If you came looking for several of the top names in Colorado high school indoor track and field, they took off for Houston this weekend. If you came looking for quality track and field action, there was plenty of that to go around.
Welcome, please, a few new folks to the spotlight.
One of those enjoying at least a brighter spotlight than ever before was high jumper Rhyan Moore. Moore is just a sophomore this year, but her sophomore track year is starting off in a very big way. Last year, Moore managed to clear 5-0 in the high jump, once.
She tripled that number today, clearing first 1.55m, then 1.60m, and finally 1.65m. It wasn't difficult to tell she was in PR territory with each successive clearance. Moore jumps for Pueblo West in the spring, and suddenly the 4A Girls high jump looks to be a bit more competitive.
Teagan Zwaanstra took advantage of the absence of Sydnee Larkin to earn a little triple jump spotlight. Zwaanstra might be jumping for Legend, Ponderosa, or Chaparral this spring, but--for now--she wears Parker Panther colors and owns a newly-minted 35-10.5 in the triple jump. If she can replicate that sometime this spring, that should advance her to the state meet.
We already knew a whole lot of things about Isabella Prosceno's distance prowess, but just because you're good at 5000 meters doesn't necessarily mean you're top-of-the-pile kind of material at 800 meters. Only, in Prosceno's case, it apparently does. Prosceno ran 2:24.97 for second in the 800. Had she paced the first lap a bit more carefully, she might well have one the thing. She'll be older and wiser next time around.
If there were any questions about Kyairra Reigh's high school readiness, she answered them today with a 56.08 winner in the 400. The only question now concerns where Reigh attends high school. I'm thinking Denver East is likely a very good guess.
There were statements made on the boys side of the ledger as well.
Two freshman boys, Sterling Brassfield and Korey Hairston left calling cards at the scene of the 60 meter dash. Both had a best on the 7.06. Only Devin Cadena and Luc Andrada finished ahead of them in 60, and we already knew both of those guys have wheels. Is it even conceivable two freshmen could make the state 100 meter dash finals this spring? We' better start thinking about that.
I don't know what school either will be running for yet.
Even more mysterious is the Deondre Ritter who won the 200 in 22.26. That's .01 faster than Jalen Lyon. Maybe you remember Lyon placing at State last spring?
We should be learning a whole lot more about Ritter very soon, but for the time being he appears to be an entirely new name on the Colorado horizon, unless he is one and the same Deondre Ritter who ran for Fountain-Fort Carson in 2015 and hasn't been heard from since. We shall see. If so, you can start adjusting your psyche now to the fact that FFC is likely to be doing a bit more dominating of the sprints this spring.
Carson Ebersbach of Denver Lightning made a bold move on the finish straight and won the 100 in 51.51. He's already rostered at Denver East, but figure you'll be hearing more from him this spring than last.
Joel Nyatusah hammered a big PR of 8.28 in the 60 meter hurdles. Nyatusah made it as far as the state meet in the 110 hurdles last spring, but finished without a medal. Somehow, I doubt the latter part of that scenario repeats itself this spring. Nyatusah runs for Overland. You may not need to be told that again.
Of course, there were other, and more immediately familiar names doing their things today as well. Nobody is going to be shocked to learn that Arria Minor won the 100 and 200. Marlena Preigh took the honors of beating Isabella Prosceno in the 800. Jequan Hogan won the long jump and triple jump at or near season best marks. Zach Reid continues to impress in the long jump. Drew Seidel and Cruz Culpepper won the 800 and mile, respectively. Jaiden Paris won the 60 hurdles. And Maya Evans parked a season-best mark in the sand to win the long jump.
If anyone left disappointed, it's more than likely because they just weren't paying attention.