The 1A State Recap: Novess Shines


The 100 belonged to the Largent sisters. 

Jentry Largent and Railey Largent went 1-2 for the sweet Jentry capped her high school career by claiming the event in 12.77. Railey was just a few ticks back in 12.84.

Clearly, Jentry will hope to pass along the torch to her freshman sister next year.

Jentry was denied a sweep of the sprints, however, as Desirae Ortivez put together her best race to date. The La Veta junior ran two PRs over the weekend, finishing fourth in the 100, and winning the 200 in 26.61, which was just ahead of Jentry's 26.65.

Despite being denied the triple, Jentry came away with two state titles - winning the 400 in 1:00.99.

In the 800 Benisa Ellis was the runaway winner, clocking a 2:23, which was a five-second victory. 

Meanwhile, Colorado caught its first glimpse of perhaps the next dominating figure in the distance events, as freshman Cecilia Richardson ran away with two state titles. 


Richardson kicked hard for title No. 2 in the 1,600, running 5:48 over fellow freshman Lily Ryles, who finished second in 5:50. 

The run came after Richardson's runaway victory in the 3,200, where she clocked a 12:40, which was a 28-second victory. 

And then there's Faith Novess...


The De Beque senior capped her high school career in dominating fashion. Novess won the 100H by over a second in 15.48, and that was only the beginning. 

She cleared the hurdles in 300H, and the competition, going away with a three-second victory in 45.00.

Still. Not. Done.

She won the high jump with a state meet record of 5-7, and nearly - nearly - had 5-8.

Her only non-state-title performance came in the long jump, where she finished second to Avery Palmgren, who won the event with a 17-3 jump. Novess was a close runner-up in 16-11.25.  

Freshmen swept the triple jump, led by Emily Mason's 35-00.25 victory. Alivia Weathers and Taysa Conger took the second and third spots, with Weathers jumping 34-8.25, and Conger jumping 34-7.5.

Kyler Sweat was head and shoulders above the competition in the pole vault. The Pikes Peak Christian junior cleared the competition with a 10-3 vault. 

Likewise, Alissa Hebberd dominated the discus competition, winning the event by eight feet. The South Baca sophomore threw 121-1, which was just off her PR. Ryely Smartt took second in 113-6, though she did get a state title before the weekend was over. 

Smartt was a clear victor int he shot put, winning the event with a 39-2 toss. 

In the relays Eads was the big winner in the 4x1, claiming the event by nearly a full second. De Beque swept the 4x2, and Sprint Medley, while Springfield won the 4x4, and McClave claimed the 4x8.

De Beque claimed the team title, tallying 108 points, while Heritage Christian finished second with 74, and Springfield third with 60.