The 100 saw one of many upsets, as Erie sophomore Blake Barnett - who didn't quality for State last year - stormed to the 2022 title in 11.11. Justin Blanton and Simeon Whitaker were a close 2-3, running 11.14, and 11.15.
The rarity of not crossing the finish line first seemed to only light a fire under Blanton, as he raged on the track over the remainder of the final day of competition.
Several hours later he torched the 200, winning the event by nearly half-a-second with a 21.99 clocking. Likewise, he won the 400 in a massive personal best of 47.68.
The distance events were full of crazy finishes, as Connor McCormick officially arrived - right on time. But we'll come back to that...
Last week Zane Bergen predicted that this would be a historic meet - and his prediction was spot on.
Several hours after getting out-kicked in the 3,200, Bergen led the 800 wire-to-wire in response, running a 1:52.07. McCormick was second in 1:54.45, as six broke 1:56...
On the final day of competition Bergen set a hot pace in the 1,600, and the race quickly became a two-runner affair, as McCormick held on to Bergen's speeding freight-train. Just as McCormick had done several days earlier, he kicked hard over the final 120 meters, running out into Lane 2 and inched by Bergen for a state-leading, 4A state meet record of 4:06.97. Add that it was a massive PR for McCormick, and it made him the fourth runner to break 4:10 in Colorado over the past two years. Bergen finished second in a Colorado PR of 4:07.72. Four broke 4:13 in the race, and 11 broke 4:20.
Now we'll return to the whole "Connor McCormick Arriving" thing...
Saturday morning's 3,200 wasn't just one wild finish - it was perhaps the fastest 3,200 run in Colorado as a whole - a staggering nine runners ran 9:15 or faster.
So, on the note that this was the highest quality/quantity 3,200 run, it adds to the gravity of who won the race.
And that was McCormick.
The Longmont senior won his biggest race to date (until a day later when he won the 1,600 in 4:06...) out-kicking Tyler Nord, Erik Le Roux, and Bergen. McCormick ran a state leading, massive Colorado PR, and 4A state meet record of 9:03. (Side note: PRs were plentiful in this race...) Nord and Le Roux both ran 9:05 with Nord getting the .42 to .65, while Bergen finished fourth in 9:08.
Likewise, Derek Allen reigned in the hurdles.
The Widefield senior won the 110H in 15.07, and the 300H in 38.06 - nearly a full-seconds ahead of Bennett Feldenkirchen's 39.02.
In the 4x100 Northfield took the state title with a 41.21, which was just ahead of Pueblo West's 41.51. Erie took the 4x200 over Northfield, however, running 1:28.45 to Northfield's 1:28.92.
In the final event of the meet Niwot came ready to roll - they won the 4x400 in 3:20.84. Pueblo West was second in 3:23.44, just ahead of Central (GJ)'s 3:23.46
The No. 1 4x800 squad in Colorado proved their ranking on the right day. Cheyenne Mountain stretched off and away with a solid lead, though Longmont gave a stellar chase in the final leg with Connor McCormick dropping a 1:51 800. Cheyenne Mountain held on for the state title, however, running 7:50 to Longmont's 7:52. Centaurus also dipped under eight-minutes, running 7:59.
The long jump as a hotly contested affair.
Caleb Johnson won the event with a 22-0.5 leap. Nathan Mercer and Jaedon McCarty both went 21-11, with Mercer getting the .50 to McCarty's .25.
Meanwhile the triple jump was a two-jumper affair, with Caleb Johnson and Miller Jones leaping beyond 46-feet.
Johnson won the state title with a leap of 46-9, while Jones was five-inches back in 46-4.5.
In the high jump Cheyenne Mountain's Antoni Smith cleared 6-8, and the competition to win the state title. Denver North's KJ McInnis and Canon City's Wyatt Turner both cleared 6-5.
Lucas Couron brought his A-Game to Jeffco. The Riverdale Ridge senior added a few inches to his pole vault PR, clearing 15-9 for the state title.
The shot put belong to Kyle Bigley. The Pueblo Central senior tossed 55-03.75 for his first state title.Xavier Freeman and William Knight finished second, and third, with Freeman tossing 52-2.25, and Knight 51-2.75.
Alec Falk dominated the field in the discus, tossing 181-8 for a 16-foot victory, and the state title.
Longmont tallied 76 points to claim the state title. Cheyenne Mountain and Niwot tied for second, as both squads tallied 60 points.
Next Page: Niwot reigns