises to be competitive again this year.
Thompson Valley, last year's state champion, brings back very nearly everybody from a team that come very close to busting the whole thing wide open last year. The Tremblay sisters will, once again, be central to the hopes of the Eagles. Both CU-bound, Liz will seek to improve on her third in the 400 and fourth in the 200 (or will she trade in the 200 for a shot at running the 800?), and Laura will seek to retain her personal stranglehold on the 4A 800 and 1600? But, there are more race horses in the barn than these two. Thompson Valley left the field behind in last year's state finals in both the 4 X 200 and 4 X 400 relays. A favorite going into the 4 X 800 at state, they suffered a minor collapse in that event that they just might be looking to redeem themselves from this year. Justine Boddy returns from a third-place finish in the high jump and Katie Lindenmuth from a fourth-place finish in the long jump. By any reasonable standard, the Eagles are loaded.
But "loaded" usually describes the Mullen Mustangs as well. If Laura Palmere runs, and returns to form this spring, Mullen looks very strong. If, however, she opts out of track competition to focus on basketball, it will be a much tougher row to hoe for Mullen. That's not to say Mullen is short on talent. Ryan Russ, Vanessa Fabrizion (who had a breakout performance at last summer's Nike Outdoor Nationals), and Morgan Mosby make Mullen a force at middle distances. And let's not forget about hurdler Madison Riggins.
Are there any teams with a hope of keeping pace with Thompson Valley and Mullen? The two best hopes for that take us well west of the I-25 corridor, to Alamosa and Glenwood Springs. In Alamosa, Adams State-bound thrower Katie Kruger has already posted some eye-popping numbers in indoor meets in New Mexico. Anyone who had the misfortune of lining up against the Mean Moose's 4 X 800 last spring (all members return this year), knows their victory at state was no fluke. DeSouchet sisters Nikki and Jenny will be heard from somehow--it only remains to be seen what events they will run at state this spring. With Lindsey Sowards coming back for her senior season, Alamosa should collect points in both the 1600 and 3200.
After a sizzling spring of beating up on western slope competition, Glenwood Springs went a little flat at last year's state meet. But, experience is the best teacher. Look for a motivated Demon team to show up at state this year, intent on making things happen better than they happened last year. Almost the entire team returns this year. Hurdler Laura Young and some high-octane relays give Glenwood reason to hope things can go much better this year.
Speaking of hurdlers, the classification is full of them. Ashley Miknis and Kayla Wein of Broomfield, Samantha Chamberlin and Kita Alvares of Cheyenne Mountain, Holly Odneal of Palisade, Madison Riggins, and don't be surprised to see the name DeSouchet among the state placers this spring. With Lewis-Palmer and Wheat Ridge coming down from 5A, Kalie Kirk and Annie Kunz figure in the hurdle mix as well. Get your place in the stands now for the state finals (look for Kunz at the high jump venue as well)!
No name among 4A girls, however, carries as much instant recognition as Conifer's Emily Blok. Blok scored 38 points all on her own at last year's state meet. Nobody's betting against a repeat (or better) this year. Although Moffat County's Erin Urbanoski can argue the point in the long jump, Blok is indisputably the person to beat in her other three events--the 100, 200, and 400. Kadeshia Rose of Mesa Ridge and freshman GinAsia Hamilton of Widefield are profoundly talented sprinters, but will have to move up a notch to challenge Blok.
Switching back to the western slope, Urbanoski is not the only card in Moffat County's deck. 800/1600 specialists Alicia Nelson and Maddy Jourgensen will help keep the team in blue in good points. Other distance runners to throw into consideration would include Allie Parks of Greeley Central plus Ashlee Smalley and Erica Hinchcliffe of Greeley West. Hinchcliffe missed most of last spring with an injury but appeared to be back to form in cross country in the fall.
Jumper Amy Medina and thrower Anna Avila give Mountain View some great hopes at coming home from the state meet with an individual title or two. Other field event specialists of note would include Calyn Hull, a high jumper from D'Evelyn, Alison Forrester, a jumper from Rock Canyon, Natasha Bruins, a long jumper from Woodland Park, Kiah Hicks, a thrower from Falcon, and Katie Chapman, a jumper from Delta. It looked as if the classification would get a gift of pole vaulter Karlye Marshall of Lewis-Palmer moving down a classification from 5A, but rumor has it that Marshall injured a shoulder in winter track and is currently recovering from the injury.
Nobody's absence will be felt more keenly from last year than Elizabeth Stover of Longmont. The record-setting pole vaulter also proved to be a pretty decent hurdler and long jumper, and a great anchor on Longmont's 4 X 100. Longmont will be hard-pressed to replace her points.
Samantha Chamberlin and Kita Alvares give Cheyenne Mountain a formidable one-two punch in the 100 and 300 Hurdles (photo by Alan Versaw).
Much as it appears to be in the 4A boys classification, the favorites in the 4A girls race are drawn from last year's top contenders. Each of the major players from last year brings back a substantial portion of last year's team and promises to be competitive again this year.