Photo by Tim McDonald
4A
Girls Distance
Niwot sophomore Addison Ritzenhein has already made her ascension to the top of Colorado's elite - and the country - in her short high school career.
The 2023 Nike Cross National Champion tops the 1,600 and 3,200 rankings with Colorado PRs of 4:44.30 in the 1,600, and 10:37 in the 3,200.
There are multiple questions here, like: does she go for the sweep in the distance events? And: does she chase any state records?
Tripling is already difficult enough, though Ritzenhein has already proven to have the strength, and the speed.
The 4A 1,600 state meet record is 4:45.27, while the 4A 3,200 state meet record is 10:17.48.
Depending on how many events she runs, and what sort of effort she puts into each event, spectators will also want to keep a more keen eye on the clock - the 1,600 Colorado soil record (just one year old!) is 4:39.94, and the (two week old!) 3,200 Colorado soil record is 10:04.16 (held by Liberty Common's Isabel Allori).
Ritzenhein recently won the 3,000 at the The Penn Relays (lower elevations) in 9:17, which was the third-fastest time ever run by a sophomore.
Additionally, she's the defending state champion in the 3,200
While Ritzenhein tops the rankings in the 1,600 and the 3,200, the 800 could be a battle - Cheyenne Mountain's Lauren Raley is coming in hot off a monster PR in the event - she won the 800 at St. Vrain in a 4A No. 1 of 2:11.09 - that's a three-and-a-half-second PR.
Boys Sprints
Mikey Munn didn't qualify for State last year.
This year he's the favorite to not only win a state title - he's the favorite to sweep the sprints.
The Windsor senior has run all-classification leading times of 10.52 in the 100, 21.05 in the 200, and 47.68 in the 400.
He's been undefeated every time he's stepped on the track. That's 11 wins in the 100, six wins in the 200, and two wins in the 400. What's additionally impressive is how consistent he's been - he's run 10.76 or faster eight times, he's run under 22-seconds five-consecutive times, and he's run under 48-seconds both times he's run the 400.
Girls Sprints
Can a freshmen win not one, but two state titles in the sprints?
Golden's Abigail Trapp is closing out her first year of high school, and she'll do it by heading to Jeffco as the No. 1 seed in the 200 and the 400.
She's run 24.76 in the 200, and 56.16 in the 400.
Her 200 PR came just several weeks ago at the Jeffco 4A/5A League Championships, meaning she's peaking right on time. She hasn't raced since.
An additional storyline in the sprints is the fact that the top seeds in 200 and 400 are dominated by Trapp, and a slew of sophomores, meaning this event could be stellar for the next years.
Add Kiana Cumings to the list for someone who could make a run for a state title. The Windsor sophomore literally just ran herself into the conversation days ago, when she won the 200 at St. Vrain in 24.78.