In the spring of 2022 Connor McCormick officially arrived - right on time.
The Longmont senior started the year heavily in the shadow of defending state champ and 4A 1,600 state record-holder Zane Bergen, but he capped his year firmly in front of everyone.
And when I write the words "right on time" in the first line of this piece, it's because McCormick's breakout performance(s) came at the 2022 Colorado State Track & Field Championships.
What makes McCormick's three-day heroics at the State meet - which included two state titles, and one 4A state record - even heavier than just his individual performances was the fact that he also led Longmont to the state title by tallying 29-points.
Add that his two victories came in dramatic fashion - races decided in the final strides.
Of additional note, McCormick was undefeated in races 1,600 and up in 2022.
Excerpt from Colorado 4A State Recap: McCormick Leads Longmont To Title:
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 personal best 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.
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.
McCormick also finished second in the 800, running 1:54.45 in a race that saw six break 1:56.
For his efforts, McCormick has run himself into one of Colorado's Top Storylines of 2022.
Colorado Year In Review: Colorado's Big Day Out In Portland
Colorado Year In Review: Record Breaking Riley Stewart
Colorado Year In Review: Agur Dwol Leaps To Colorado Record
Colorado Year In Review: Grandview Blazes 4x100 State Record
