When 2021 started it was hard to fathom how many long-standing records would fall.
And in the end, it was Harrison Witt with the exclamation point.
Perhaps it was how he did it.
Any knowledgable observer would say that Witt didn't entirely come out of nowhere - he ran 1:52 in the 800 as a sophomore.
But it's doubtful that anyone could've truly predicted in January just how big of a track season the Mountain Vista senior would have.
Witt had perhaps the shortest stretch of competition of anyone on this Colorado Year In Review list, though he had the most impactful.
This is Records Were Meant To Be Broken Pt. III: The Final Act.
It was rumored early that Witt had put together a stellar off-season. But again, it's hard to predict how fast an athlete will run when the chips are down.
Witt hinted at what we'd see in May and June back in mid-April when he won the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invite full-mile in 4:08.51.
As impressive as a run as that was, I'll go on repeating myself within this series: it was the tip of the iceberg.
Witt officially opened his outdoor season a little over a month later.
The day, which will forever be known as The Day Colorado 1,600 & 3,200 State Records Fell, was May 15.
While Wolfe was down in Aurora rewriting the 3,200 state record books, Witt quietly replaced Wolfe's name with his own in the 1,600 state record books. Perhaps it only seemed quiet at first, but it got loud pretty quick.
Witt stormed to a solo 4:05.18 personal best at the Lyons Invitational the week after Wolfe had sliced four-seconds off the late Rich Martinez's 40 year-old record of 4:10.98.
While jaws were still getting picked up off the floor following Wolfe's 4:06.17 the previous week, Witt promptly reset them back down.
The Mountain Vista senior cut another second off the previous record, though it wouldn't be the last time he set a Colorado record.
As history would have it, he'd do it two more times...
His next record was perhaps hinted at following that 4:05.18 state record - Witt doubled back the day he set that 1,600 record a few hours later with a 1:53.94 800.
While no PR in the event, the eyebrow had to raise a little bit when you considered what he did before that race.
Nearly a month would pass before Witt would rage around the track again, but it was time well spent.
Witt picked up his second Colorado state record at the Liberty Bell Track and Field Invitational, where he once again left minds spinning.
Excerpt From: Harrison Witt Runs 1:48.5 To Smash Colorado State 800 Record
"1:48.50.
That's the first sub-1:50 800 on Colorado soil by a high school athlete.
And it's a new Colorado state record.
And it belongs to Mountain Vista senior Harrison Witt.
Witt captured his second Colorado state title of the 2021 season by smashing the six year-old 800 state record by over two seconds. The previous record of 1:50.59 was held by Blake Yount.
Conditions were nearly perfect for a record attempt Friday night at the Liberty Bell Invitational in Littleton. Temperatures were in the low 70s and there was minimal wind.
A hot early pace set the tone as Witt and William Merrick cruised through the opening 200 in just over 25 seconds. Witt and Merrick separated from the pack in the second 200, and reached the bell lap just over 54 seconds.
Witt was firing on all eight cylinders as he took the bell lap.
The third 200 was were the Mountain Vista senior went from chasing the state record, to running in front it. Before he even crossed the finish line it was obvious to Witt, and the crowd, that he was about to make history.
"I looked at the clock and it said something like 1:45, and I couldn't believe it," Witt said. "I just threw my hands up, and waved at my parents in the crowd. It was a pretty cool moment."
It was the second time in the past month that Witt rewrote the Colorado state record books - several weeks ago he ran a 1,600 state record of 4:05.18.
"It's pretty special," Witt said of holding both records. "I'm just really glad to be here and to accomplish this with my teammates, and with my family. It's something we all worked towards. It's not something I could've done on my own."
Two state records.
Not. Done. Yet.
While Witt was running state records faster than the record keepers ink could dry, there was a date with destiny on hand...
A showdown of sorts, between the fastest milers in Colorado history.
As mentioned previously, it's difficult not to link these two stories - Wolfe and Witt - because it's the classic Success Begets Success Story.
One runner sets a record, another runner breaks it. And the cycle goes on and on. Like Roger Bannister and John Landy's lead-up to the Miracle Mile.
You could even say that's how Colorado has gotten to where it is now - where several teams and individuals are consistently competitive nationally.
