3A
BOYS
How many state titles can Chrisly Kelly-Cannon capture by Saturday night?
The Jefferson Academy senior currently owns one state title over his high school career - the triple jump from 2021. But he heads to Lakewood as the favorite in four events this year.
He's the top-seed in the 100, 200, long jump, and triple jump.
Obviously stretching perfection over three days won't be easy, but in scanning Kelly-Cannon's season, he's got a lot of reason to be confident - he's been undefeated in the 100, 200, and the triple jump all season. He also won four-of-five outings in the long jump.
Kelly-Cannon has put together one of the more impressive seasons of any athlete in Colorado this Spring.
On the topic of impressive seasons, cue Jackson Fagerlin.
The Resurrection Christian sophomore tops the 800 and the 1,600, putting him in the prime position to defend his 1,600 state title.
Fagerlin is the lone runner in 3A to dip under 4:20 this season, clocking 4:18.73 at the Ram Charger Invitational. Add that he's dipped under the mark twice. Likewise, he's the lone runner to dip under 1:55 in the 800, clocking 1:54.44.
On a related note, Resurrection Christian could possibly go 1-2 in the 800, with Caleb Sutter, who has clocked 1:55. Sutter is also the top-seed in the 400.
But you can never count out The Classical Academy duo of Chandler Wilburn and Matthew Edwards.
Wilburn has clocked a 4:20.10 in the 1,600, which is just ahead of Edwards' 4:21 (and Eaton's Logan Gullett, who's run 4:22.)
Edwards is the top seed in the 3,200, as he's the only runner to crack 9:30 this season - he's run 9:28. Though like mile, there's Wilburn at 9:32, Logan Goodman at 9:33, (and Fagerlin at 9:35.)
The distance races could provide for some incredible finishes...
Additionally, the distance/mid-distance races play a massive role in the team race - The Classical Academy and Resurrection Christian look to be the two top squads here. TCA seems to have the edge, however, as they'll look to tally points in the field events as well.
Every point will matter...
Photo by Lauren Cawley
GIRLS
I'll repeat the above question, but change the name(s) to: Andie Rasmussen, and Isabel Allori.
The girls 3A landscape is dominated by a few, and those few will determine the team race, but we'll come back to that...
Eaton's Rasmussen has had an incredible season. She tops the 100, 200, and the 400.
She's coming in hot off two PRs - an 11.70 clocking in the 100, and a 25.02 in the 200, meaning she's peaking right in time.
A year ago Rasussen finished sixth in the 200, and fifth in the 400 at the State Championships. This year she'll head to Lakewood as the favorite to sweep the sprints.
And while she is the favorite, she'll definitely have competition coming from all sides - Grace Williams should battle in the 100, Heidi Nielsen and Julia Hodell in the 200, and Paige Farnam in the 400.
The distance events looked to be dominated by Allori.
She is the defending state champ in the 1,600, and the 3,200, though she tops the rankings in everything from the 800 upwards to the 3,200 this year.
She's run 2:11.84 in the 800, 4:52 in the 1,600, and 9:56 (at Arcadia) in the 3,200. That 3,200 is one you'll want to keep an eye on - the 3A state meet record is 10:52, and it's 21 years-old. Clearly, Allori is capable of rewriting that record.
Like Rasmussen in the sprints, the question in the distance events is: Can Allori sweep?
It's a tough triple, but so is Allori.
Starring in the field events will be Kourtney Rathke.
The Peak to Peak junior is the defending state champ in the pole vault, and the long jump. And this year she heads back to JeffCo is prime position to defend her titles.
She's the top-seed in both events, clearing 13-2 in the pole vault this season, and she's coming in hot off a 19-0 long jump from Friday's HOKA St. Vrain Invitational.
What's additionally impressive is that Rathke is undefeated in the long jump this season.
She's also ranked No. 2 in the triple jump, and No. 4 in the 100H.
Of additional note, the pole vault is likely to be an exciting event, as Anna Willis has also cleared 13-feet this season.
On paper the team race looks insanely tight. The Classical Academy could wrack up a ton of points in the relays. But Liberty Common - with Allori's potential sweep - Berthoud, and Alamosa all look to be in the mix.
This one might come down to the single digits, or in other words - to Saturday's 4x400...