Smoky Hill's Mark Sparks launches one of his discus attempts that led to a 172-7 mark and second place at the Fort Collins Runner's Roost. Photo by Chris Morriss.
Special to Colorado Track XC by Chris Morriss
After a three-day delay due to another March snowstorm, the Runner's Roost Invitationa finally got underway in Ft. Collins. The afternoon temperature barely hit 45 degrees, but the blustery winds made it feel closer to 35 degrees.
The boys discus was the first event, and it took a while for "the clinic" to start. Four flights of boys from all over the northern half of the state took their hopes to the skies and attempted to defeat the wind, not Buena Vista's Mason Finley. The clouds came and went that afternoon, but Mason's shadow over most throwing rings in the country is far too large to eclipse. Flight after flight, these boys tried in vain to ride the wind and let one loose. The fourth flight of boys were up and it was noticeable. These boys looked like collegians....
Mason Finley rounded out the final flight with Smoky Hill's Mark Sparks and Greeley West's Jordan Davis seeded second and third, respectively. The attempts were frustrating to all. After Finley hit his winning throw of 199-3, the flight seemed to relax and rethink their own strategies for the day. Sparks hit a 172-7 on his second throw to grab second place for the day. West's A. J. Frieler threw the rubber discus farther than I recall seeing one of those thrown for a third-place toss of 154-5; teammate Jordan Davis missed the finals.
After a discus event that ran an hour over, the shot put competition was set to begin. By now, the throwers just wanted to salvage their days by performing well in the shot. In the same fashion as in the discus, Finley showed his early-season form by putting the shot 65-6 to win handily over Mark Sparks' effort of 53-11.5.
Both of these young throwers were happy to see one another and cheer the other one. Many throwers enjoy their events so much it can feel like a picnic rather than a clinic on Saturdays, even a chilly one.