The stage was set for a great storybook ending: Arria Minor running a state record in the final 100 race of her Colorado high school career.
And that's exactly what happened.
Minor tied Caryl Smith's 32 year-old state record of 11.31 in the 100 finals Saturday morning. The performance checked off the final box within the sprint events, giving the Denver East senior every state record from the 100 up to the 400.
Her name now appears on the record list three times - which is more than anyone else.
Minor's 11.31 is also currently No. 3 in the country, and it gave her her fourth consecutive state title in the event. And she wasn't done - she doubled back to add state title No. 10 (and her fourth in the event) in the 200, winning in 23.10.
While Minor was signing off on her Colorado high school career in style, Sydney Holiday had an incredible meet of her own.
The Broomfield junior finished second to Minor in the 100 and the 200, running the 11th fastest 100 in the country with an 11.60, and 24.04 in the 200.
In the 400 Lily Williams defended her title in a hotly contest race. Camille Peisner pushed the defending champ early, but Williams prevailed with a 53.63.
And speaking of defending state titles, Marlena Preigh held off Williams in the 800 to defend her title. Preigh ran a 2:08.55 FTW over Williams, who ran a big personal best of her own in 2:09.10 - that makes three Coloradans who have dipped under 2:10 in the 800 this season.
Preigh used that speed to kick hard for the state title in the 1,600 over a stacked field that included the freshmen duo of Cameron McConnell and Riley Stewart, and the Valor duo of Keely Jones and Taylor Whitfield.
With 300 to go it was anyone's race, though Preigh lurked and struck at the right moment - the top of the final curve. The Fairview senior sprinted off and away for title No. 2 at the meet, winning in 4:59.53. McConnell was second in 5:00.25, just ahead of Stewart's 5:00.72, while Jones capped her high school career with a Colorado personal best of 5:02.77.
The 3,200 saw a similar kick-to-the-finish, and this time it was Whitfield who prevailed. Three cracked 11 minutes, led by Whitfield's 10:47. McConnell was a close second in 10:50, just ahead of Stewart's 10:55. Madison Reed was fourth just over 11 minutes in 11:02
The top six return next year, making the 2020 3,200 a mind-boggling race to contemplate...
In the hurdles Colorado got their final glimpse of the country's best athlete, as Anna Hall's sheer dominance went unrivaled.
The Valor Christian senior made no competition of either race, winning the 100H in 14.18, and the 300H in 41.70.
Jasmine Charles was the runner-up in the 100H in 14.43, just ahead of Zeaniah Wedgeworth's 14.44, while Kara Lucyk was a solid runner-up in the 300H in 44.41.
The high jump was a two-way battle between 2018 third-place finisher Alisha Davis and 2018's runner-up Riley Masten.
Davis emerged as the victor on this day, winning with a jump of 5-9. Masten was a close runner-up once again, in 5-8.
In the long jump Sadie McMullen capped her big season in a big way - winning the state title in a PR of 19-9.5 -- that's No. 9 in the country right now, and it's her third consecutive time over 19-feet.
Sydney Holiday took the runner-up spot with a 18-10 jump, which was just ahead of Teagan Zwaanstra's 18-9.
The triple jump went down to the inches, and it was Taryn Burkett who took the most steps to the top of the podium. Burkett won the event with a leap of 38-4, which beat Anna Hart's 37-11.75.
Likewise, the pole vault was a two-way battle, as the theme continued, between two-time defending champ Mia Manson, and state-leader Lauren Jarossy.
Manson was flawless through the event, only missing once she had captured the state title and moved the bar up to 12-5. The Monarch junior captured her third consecutive title in the event with a 12-0, which was just over Jarossy's 11-9.
In the discus Kajsa Borrman beat the odds and captured the event as a freshmen. The Loveland freshman went 142-0 to win the event over Lindsey Osterfelt's 137-0. The top three return next year, making this event all the more competitive.
The shot was dominated by seniors, and it was Jane Powers who over-powered the competitive to win the event with a toss of 40-2.25. Joy Fifita and Lauren Whyrick both went over 39 feet, with Fifita taking the runner-up spot in 39-6.5, and Whyrick third in 39-1.5
In the relays Denver East gave Minor a send-off with a state title in the 4x1. Minor anchored the squad to cross the finish line first for the third time at the 2019 state meet, per the usual.
ThunderRidge was a the runaway winner in the Sprint Medlay, while Valor Christian swept the remaining relays - the 4x2, 4x4, and 4x8.
Anna Hall was flawless in her final state meet - winning the 100H, 300H, and anchoring Valor to a state record of 3:41 in the 4x4.
Valor's big finale - as well as Hall's - came in the final event of the meet - the 4x4, where they ran a Colorado record of 3:41.89 - that's the fourth fastest time in the country. Hall split a 54 quarter in the anchor leg.
And speaking of Valor...
They "defended" their state title (they won 4A last year) in style, by dominating 5A in their first year in the classification. Valor tallied a staggering 149 points to win the team title. Fort Collins was second with 66 points, while Cherry Creek was third with 54, just ahead of Grandview's 53.