The Mickey Dunn Invitational was another step for the Grand Junction Central High School distance crew to make their presence known as a deep and talented squad. The boys put together an 8:09.61 in the 4x800, good enough for second in Class 4A and third overall in Colorado. They were not done after the early-morning relay.
The Warrior boys swept the boys distance races with Alex Fisher winning the 800 and 3,200 (2:01.12 and 10:43.12), Jackson Edwards and Billy Adams finishing first and second respectively in the 1,600 (4:33.07 and 4:37.02). Samuel Garmany and Jacob Buddecke added to the distance haul, finishing second and fourth in the 3,200 (10:48.88 and 11:08.76).
Central (GJ) is not a one-trick pony either.
Justin Blanton brings the speed as a 26-point winner at state as a junior (1st in the 400, 2nd in the 100 and 200). He remains undefeated this season and added a 200 win on Friday in 22.79. Although he did not improve on previous season marks he is still in the top five in all three sprint races.
Over in the throwers rings Daniel Baroumbaye has made big improvements from last year to lead the Warriors. He won both events on Friday with 134-7 in the disc and 40-8.5 in shot put. And in a rare triple, he was second in the long jump (19-11)
Other double winners on the day was Moffat County's Logan Hafey in the 110 hurdles (16.38) and 400 (51.14), Grand Junction's Miller Jones in the horizontal jumps (20-4.25 in lj and 42-06.50 in TJ). The up-and-comer awards go to Glenwoods Springs' sophomore Joaquin Sandoval who won the 100 (11.29) and was behind Blanton in the 200 (23.25). DeBeque's Scottie Vines continued his ascent in the high jump improving his person best by four inches and posting the best height in Class 1A and a top five jump in all of Colorado at 6-4.
On the girls' side of things the distance races were dominated by team efforts. In the 800 and 1,600 Fruita Monument swept in for multiple medals. Lauren Geer won the 800 (2:25.64) and was fourth in the 1,600 (5:41.07). Addison Eyre won silver in both races (2:32.42 and 5:33.33). Likewise, Mackenzie Black took third in both races (2:43.22 and 5:36.74). Ella Unrein won the 1,600 in 5:30.62.
In the 3,200 Glenwood Springs' Ella Johnson cruised to the win in 11:28.05 and Sophia Connerton-Nevin was next in 12:02.18.
Grand Junction's Amelia Moore was a 30-point winner with golds in the hurdle races (16.33 and 48.59) and 4A-leading long jump of 17-1.25.
Basalt's Katelyn Maley and Ava Lane returned to Colorado soil after competing in the Nike Chandler Rotary Invite to finish first and second in the 400 (59.48 and 60.59).
One other double-winner came by way of Moffat County's Halle Hamilton, who won the 100 and 200 in 13.12 and 27.24 respectively.