Only a freshman, Logan Franek of Elbert is already one of the top hurdlers in the 2A classification. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Anyone who gives small thought to small schools is missing out on something. There will be plenty of fireworks at the 2A state meet. As I did with the 3A classification, I'll be starting the state preview by taking a look at the event selections of many of the top athletes in the classification. Only this time, I have the state heat sheets in front of me. It should go a little faster (for me, anyway) this time.
In alphabetical order by last name:
Kyle Carper, Holyoke - Amazingly, Carper missed qualifying for state in the 200 and 400, leaving him the long jump and triple jump. A 21-7 mark only got him the third seed in the long jump, but he enteres as the top seed in the triple jump.
Syndey Clarkson, Akron - last year's anchor specialist on all sorts of Akron relays is running the 400 and 800 at state. She also ran on the SMR in the regional meet, but her name does not appear in the other relay results for Akron. It would not be surprising to see her picked up on another relay.
Landry Cogburn, Baca County - 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200, and 4x400. Cogburn has no peers in 2A as an overall hurdler. Look for very tough 4x2 and 4x4 teams from Baca County as well.
Jarret Cure, Wray - 200, 400, 4x200, and 4x400. All I have to say about that schedule is, "Take good care of your hamstrings. Wray is clearly gunning for the moon and they have the horses to put together a very impressive point total if everyone stays in one piece through the meet.
Coley David, Burlington - 400 and TJ for certain--I'm guessing the 4x200 and 4x400 as well. If there's a sleeper team in the field, it is Burlington. If David has a huge meet, the Cougars have a chance of coming out on top.
Shawn Dubbs, Cripple Creek-Victor - 800, 1600, 3200, and possibly 4x800. It's a demanding set of events, nobody needs to be told that much. Dubbs is a legitimate contender in all three individual events but enters with the top seed only in the 1600.
Luis Huerta, Wray - Alongside Jarret Cure, Huerta is a key to Wray's hopes. Huerta's events nearly mirror Cure's, only Huerta goes 200, 400, 4x100, 4x200. If Wray's relays go through cleanly, they will be very difficult to beat.
Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford - Most people probably haven't noticed yet, but Amber Lowther is doing four events in the state meet. Three of those events are the familiar LJ, TJ, and HJ. The fourth event is the shot put. And, surprise, the little Meloneer with springs goes in as the #6 seed in the shot put. Just a hunch, but I'm guessing she gets more out of her legs that most throwers.
Johanna Reed, Paonia - 800, 1600, 3200, 4x800. If Reed's legs hold out, there are a few 2A state meet records in serious jeopardy. Right offhand, I'm not sure there's anyone else entering the state meet in any classification with four #1 seeds. Keep your stopwatch handy.
Marissa Smith, Holyoke - 100, 200, 400, and 4x200. For the most part, the Holyoke girls threw relays under the bus at the regional meet. All except for the 4x200, that is. Smith will be tough to beat in any of her individual events. The Holyoke 4x2 enters as the #1 seed.
Lindsey Stindt, Norwood - 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, LJ, and I'm guessing she's a possibility for showing up in another event somewhere. Stindt holds the top seed in the 300 hurdles and the #2 seed in the 100 hurdles.
Ty Williams, Norwood - Only two events for Mr. Williams, the 1600 and 3200. But look for him to have a big impact on those two events. Only a sophomore, he just might tighten his grip on those two events over the next two years.
As was the case with 3A, this list could be extended almost indefinitely, but this will have to suffice for the moment. With most, perhaps, of the top track athletes' event selections covered, let's take a look at some intriguing event matchups in 2A:
Boys Discus - Six guys over 140 feet. In all probability, it comes down to Garrett Smith vs. Nolan Queen for the title, but any of the next four could figure in with a big throw. Queen carries a lot of hopes for the Burlington squad, both in this event and the shot put (where, incidentally, he also holds the second seed to Garrett Smith).
Boys 400 - I don't see anyone joining Coley David, Oakley Hayes, and Kyle Moore for the race for #1, but it should be very tight between these three.
Girls 400 - Marissa Smith appears to be a heavy favorite in the 100 and 200, but the 400 might be a great deal more interesting. Look for Smith, Sydney Clarkson, and Ashley Atkin to stage a memorable showdown.
Girls 4x200 - Akron needs it. Holyoke very much doesn't want to lose this relay to Akron. Assuming both teams go cleanly into finals, there will be a ton of team pride at stake in this event.
Girls Discus - Brittney Graham, Mollie Lane, and Lori Weirich for all the marbles. Weirich has thrown into the 130s this season, Lane and Graham are probably capable of doing the same. Will the winds cooperate for big throws? Lots of people on the track are hoping not, but hopes run in another direction at the discus ring.
Girls 100 Hurdles - The big three standouts this spring have been Caitlyn Hubbard, Lindsey Stindt, and Logan Franek. Hubbard holds the top qualifying time going in, but the two younger hurdlers aren't going to go down easily.
Boys Long Jump - The top three seeds of Alex Estes, Kyle Carper, and Taylor Russel are each with three inches of one another. Long jump can be a little fickle, but look and hope for all three to enjoy big jumps. The longest-standing state meet record of them all is not totally out of reach for this crew.
Only a freshman, Logan Franek of Elbert is already one of the top hurdlers in the 2A classification. Photo by Alan Versaw.