Photo by Jen Jardeleza
2A
BOYS
A major question here is: Who takes the distance events?
There hasn't been one athlete who's been particularly dominant this spring, though that could change at State.
Jack Nauman recently popped a 9:27 in the 3,200, which suggests his 1,600 PR will go down at State. He's run 4:35 in the 1,600 this season, though again, that 9:27 (which is two 4:43+s) hints that he's much faster than his season-best (and PR.) Add that Nauman is the state cross country champ.
Jace Peters has put together an impressive season of his own.
He's currently the top-seed in the 1,600 with a 4:25 PR. Add that he's coming off two big PRs in recent weeks - he's also run 1:58.01 in the 800. Reading between the lines here, he's peaking right in time for State.
On the topic of peaking on time, cue Jackson Neppl.
He is the defending state champion in the 800, and the 1,600, so clearly he knows how to win when it matters most. He's raced sparingly this season, though he's clocked a 1:57.76 PR in the 800, and a 4:30 in the 1,600. What makes Neppl all the more dangerous on the track is that he's got 51.67-quarter-mile speed.
The pole vault is another exciting event on tap.
Ron Shay is coming in hot off a 14-9 clearance just weeks ago. The Wray senior is big favorite to win the event, which he finished second in last year, and third as a sophomore. It only seems natural to take one more step up on the podium this year.
In the team race Peyton looks like the favorite here, despite not much of a field-presence. They've got a loaded track squad that's not only stellar up front, but riddled with depth.
Photo by Bobby Reyes
GIRLS
A big storyline coming out of the girl's side of the competition is Omofoma sisters.
Together, they make DaySpring Academy a title-contender, but we'll come back to that...
Odone Omofoma has run 12.34 in the 100, and 25.40 in the 200 this season. Both are PRs for the DaySpring Academy senior. Add that she's thrown 37-1 in the shot put. She's currently ranked No. 2 in the 200, and No. 2 in the 100 behind Timnath's Emili Voelker, who could become Timnath's first state track champion.
Eboselulu Omofoma has a massive range that enables her to be dangerous across quite a few events. The DaySpring Academy junior is in prime position to sweep the hurdles - she's run 15.00 in the 100H, and 45.14 in the 300H. She's also ranked No. 1 in the high jump with a 5-3.25 clearance, and No. 1 in the triple jump with a 35-9.25 mark.
She is the defending state champ in the 100H, and the high jump, and she finished second in the 300H last year.
The distance events look to be in Nadhia Campos' hands.
She's run 5:04.42 in the 1,600 this season, and in her one outing in the 3,200, she's run 11:08 - both times top the 2A rankings. Add that she's been undefeated in the 1,600 this season (and the 3,200, which she's run once.)
The question is the 800.
Campos has run 2:19, though Timnath's Natalie Washburn has run 2:17.54. Here's another opportunity for Timnath to have its first state champion (which would be come in the 800, since it's run on Friday, and 100 finals are run on Saturday.)
The throws are another area were we could see some exciting action.
Elizabeth Brooks has been insanely consistent all season long. She's tallied an impressive 12-consecutive victories in the shot put, with a PR of 40-10, and she's won nine-of-12 in the discus, with a PR of 129-1.
A year ago she picked up a pair of third-place finishes in the throws, though the Cedaredge junior will head to Lakewood as the favorite this year.
As mentioned above, the Omofoma sisters are slated to do some serious damage, which could give DaySpring Academy the nod as favorite to take the team title, though Cedaredge or Heritage Christian Academy could also make a run for it.