It didn't take long for the girls side of the meet to evolve into an early title bout between 3A powers Elizabeth and The Classical Academy. 4A Discovery Canyon made their presence felt early and often as well.
Vista Ridge looked good in the lead-off event of the SMR8, but TCA and Elizabeth roared back with a telling 1-2 in the 4x800.
Early field event action saw Erika Willis post a big 10 for TCA in the pole vault at 12-0, while Elizabeth's Lexye Wood answered with 10 in the long jump for Elizabeth at 17-1 (0.0--it was a very nice morning in the meteorology department).
It continued in much the same fashion all day long.
Ashten Loeks fashioned a blazing 45.95 to win the 300 hurdles. Megan Wesley went 5-0 to win the high jump. McKenzie Elliott (2:25.90) and Katie Flaherty (12:19.52) gave TCA a pair of titles in the distance events. TCA's 4x100 smoked the field just as the winds were starting to change the face of the meet.
On and on it went down to the very last event of the meet. Although Elizabeth would take the 4x400 title running from the slower-seeded first heat, TCA took second and secured the overall team title in the process.
3A will be hearing more from both of these teams.
Speaking of 3A, Alamosa got wins from Allyssa Romero in the 400 and Mary Streeter in the 100 hurdles. Streeter's win came when she went cleanly over the final hurdle while Salida's Ruby Brown hit the final hurdle, stumbled on her next step, and last the lead she had built over the first 90 meters. Brown's day ended up with two solid runner-up finishes in the hurdle event.
Lauren Gale matched her win total from an entire abbreviated 2017 campaign with decisive victories in the 100 and 200.
Shaelynn Williams went 39-2 kind of big to reintroduce her name to the legion of throws devotees around the state. Williams figures as a serious contender in the 4A shot put this spring.