Photo by Tim McDonald
5A
BOYS
We've got a ton of hotly-contested battles on tap here...
Starting with the sprints...
Plenty of questions, like how many points can Vista Ridge wrack up in the 100?
Cherokee Trail's Peyton Sommers is coming in hot off a 10.50 clocking from the Centennial League Varsity Championships, which makes him the favorite in the sprints - he's No. 1 in the 200 with a 21.19 clocking.
Sommers has been undefeated in the 200 in Colorado this season.
Vista Ridge's Brandon Hills has run 10.54 in the 100 from just a few weeks ago. He's been insanely consistent this season, winning six-of-eight, and his two loses being runner-up finishes in prelims. So in one perspective, that doesn't exactly equate as a loss...
We could see a great clash in the 400 with Sommers and Ace Malone - both have cracked 48-seconds this season. They haven't raced each other this season, making Saturday's 400 all the more exciting...
The distance events require a ton of questions to be answered...
A lot like 4A, there has been no clear-cut favorite this season - there are favoriteS.
Valor Christian's Drew Costelow swept the distance events last year. He owns the fastest 800 and 1,600 run this season, with a 1:50.76 in the 800, and 4:10 in the 1,600 - both times were run at lower elevations.
When we look at fastest times run in Colorado, Mountain Vista's Tyler Downs has run 1:53.12 in the 800, and Fort Collins' Christian Groendyk has run 4:12 in the 1,600.
The 800 looks particularly wild, as six have cracked 1:55 this season, including ThunderRidge's Ben Lee, Cherokee Trail's Beck Gutjahr, Mountain Vista's Benjamin Anderson, and Cherokee Trail's Reuben Holness.
The 1,600 has just as many questions. Groendyk and Downs have gone head-to-head in this event twice this season, and the score is 1-1. Groendyk has the most recent victory, when he won Stutler in 4:12.
While eyes are clearly on Groendyk, Downs, and Costelow, you can't count out Valor's Dane Eike - he's coming in hot off a 4:16 victory at the HOKA St. Vrain Invitational.
The 3,200 is another event that could play host to a wild finish - like last year.
Groendyk owns the fastest 3,200 - a 8:54 clocking from Arcadia. Though Downs owns the fastest 3200 run in Colorado, with a solo 9:06. Eike looks like he'll be in the mix as well - he's run 9:02 down low.
It doesn't appear that Costelow will be defending his 3,200 state title - his run this event just once this season, and it was a 9:34 clocking, which puts him outside the top-18.
There's one main question in the hurdles: Can Jack Wetterling sweep?
The Valor Christian senior owns the top-seed in the 110H and the 300H, clocking 14.58 in the 110H, and 38-flat in the 300H. Add that he's been undefeated in the 300H in Colorado this season.
And then there's the 4x800.
This is a must-see event.
Mountain Vista, Valor Christian, Cherokee Trail, and Rock Canyon will star here.
Mountain Vista, Valor, and Rock Canyon have come within six-seconds of Smoky Hills state record of 7:45.10 from 2001. Mountain Vista most notably has come the closest - clocking 7:45.75 from several weeks ago. Valor has run 7:48.80, and Rock Canyon has run 7:51.34.
Cherokee Trail is the question here - they haven't pieced together their A-squad in this event this season, though they have four who have run between 1:53 and 1:56. (Actually, it's five, but hey, only four can run on the relay...)
The big question here, is: Do you just try to win the event? Or do you chase the state record (and potentially carry others to it?)
This question will come up again in the girl's 3,200. But we'll come back to that...
And on the topic of state-records: Cherokee Trail's 4x400.
Last week they torched a 3:13.03 state record. Will they make an attempt to lower it to cap off Satrurday's action?
We'll know in a few days...
Another big event to keep an eye on is the discus - Jarrius Ward and Charlie Lafore have both thrown over 180-feet this season. Ward heads to Lakewood as the favorite, with his recent 185-4 monster personal best from two weeks ago. Add that he's won this event six-out-of-seven times this season. Likewise, LaFore recently threw 183-5 at St. Vrain, and he's won this event six-out-of-seven times as well.
We've got a battle brewing...
Circling back to Brandon Hills, he's the favorite in the triple jump with his 23-11 season-best. He's leapt 23-11 twice this season, hinting that we could see a 24-foot jump coming...
