By Evan Gerish.
Coach Mike Caton stood near the finish line in the UCCS Mountain Lion Fieldhouse, stopwatch at the ready.
"My time as a coach here is going to end in about eight-seconds." With a wink, he added, "hopefully sooner."
Caton was anticipating the final of the boys 60m hurdles at the Let's Get REAL Invitational Saturday. His star hurdler, Carsen Bruns had one last chance to improve on his personal record of 7.91, the top time in the state and good enough for US No. 6 at the time.
Bruns, a Rampart High School senior and Colorado State University commit, was about to face his first competitive race all year; he was down in the blocks next to Cherry Creek's PJ Robinson, who set his own PR of 7.97 nearly a month earlier. They are the only Colorado prep hurdlers this year to break the eight-second barrier, a rare feat only accomplished by six others in the FAT era.
"Carsen doesn't get nervous around good competition. It makes him more excited and motivated. No one intimidates him," Caton asserted.
Caton and Bruns have worked together through Caton's ACE Method Coaching ever since Bruns was a freshman. Caton began the effort four years ago to help youth hurdlers in the Colorado Springs area, but is now transitioning to online hurdle coaching as he leaves the area to begin a new life chapter as a grandfather.
"(Bruns) is amongst the hardest working kids I've ever coached," Caton said. "Definitely among the most dedicated. I'm walking away on a high note."
Caton was nearly interrupted by the blast of the starter pistol. With a flurry of elbows, Robinson and Bruns were off to the races with the rest of the field on their heels. Step after step, they both dropped their left lead legs down over the hurdles as if synchronized to a drum cadence.
Their styles are widely different: Robinson, the technician, hurdled downhill with close joint angles, and Bruns, the speedster, stretched low over each barrier, wasting no space.
As they came down over the last hurdle, still in lockstep, the crowd was roaring. Bruns dipped, Robinson leaned, and they crossed the line at the same time - 7.90 to be exact - a new personal best for both boys, good enough for US No. 8 and the third fastest time in Colorado prep history (FAT era).
The photo finish showed Bruns with a slight lead, and his time was exacted to 7.893 over Robinson's 7.900, but the real winners were the spectators, who saw one of the all time great hurdle races.
Robinson had to make his own way back to the podium after suffering a hamstring injury that put his junior hurdling season on the back burner. Working with Steadfast Track Academy after his rehabilitation, Robinson returned to hurdle training last fall, and has been on a tear ever since.
"Since he came back, PJ has set a personal best in four out of five hurdle races in the 60m hurdles and a lifetime best in both the 60m and 200m dashes," said Markus Miller, director of Steadfast. "He had the work ethic to match the talent and the mind to bring his mental reps to physical practice. He has worked diligently, in the face of many obstacles, to achieve what he has achieved today."
Steadfast also supports Regis Jesuit senior and Harvard University recruit, Fabiola Belibi. Belibi's time of 8.59 in the 60m hurdles puts her at US No. 9 and the sixth fastest time in Colorado prep history (FAT era). She won the 60H Saturday, running away with a time of 8.91.
"Fabi's success is no surprise. Behind her joyous demeanor is an intense competitor and technician who prides herself on making her reps perfect," said Miller.
Steadfast has a chance to add to the trophy case this spring, if Belibi and Robinson continue on their trajectory, but Miller isn't concerned with that.
"Ultimately I just want them competing and PRing, doing what they love. I always tell them the only thing you can control is yourself and your race, not what place you get. So focus on yourself and your process and good things will happen."
All three hurdlers compete in 5A. The outdoor track and field season begins Monday, Feb 28.