Girls Preview
Sprints (100, 200, and 400)
All three of these meet records are in serious jeopardy in 2018.
In the 100 senior Taylor Watson of Cherokee Trail has the top seed of 11.91, her primary competition appears to be pole vault sensation, sophomore Mia Manson of Monarch (12.03). In the 200 Watson is joined by teammate Sydnee Larkin as the top two seeds Larkin (24.54) and Watson (24.70). The teammates are both 3 time returning All-State competitors. Senior Mary Gillett of Niwot, the 2017 state runner-up in the 200, is the third seed, and will join the 100 field as well. In the 400 Sophomore Lily Williams of Grandview, last year's 5A state runner-up, is the top seed with a PR of 55.33. She is joined by two other athletes that have run under 60 seconds, freshman Taylor James of Niwot (58.03) and junior Sarah Klatt of Smoky Hill (59.50).
Hurdles (100H, and 300H)
Senior Jaiden Paris of Cherokee Trail enters as the top seed in the 100 Hurdles at a blazing 14.03 which currently ranks second in the state of Colorado. The number two seed is senior Delaney Smith of Cherry Creek at 14.59. In the 300 Hurdles Smith leads the way with a seed time of 43.74. Paris is once again one of the top seeds, but shares the second seed honors with Gillett. Both athletes enter the competition with the same seed time of 44.00.
Distance (800, 1600, and 3200)
In the 800 last year's 5A state runner-up senior Madison Mooney of Broomfield leads the field with a PR of 2:10.18. She looks to have competition by way of the third place 5A finisher from 2017 in junior Kaitlyn Mercer of Grandview who comes in with a PR of 2:12.17. Mooney once again leads the field in the 1600 with a sea level PR of 4:53.85. The field also includes five other athletes that have run under 5:10. The Mountain Vista trio of sophomore Jenna Fitzsimmons(5:04.11), junior Caroline Eck (5:07.15), and sophomore Sarah O'Sullivan (5:07.71), Broomfield senior Katelyn Mitchem (5:04.92). The 1600 appears to be the one girls distance event that could see a new meet record in 2018.
In the 3200 two athletes entered have run under the 11:00 barrier. Palmer Ridge freshman Isabella Prosceno has a low altitude 10:50.98 effort from the prestigious Arcadia Invite, joining her under 11 is Ivy Gonzales that mark was also achieved at the Arcadia Invite. Senior Liz Hogan of Monarch rounds out the top 3 seeds with a mark of 11:01.50.
Horizontal Jumps (Long Jump and Triple Jump)
Larkin not only leads the state of Colorado in the Triple Jump, but holds the sixth best triple jump in the nation. The two-time 5A State Champion in the event boasts a PR of 41-9. She is followed by Aumni Ashby of Cherry Creek with a wind legal PR of 39-7.5. Larkin once again is the top seed in the long jump at 18-8.5, she is followed by teammate Chian DeLoach at 18-5.25. The pair are the only two entered with a PR over 18 feet. Both meet records are primed to fall.
Vertical Jumps (Pole Vault and High Jump)
In the high jump Niwot's Taylor has the best seed mark at 5-6.5. The number two seeds comes from last year's 5A fourth-place finisher, junior Alisha Davis of Grandview at 5-2. Natalie Smith of ThunderRidge and Maddie Stoltz of Fort Collins are also entered at 5-2.
In the pole vault two entries are over 11 feet, junior Choying Obrien of Smoky Hill (11-3) and senior Ana George of Cherry Creek (11-2)
Throws (Shot Put and Discus)
Senior Gabriella McDonald of Rocky Mountain is the two-time defending state champion in the shot put, and the defending State Champion in the Discus. So it is no surprise that she is the top seed in both at 44-9 and 153-3. Senior Leilah Vigil of Grandview is the number two seed in the shot put, and is a two-time all-state performer in the event, she has a PR of 42-9. In the Discus Senior Cindy Ybarra of Thompson Valley comes in with a 128-3 effort as the second seed. McDonald will look to improve on her meet records from a year ago.
Relays (Sprint Med, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, and 4x800)
The relays are always hard to forecast as it depends greatly on who coaches decide to run on those teams. The top seed in each are: Grandview in the Sprint Medley, Cherokee Trail in the 4x100 and 4x200, Niwot in the 4x400, and Cherry Creek in the 4x800. No matter what happens here it is a given that the 4x4's under the lights will be hotly contested.
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