The indoor season in Colorado appears completely nixed, which seems to have brought an unofficial pre-outdoor season on to the table.
Meets are beginning to sprout up well before the grass has turned green, or even has the chance to shimmer in that beige color underneath the blanket of white snow.
It's turned into a Polar Bear Season in Colorado!
While Colorado is currently frosted over in temperatures that made my fingers go numb Saturday, a handful of western-slopers went south to warmer climates for the Sundown Showdown Series #1 meet in Queen Creek, Arizona, and one in particular came back with some gold.
Katelyn Maley picked up where she left off this past October - on top of the podium. The 3A state cross country champion topped a solid field in the girl's mile to claim the victory in a personal best of 4:54.24. Maley was one of three to crack the five-minute barrier. Basalt teammate Sierra Bower was a few seconds back, finishing fifth in 5:06.
Connor Williams was Colorado's top finisher in the boy's mile. The Crested Butte junior finished seventh in 4:19.
Back in Colorado the bar was raised - literally - at the ATB 550 Pole Vault Gym Session #7.
The freshmen pole vault duo of Lilly Nichols and Anna Willis went inch-for-inch, with both clearing 12-8.75. The mark was a PR for Nichols, and it was just shy of one for Willis. Additionally, the clearance puts Nichols and Willis into the top-25 nationally. (Willis' 13-1 from December is a US No. 11.)
Among the collegiate ranks Colorado's alumni continue to rage - check out the Alumni Report for updates!