Alamosa High Altitude Track Championships

Pueblo West came over the mountain, grabbed a couple of trophies and went home. Ironically, the weather may have been better in Alamosa than in Pueblo on this weekend. Mark that one on your calendars.

Josh Graner's 42-5 in the triple jump marks him as a 3A title contender. Toni Stoll's 35-3 does the same on the girls' side of the pit. Abby Simpson of Pueblo County continues to win sprints wherever she goes. Look for her as a factor in the 4A state meet, particularly at 200 and 400 meters.

Bulldog Invitational

Kali Wolaver, Quincey Pedersen, and Samantha Berggren continue to have great seasons. Berggren's 2:15.98 sends a hint that she's ready to roll in the 800 meters. Wolaver's improvement in the shot put has been steady this season. It's not unthinkable that she gives Megan Patterson, the prohibitive favorite to this point, something to think about. Quincey Pedersen simply ups the ante in an already-crowded 3A girls high jump field.

Reece James of Fort Lupton is heaving the shot put very nicely--there's something about the South Platte River valley and 4A throwers.

Coronado Cougar Track & Field Classic

This meet enjoyed a little bit of every season but summer. Serious snow and wind took the edge off the 4x200s and the girls 1600, but almost every event enjoyed at least reasonable conditions. Cheyenne Mountain posted the first sub-8 boys 4x800 of the season and The Classical Academy girls enjoyed a little of the thrill of speed themselves, clocking a 9:24.99 for the girls' best time of the season to date.

The short hurdlers were looking sharp as well, with Sa`De Lewis, Ben Hinckfoot, and Hunter Warwick each dipping below 15-flat on the afternoon.

And, finally check out that double by Tabor Stevens--4:22.37 in the 1600 and 1:54.05 in the 800. Ladies and gentlemen, he logged those times at over 6000 feet elevation and less-than-ideal conditions. The 4A state 1600 is shaping up as a contest of titanic proportions.

Jeffco 5A Qualifier

Carly DeLorenzo stuck her nose into a stiff wind and won both short sprints.Ralston Valley's girls qualified as a force to be reckoned with in the 4x800 with a 9:49.55.

And, in an ongoing good year for the discus, Ryan Duman threw 157-9.

Liberty Bell Track and Field Invitational

As anticipated at a meet of this stature, there were numerous great performances.

The best contest of the two-day event, however, may have been the boys 800. Matt Caldwell won in 1:54.79. Five others dipped under 1:57.5. A similar logjam took place in the boys 3200, won by Walter Schafer, but with six runners total under 9:40.0.

Individually, the biggest eye-popper of Saturday was Trevor Brown's  13.84 in the 110 hurdles. That mark is only .22 off the 5A state meet record and Brown has to be figured as a threat to the mark at this point.

Arapahoe's boys had several nice relays and showed the most strength they've showed all season outside of distance events. The Warriors are looking more and more like a contender. And, if you've been around long enough to remember 2008, you know that Arapahoe knows a thing or two about putting things together at state.

Among the girls, a 9:31 4x800 by Highlands Ranch puts them at the head of the class in 5A.

Liberty FR/SO Meet

Montrose Invitational

A little bit of a headwind appears to have messed with the times of the short sprints, but the relays were not as impacted. The Coal Ridge girls announced themselves as a 3A contender in the 4x200, while the Cedaredge girls sharpened their edge with a nice 4x100.

Among the boys, Ben Brewer took over the season leadership in the 3A boys 400. Olathe ran an impressive 4x1 and 4x2, while Coal Ridge punched their ticket to state in the 4x4.

Ray Campbell Invitational

It's been tough getting meets in all across El Paso County this spring. The folks at Fountain-Fort Carson were good enough to let a few extra people in and got a very nice meet as a result.

FFC had some fireworks of their own to offer, though, as Jamarius Mathis swept the throws, GinAsia Hamilton refreshed the memories of a few folks regarding what she can do in the 400, and a 1-2 sweep in the 100 by Markesh Woodson and Solyde Bankston.

Rocky Mountain HS JV Championships

Rocky Mountain Round-Up

This one was the big meet up north this weekend as most of the northern Front Range schools didn't travel to Liberty Bell.

Loveland edged Fort Collins for the girls title, while Cherokee Trail took top honors in a nicely-balanced boys field.

Individually, Becky Schmitt of Thompson Valley had a nice outing in the 3200, Maggie Anderson and Caylee Packham were the class of the field in the 100 hurdles, giving Loveland a 1-2 finish in that event. Aaron Praska was solid in both hurdle events, and we're getting used to seeing the name of Mark Weeks atop the shot put results.

Santa Fe League Meet

Rocky Ford's boys don't have many peers in this league, but the girls met their match in the form of the Fowler Grizzlies. Underscoring the boys' domination of the meet is this little count: Rocky Ford won 10 of the 18 events.

Springfield Invitational

This may be small-school track and field, but there are often some big-time performances at this meet. This one was no exception on that score.

Eads continues to impress in the throws with Garrett Smith going 155-10 and Lori Weirich going 123-10 for a matched set of discus titles.

Teamwise, the Baca County boys continue to have the look of a contender.

St. Vrain RE-1J Meet

You know what we all missed last spring? We missed seeing Rachel Hinker as a long jumper. She joins Beth Jones and Tiffany Kenney as a very accomplished trio of 3A long jumpers. The only trouble with long jumping Rachel Hinker, though, is that it means taking her out of some other event.

For a Tuesday meet of, truthfully, little account, Brett Wright's 49.14 stands out as a big mark. Wright also helped put together a 43.69 4x100 relay for Silver Creek.

Strasburg Invitational

You don't here much talk of thrower's hitting for the cycle (to borrow a phrase from a different spring sport), but Brittney Graham of Genoa-Hugo did just that, winning the shot put, discus, and javelin. If a few promoters of the event are succesful, we may seen the javelin as a state-sanctioned event in the not-too-distant future.

Tiger Relays

Tyree Deas may be the best triple jumper in the state. And nobody knew about him because he never came out for track until this year. Better to start as a senior than not at all, I guess. Deas also won the long jump and Coronado more or less dominated the team standings at this one.

Wray Dick Evans Invitational

As the season goes only, it seems that Marissa Smith only gets more dominant. This time, she swept the 100-200-400. If the wheels stay on this wagon, she should be fun to watch at state. Oh, and that 4x200 she anchored wasn't so bad, either.

I'm used to seeing Ariel Andrews' name at the top of distance results from NE Colorado, but who is this Melanie Burton. Maybe tiny Bethune picks up some points in distance events at state.

Burlington posted a very nice boys 4x400 to signal that event won't go uncontested at state this spring.

Yuma Bill Kalb Invitational

A lotta prequalifiers out of this one...

Several big throws, led by Adam Montoya and Nolan Queen. A long-awaited official prequal for Bryar DeSanti in the 100. And yet another sprint sweep for Marissa Smith, including a 25.91 200.