Joslin Blair warranted a much better ending to her high school career than COVID-19. It wasn't what she got, though.
Turning our attention to 4A Girls, everyone's mind turns pretty quickly to Niwot. And, we'll definitely talk about Niwot here. But, there were other teams in the trophy hunt as well, and we'll talk about their who could have tipped the scales toward bringing home a trophy as well.
Teams will be treated in alphabetical order, meaning there's nothing to infer from the order in which teams are listed here.
Discovery Canyon - The Thunder needed a few things to turn their way at some point this spring to turn a good team into a team that hoisted a trophy, but seniors Abigail Braun (middle distance) and Marlia Porreco (pole vault) are two who could have taken them a long way in that direction.
Eagle Valley - The Red Devils figured to be for real this spring. Topping, and exhausting, the list of seniors who figured to have a big impact on Eagle Valley's trophy run this spring was distance runner Joslin Blair. Blair has been among Colorado's distance leaders since breaking in as a freshman. This was to be her farewell season but, of course, it never happened.
Mullen - Mullen saw their girls team fortunes rise last spring in a striking way. They figured to be a legitimate trophy contender, for the first time in a while, this spring. But, it wasn't going to be a senior-led affair. My scan of 2019 results shows plenty of Mustangs in a position to score points at state this year, but none of them seniors.
Niwot - Ah, yes, Niwot. Bear with me as I work through a somewhat lengthy list. There was sprinter Julea Trank-Greene, distance runner Samrawit Dishon, plus hurdlers Elise Gillett and Kelia Portis. Portis doubled as a triple jump threat. And there was pole vaulter Nicole Sims. Niwot, of course, had plenty of depth in younger classes as well, but their seniors were forced to sit out on a gilt-edged opportunity this spring.
Palmer Ridge - The Bears were a longshot for a state trophy this spring, but not exactly out of the hunt. Seniors who figured to be key to the Bears' hopes were triple jumper Grace Gulig and 400 type Riley Colby.
Pueblo East - Pueblo East throws have been doing very nicely for several years running now. And, one of the exceptional characters on that list of athletes happened to be a senior this year. Especially in the shot put, and only a little less so in the discus, Shannon Vivoda figured to help keep the Eagles in the trophy hunt this spring all the way to the state meet.
Vista Peak - Remember the name of Raina Branch? You should. This was to be her senior season of track and field. Branch was a legitimate threat to win the high jump and long jump. She could easily have factored into the 200 scoring as well. Alongside Branch was high jumper Mikayla Jones. This could have been a very interesting spring for the Bison.