Max Manson cleared 16-9 to win the pole vault.
Among the highlights - and there were many - was the boy's 1,600, which ran nearly as fast as the men's elite mile earlier in the day. Michael Mooney, Cruz Culpepper, and James Lee put on a show for the crowd. The trio ran the fastest 1,600 in the state - surpassing the the Mullen Mile.
Before Friday night Mullen held the title as most epic 1,600 in the state with Cole Sprout and Carter Dillon both breaking 4:12, but Mooney, Culpepper, and Lee had other plans.
The trio proved that next week's 4A and 5A state 1,600 races are likely to challenge the 37 year-old Colorado record of 4:10.98. (An article on those races can be found here: Searching For Mile High Magic: Chasing The 1600 Record)
Heading into the race Broomfield's Mooney held the fastest time among the trio this season at 4:14, while Culpepper and Lee had run sub 4:12 at lower elevations.
Culpeper led the pack through the first lap just over 63 seconds before Mooney took over the pacing duties. Mooney led the pack through the 800 in 2:08, stretching the field until it was clear that this was a three-man race. The third lap replicated the second, with Mooney leading Culpepper and Lee. The trio hit 1200 at 3:13 and the pace began to heat up.
Culpepper was the first to strike, kicking from 300 out. Mooney battled him down the backstraight at first before relinquishing the lead. Lee went by as well, chasing a high-flying Culpepper up front. With 200 to go Culpepper remained in the lead but was challenged by Lee. Meanwhile, Mooney was revving up for one more kick a few steps back. As they rounded the final turn Culpepper held a four-foot lead as Lee began to fade. Mooney went out into lane two - the lane of high hopes - and poured out the rest of what was in his tank.
For a moment it appeared that Culpepper would have his day, but Mooney charged throughout the entire final 100 to catch the sophomore at the line in a lean. The two were unrelenting through the finish, with Mooney crashing to the track as they crossed, making this another epic mile.
The Broomfield senior proved that he's one to fear heading into next week's state 1,600, and the 3,200, as he leaned for a 4:11.99 win, which is the fastest time in the state this year. And right on his heels was the Culpepper in 4:12.02 for the second fastest time this year - that makes two sophomores who have run 4:12 in Colorado this year. Lee was a few seconds back in 4:15. Additionally, Soroco's Ben Kelley ran a huge PR of 4:17 for a No. 1 mark in 2A.
Watch the race here: St. Vrain Mile
In the sprints Adam Stark moved up in the 200 rankings. The Loveland senior ran 21.73 for the No. 6 time in 5A.
Cameron Harris won the 110 hurdles in 14.51.
The hurdles were another area that some some insane races to the line. The 300 saw Angelo Hurtado take the win by the slimmest of margins - .01 - over Cameron Harris. Hurtado won the race with the No. 1 mark in 4A - and third in all-classifications - in 38.47. Harris ran 38.48 for the No. 2 time in 5A.
The 3,200 was revealing in a variety of ways. Silver Creek's Brock Dykema stormed back in the final 200 to win the event in 9:27, just ahead of Monarch's Isaac Russo, who ran 9:29. But the the story is the return of Charlie Perry, who ran his first track meet of the season. Perry ran 9:29 to book his ticket to the state meet, as the time is No. 8 in 5A.
In the throws Reece Davidson moved up into the No. 2 spot in the discus with a toss of 156-4. Davidson also nearly PRd in the shot with a toss of 55-4.75.
Meanwhile, Max Manson continued to do Max Manson things, dominating the pole vault with a 16-9 win. Manson nearly cleared 17-1 twice, but will look to challenge the state meet record of 17-3 next week.