Though people living on the Front Range aren't likely to realize it today, things are warming up on the track. Dakota Ridge's Evan Appel (picture above by Tracy Peterson from Nike Littleton Invite) ran a very nice 3200 at Grand Junction's Tiger Invitational.
The decision by Dakota Ridge to travel to Grand Junction this weekend looks very good now in light of today's cool, soggy conditions on the Front Range. Appel took advantage of the warmer temperatures and lower altitude in Grand Junction to put some serious heat on Brent Vaughn's state 3200 record. The record didn't fall, but it did break a sweat. Appel has a couple more chances coming. Dart Schwaderer of Wheat Ridge was second in 9:30.70.
Elsewhere in Friday action at the two-day Tiger Invitational, Appel's teammate Natosha Rogers won the girls 3200 in 11:16.32, followed by a nice run by Crested Butte's Erin Kelly in 11:35.64. Emily Hunsucker of Pomona won the shot with a personal season-best lob of 40-9. Josh Valdez of Fruita-Monument scored a big one for the locals by winning the long jump with a leap of 22-10.5. It is not clear at this time if the leap is a legal or wind-aided mark.
In Saturday's action, where weather was a little dicier than on Friday, highlights included:
- Gus Barnes, Durango, winning the 100 in 11.10
- Stuart Shrum, Grand Junction, winning the 200 in 22.80
- Henry Cowhick, Wheat Ridge, winning the 1600 in 4:17.29
- Rifle posting a very nice 4A 3:27.75 4x400 to win
- Brendan Jackson and Reggie Allison of Palmer winning the hurdle events (14.79 and 39.35) and the triple jump (45-1.25, respectively)
- Breanna Jones of Grand Junction sweeping the 100 (12.73) and 200 (25.83)
- Samatha Strempke of Palmer busting out a personal best 57.66 to win the 400
- Jheri Gates of Cedaredge posting another PR to win the high jump at 5-3
Uncertain wind status on all short sprint and horizontal jump marks above.
Boys Long Jump Top Five
1. Josh Valdez, Fruita-Monument, 22-10.5
2. Maurice Blackledge, Palmer, 22-5.25
3. Randy Brown, Grand Junction, 21-3.75
4. Jason DeWitt, Ralston Valley, 20-11.5
5. Josh Gladfelter, Ralston Valley, 20-10.75
Boys 3200 Top Five
1. Evan Appel, Dakota Ridge, 9:07.82
2. Dart Schwaderer, Wheat Ridge, 9:30.70
3. Scott Fauble, Wheat Ridge, 9:42.69
4. Michael English, Horizon, 9:45.27
5. Adam Sinda, Pomona, 9:48.33
Girls Shot Put Top Five
1. Emily Hunsucker, Pomona, 40-9.5
2. Lindsay Chamblee, Durango, 37-1
3. Jamie Pomaski, GJ Central, 36-3
4. Chelsey Galyon, Montezuma-Cortez, 34-0.5
5. Kaitlin Krattenmaker, Pomona, 33-10.5
Girls 3200 Top Five
1. Natosha Rogers, Dakota Ridge, 11:16.32
2. Erin Kelly, Crested Butte, 11:35.64
3. Paige Lillo, Dakota Ridge, 11:42.23
4. Maddy Jourgensen, Moffat County, 11:42.66
5. Amelia Ortiz, Battle Mountain, 11:45.11