The 5A State Recap: That. Just. Happened.


Senior's reigned supreme over the sprint events. Zion GordonCameron Harris, and Elijah Williams capped their high school careers with their best performances to date. 

The trio went 1-2-3 in the 100 final, with Gordon claiming the state title in 10.67, while Harris and Williams both ran 10.72. 

Williams took another step up on the podium with his victory in the 200. The Gateway senior ran 21.67 FTW, which was just ahead of Jackson Connelly's 22.01.

In the 400 Eaglecrest sophomore Langston Williams claimed his first state title, despite not making the final a year ago. Williams ran 48.59 to inch past Nicholas Nuhfer's 48.77.

In the 800 all 18 entrants cracked 2 minutes, led by David Cardenas, who captured his first state title with a 1:53.47 clocking. 

Cardenas downed an impressive field, which included runner-up Connor Ohlson, who ran 1:54.69, and Ian Kelly, who ran 1:55.18. 

Cole Sprout's attempt at a triple didn't come to fruition, as he finished fifth in the 800 in 1:55, though the Valor Christian junior ran on unrivaled in the distance events. 


Sprout was a runaway train in the 1,600 - his third event of the meet. After a quick 61 first lap, he settled in and cruised to a 4:13.78 victory. Cardenas used a late kick to nab the runner-up spot, running a PR of 4:16, once again edging out Ohlson, who finished third in 4:17.

All in all, seven cracked 4:20, and five return next year.

The 3,200 was much of the same for Sprout - a solo run under the steamy sun in a 9:11 for the state title. Sprout cruised through the opening mile just over 4:33 and ran on like a metronome. Austin Vancil took the runner-up spot in 9:17 just ahead of Cherry Creek sophomore Parker Wolfe, who finished third in 9:21.

The 110H saw the duo of "Flash" Gordon and Harris in yet another big matchup. 

Gordon captured his second state title of the meet, winning the event in 13.85. Harris took the runner-up spot once again, finishing in 14.03.

Poudre's Garrett Nelson saved his best for last, running a big PR of 37.15 to win the 300H over Harris, who finished second for the third time at the meet. 

The high jump went down to two - Darrian Leu-Pierre and Hector Ortega. Both cleared 6-7, though it was Leu-Pierre who emerged as the champ, clearing 6-8. 

In the horizontal jumps Micaylon Moore had the meet of his life. The Fort Collins senior tallied two PRs, winning the long jump in 24-0.25, and the triple jump in 48-10. 


Max Manson defended his state title in the pole vault with ease, though the Monarch senior did miss out on taking down his father's state record of 17-7.5. Manson cleared 16-8 without much trouble, though ultimately the wind disrupted his record attempt. 

In the discus Cian Quiroga reigned supreme. The Valor senior was the lone thrower over 180 feet, landing at 182-4 FTW, which was just ahead of Rece Rowan's 179-0.


Quiroga nearly had the sweep, as he finished second in the shot to Drake Nugent by inches. Nugent defended his state title after winning the event in 2017 and 2018. His 56-2.75 beat Quiroga's 56-1.5. 

In the relays Valor swept the 4x1 and 4x2 while the 4x4 and 4x8 came down to the wire. 

Fort Collins and Arapahoe, and Mountain Vista and Arapahoe, made for two thrilling relays. In the 4x8 Mountain Vista nabbed the win with a 7:47 clocking to beat out Araphoe's 7:48. In the final race of the meet, Fort Collins and Arapahoe put on a show and made sure the final of the 2019 state championships was a good one - Fort Collins took the state title on the line with a 3:22.75 to Arapahoe's 3:22.98. 

In the team competition Valor made it a sweep of 5A, claiming the boy's title with 90 points. Fort Collins was second with 57 points, while Highlands Ranch was third with 40.