This is yet another team race that might be decided in Saturday's final event- the 4x400. Valor Christian and Cherokee Trail look to be in a tight battle here. The beef of Valor's points look like they'll come in the distance events, and the hurdles, while Cherokee Trail could wrack up a ton of points in the relays and the sprints.
Looking back at the 800, it could be decided there without anyone knowing it...
Either way, the team race looks tight - Vista Ridge could potential swoop in and steal the show.
Photo by Tim McDonald
GIRLS
Rachel Bair is slated to have a big weekend. The Mountain Vista senior is the best-possible position to sweep the sprints - though she'll have competition.
Bair has run state-leading marks in the 100 and the 400 - a 11.78 in the 100, and 56.73 in the 400. And up until this weekend, she held the No. 1 time in the 200 as well.
You'll definitely want to keep an eye on Erie's Myla Wilkes, who recently popped a 24.31 in the 200 - that's a massive PR.
While the sprints look like there are favorites, the distance events offer more questions than answers.
With the graduation of Riley Stewart, there's been a flood of athletes looking to take the crown as Colorado's Distance Queen.
Like so many other distance events this year there's no one stand-out favorite, there are favoriteS.
Emma Stutzman owns the fastest times run in Colorado in the 1,600 - a solo 4:50.29, and second-fastest in the 800, clocking 2:13.49.
The Pomona senior also owns the fastest 3,200 run this season - but we'll come back to that.
Looking at the 800, Arapahoe's Ava Mitchell, Fairview's Helen Carlson and Chloe Johnson have also cracked 2:15.
The main question here in reference to Stutzman, is does she attempt the triple? Or just focus on the 1,600 and 3,200, which are bound to be incredible races.
Moving up in distance, things get all the more crazy. Consider that 5:06 didn't qualify in the 1,600, and that 11 have already broken 5-minutes in the event.
Air Academy's Bethany Michalak owns the fastest 1,600 run this season - a 4:46 clocking from lower elevations.
Stutzman's 4:50 tops the field by five-seconds in terms of times run in Colorado.
Of the long-list of potential competitors eyeing the state title, add Mountain Vista's Peyton Adams, Mitchell, Fort Collins' Ella Johns, Valor Christian's Brooke Wilson, and Boulder's Kiki Vaughn - who recently took down a top-tier field which included Adams and Wilson at St. Vrain.
And then there's the 3,200...
This is yet another marquee event of the 2023 State Championships.
As of this writing, 13 girls have broken 11-minutes in this event in Colorado this season, making 2023 the best year for the girl's 3,200 - in terms of most quality and quantity. (And it's almost 14!)
Of those 13, nine are in the 5A race.
To add additional context to just how much depth there is this year, consider that 11:12 was the No. 19 time.
On paper this event has to be one of the most exciting.
Stutzman, Michalak, and Wilson all cracked 10-minutes at the Arcadia Invitational, with Stutzman leading the way in 9:56.34. Michalak and Wilson both ran under 10-minutes as well (Michalak ran 9:57, and Wilson was in at 9:59.)
Three-seconds isn't a lot of separation, which is why this race has the lineup to be incredible.
Add that Michalak just ran the third-fastest 3,200 on Colorado soil several weeks ago, clocking 10:11 - that's also the fastest 3,200 run in Colorado this season.
Between Stutzman, Michalak, and Wilson, there could very well be a state record run, though it all depends on strategy, like the boys 4x800. Do you go for the win and potentially carry someone else along for the kick? Or do you sit and kick for the win?
Either way is a gamble.
If the trio decided to push the pedal to the floor, Brie Oakley's state meet record of 10:09.26 could also be in jeopardy, along with Stewart's 10:06.23 state record.
Moving into the hurdles, it's Gabriella Cunningham territory.
The Grandview senior has run herself onto another level this season. She's run personal bests of 13.69 in the 100H, and 42.23 in the 400H. She's currently ranked No. 10 in the US in the 100H.
The pole vault is another area we could see a great competition.
There's two-time defending state champ Lilly Nichols, and Fairview's Sophie Pierce, Olivia Kosanovich, and Charlotte Elliston.
Nichols has cleared 12-8 this season, while Pierce very recently raised the bar, clearing 12-9 for a 5A No. 1, and massive PR.
Like most team races, this one looks tight.
Valor Christian and Grandview looked to be the two favorites, though you can't count out Cherokee Trail or Mountain Vista. (Or Eaglecrest!)