4A
BOYS
Sticking with a theme here...
Can Tavon Underwood sweep the sprints?
On paper, it looks likely.
Add that the Mead senior has been on fire lately - he heads to Lakewood hot off a two state-leading marks - a 10.51 in the 100, and a 46.78 400 - both from Friday's windy HOKA St. Vrain Invitational.
A year ago Underwood finished fifth in the 100, seventh in the 200, and fourth in the 400 at the State Championships.
This year he is the undisputed favorite in all three events, clocking 10.51 in the 100, 21.15 in the 200, and 46.78 in the 400.
His mostly likely competition will come from Lutheran's Joseph Ciccio, who is the No. 2 seed in the 100 and 200.
These two battled at St. Vain Friday, and Underwood came out on top.
Another question in reference to Underwood, is: does he run the 800 too?
He's the No. 2 seed with a 1:55 clocking behind Shalom Trowbridge's 1:54.
In the distance races there are no clear-cut favorites, which means we've got some great battles on tap.
And in the battle looks to be Palmer Ridge's Jacob Bach, Cheyenne Mountain's Kaden Levings and Brogan Collins, Coronado freshman Xzavier Campos, the Battle Mountain duo of Will Brunner and Porter Middaugh.
And then there's the question of does Mead's Nolan Hoffman stun the field like he did during the 2022 cross country season?
As mentioned above, there's no one favorite here. It'll all come down to whoever shows up on the right day.
The hurdles look like a two-man battle between Trey Ciccio and Eric Walker - both have run under 14.30 this season.
The triple jump is another hot spot you won't want to miss.
Miller Jones and Osita Agbo are two of the best in the country - literally. Agbo and Jones are ranked in the top-5 nationally.
Agbo has leapt to a 49-5, while Jones has landed at 49-3.2.
The last time these two met, Jones took the W.
The pole vault looks to be in the hands of Cameron Thomas.
The Windsor senior has only been pole vaulting for just over a year, and he's already cleared 17-0.
A year ago he finished second at state. This year he heads to Lakewood as a clear-cut favorite to win the title.
The discus will play host to the No. 1 thrower in Colorado this season - Daniel Baroumbaye. He's thrown a state-leading 188-1 in the event.
Side note: Daniel Baroumbaye is related to 2019 3A triple jump state champ Kelita Baroumbaye.
The team battle looks insanely tight. Insanely tight, as in it could be decided in Saturday's 4x400.
Northfield and Niwot appear to be the two teams eyeing the state title, though I wouldn't count out Roosevelt or Mead either.
GIRLS
A year ago Janise Everett finished third in the 100 at state, and won the 200 title.
This year she'll head to Lakewood as the favorite to sweep the sprints. She's run 12.11 in the 100, and 25.04 in the 200.
Of additional note, Mesa Ridge could even go 1-2 in the 200 with Danaya Kinnard.
Moving up in distance we enter Niwot-territory.
Defending state champ Madison Shults has been fire all season, and she's the top-seed in the 400 and the 800.
Shults has run 56.69 in the 400, and 2:04.28 in the 800.
The main question surrounding Shults is just How Fast Will She Run?
The 4A state meet record is 2:08.29, and it's held by Niwot-alum Taylor James. Shults has already wiped Niwot-alum Elise Cranny off the Niwot school record books, could she take down James' state meet record as well?
Looking at the 1,600 and 3,200, there is no clear-cut favorite, there are favoriteS.
Silver Creek's Grace Moroney owns the fastest 1,600 run this season with a 4:54 clocking from Arcadia, though Niwot's Olivia Alessandrini has run 4:55 in Colorado. Add Mia Prok and Addison Ritzenhein, and 4A state cross country champ Ella Hagen to the list.
The 3,200 looks similar.
Hagen owns the fastest 3,200 with a 10:13 clocking from Arcadia, though Ritzenhein owns Colorado's fastest 3,200 with a 10:39.
Sort of like the boys distance landscape, the girls will be decided on race day.
The high jump is another bright spot to keep an eye on.
Green Mountain's Eva Bellot owns the top-clearance in the state with a 5-7 from several weeks ago.
Last year Bellot finished second to defending state champ Elizabeth Heumann, who has cleared a season-best of 5-5 this year. Add Bradie Menegatti to this battle, because she's cleared 5-5 this season as well.
On the topic of tight battles, cue the triple jump.
Ella Pears and Kylee Kielian have both leapt beyond 38-feet this season. Last year Pears was the state runner-up, and Kielian was fourth.
A state title will likely be determined between these two this year.
The pole vault will feature two-time defending state champ Megan Kelleghan.
The Silver Creek senior has been on fire as of late, clearing 13-2 two-out-of-her-last-three competitions. Most recently she won the event at the HOKA St. Vrain Invitational in a season-best of 13-3.
The discus will feature two of the best throwers in the state - Marlee Morris and Geneva "Gigi" German have both thrown beyond 135-feet this season.
The team race looks a lot like it has in recent years - Niwot in a landslide. The depth they have in the distance events alone makes them a clear-cut favorite to defend their title.
Looking beyond them, Mesa Ridge looks to be the "favorite" to claim the runner-up spot.