The bar has been raised.
Only Witt and Wolfe had ever broken 4:10.98 in Colorado (at the time). And only the two of them had broken 4:07.
And so Colorado's own Miracle Mile was set for the 5A state 1,600 title on June 26 at Jeffcco Stadium.
But before Witt and Wolfe would meet, Witt would continue his theme of leaving spectators speechless.
Wolfe toed the line of the 800 state final, and sent a message.
Excerpt From: Wild Finishes At The Colorado State T&F Champs: The 5A Recap
"The Mountain Vista senior came to Jeffco with two state records (the 800, and the 1,600) in his back pocket, though he clearly wasn't content with just winning a state title, or two. He came to Jeffco ready to run fast.
And that's exactly what he did.
Witt opened up his State campaign by torching an opening lap of the 800 in 52.6 - about 1:45 pace. Historically speaking no one in Colorado had run under 1:50 in the 800 until Witt did it a few weeks ago when he ran 1:48.50. I don't think anyone expected to witness a feat like that at State, when the focus tends to lean more on winning than running fast.
But spectators were treated with the second-fastest 800 ever on Colorado soil - Witt won the event in 1:48.75.
Done?
Not quite."
And so the stage was set.
The 1,600 would have two of Colorado's fastest milers ever on the line. One, the 800 and 1,600 state record holder. The other, the previous 1,600 state record holder, and the 3,200 and 5k state record holder.
(WATCH THE ABOVE VIDEO WITH THE SOUND ON!)
Excerpt From: Wild Finishes At The Colorado State T&F Champs: The 5A Recap
"A day later spectators were once again treated - and this time it was perhaps the whole bucket of ice cream, not just a cone with a cherry one top. We're talking bucket of ice cream with marsh mellows. Sprinkles. Hot fudge.
You get the point.
The Mile Of The Ages was run when Witt and Parker Wolfe toed the line for the 1,600. Two of Colorado's fastest milers ever. In the same race. At the same time. Witt's 4:05 was the top seed, while Wolfe's 4:06 was the No. 2 seed.
Add that Rich Martinez's 40 year-old state meet record (previously the state record) of 4:10.98 looked like it would go down.
Keep in mind - before 2021, no Colorado runner had ever run under 4:10 in the state. And this year there were two.
Go figure.
How the race was run was a big focus here, given that Witt and Wolfe entered the race with two entirely different strengths. Witt was the 800, and 1,600 state record holder, while Wolfe was the 3,200 and 5k record holder (and once the 1,600 record holder.)
An entourage of Mountain Vista fans stretched across the fence by the finish line, giving the feel of an Away Game for anyone not in green.
When the gun when off it was clear that Wolfe had no intentions of letting the pace lag, thus favoring Witt's ridiculous speed.
Wolfe led the opening lap in 59.6 - Witt followed just over 60-seconds. The second lap went back to more casual speeds - about 65-seconds. They cruised through the 800 in 2:05 in their own race, while the pack passed the halfway marker in 2:09+.
And then the race picked up.
Wolfe surged, diving the pace back down towards 61-seconds-ish. But with 500 to go Witt still hovered over his shoulder. He appeared ready to pounce, and it looked like Wolfe could feel it.
The Cherry Creek senior slid out into Lane 2 as they entered the final 450, and Witt attacked.
Beast Mode: Engage.
They hit the bell in 4:05, this time with Witt leading and Wolfe chasing. But there was no catching Witt, or holding on to him.
He flew. He clawed at the track, and pumped his arms like a prizefighter.
With 200 to go eyes went back and forth between the Mountain Vista senior and the clock. Only then did the question go to: would he break his own record?
The answer was yes.
The Mountain Vista senior ran himself into history, again.
Down the final straight he powered home as the crowd roared to life. The weight of the effort was painted across his face. He poured out the rest of what was in his tank, and slightly dipped at the line as the the crescendo hit its ultimate peak.
4:04.36.
For a few moments, the crowd was absolutely nuts.
Witt's pain turned to joy, and a smile stretched across his face as he made his way over to Vista Nation, who all wanted to pat the newly minted state champ, and his new state record.
Witt's final lap was a jaw-dropping 58.73."
Talk about an exclamation point at the end of a sentence!
