Brittany Lewis in the long jump should be one of the top attractions at the 5A state meet. Photo by Paul Jaeger.
We all know what 5A means. The biggest schools. The biggest proportion of the top athletes.
We expect a little more out of the 5A competition, and we are rarel disappointed.
This year's best match-ups in the 5A state meet go a lot like this:
Boys
100 - The 100 may be the premier track event. And the 5A boys 100 should be a dandy. Markesh Woodson of Fountain-Fort Carson wears the mantle of man to beat, but Kenny Chambers, Kenny Bell, and Marcus Harris will be attempting to do exactly that. And, it's more than just an individual race. Woodson's fortunes in this race could have a great deal to do with how Fountain-Fort Carson does as a team.
400 - Can a freshman win the 5A 400? Brandon Parson has to be thinking "No way," but there's a long list of people Ben Goodman has already beaten. Keep an eye on this one.
800 - Five guys already under 1:55 suggests this one will be tight and fast. Positioning is crucial. Figure the first lap is an elbow-fest and the second lap is a war of attrition. Connor Winter, Kirk Webb, Alex Dillenbeck, Matt Caldwell, and Ryan VanPortfliet. Grab a tall glass of lemonade and enjoy the spectacle.
4x100 - Cherokee Trail (41.94) vs. Fountain-Fort Carson (41.80). Maybe another team or two climbs into the picture and maybe not. Speed isn't in question. Handoffs always add an element of risk to a race like this. Come and see who survives.
Triple Jump - Can the novice (Tyree Deas) steal this one away from the field, a field with a lot of depth and ability. Johnny Edmunds, Reggie Allison, Trey Richardson, Graham Gilliland, and Cameron Carter will be trying to make sure they're heard from before the final outcome is sealed.
Discus - Jaden Terry's 185-0 seed puts him well ahead of the field, but the discus is a fickle event. Others are very capable of winning this thing, most notably Caleb Spaulding and Jamarius Mathis. This just might be the best 5A boys discus field in a good, long time.
Girls
200 - Youth vs. Experience. It looks like this one should come down to a showdown between Ana Holland the freshman and Kayla Fisher-Taylor the senior.
400 - Another big sprint event and another freshman--Taryn Phipps of Arapahoe--takes center stage. Olivia Anderson's seed mark says she has the best shot at holding Phipps off. GinAsia Hamilton might have something to say about the outcome of this race as well, however.
800 - Last year, Kelsey Lakowske broke up Eleanor Fulton's attempt at a triple early in the meet. This year, Fulton seems to be most vulnerable in the 800. And who would be the one in hottest pursuit? Well, that would be Olivia Anderson once again. At least Anderson comes in as the top seed in the 300 hurdles....
100 Hurdles - Like 4A, this one promises to be a monster of a race. Kaylee Packham and Maggie Anderson, the two Loveland entries, should square off against Stephanie Gerber and Sara Benson in the finals. Way too close to call in advance. Just enjoy the spectacle.
4x400 - I wasn't there for the Centennial League meet, so I'm hoping cross-town rivals Littleton and Heritage go at it again, full tilt, at the state meet. A state meet record is not out of the question if these two teams have something left in the tank on Saturday afternoon.
Pole Vault - Libby Westfall and Jenna Adams have been going at it all season long, though mostly at separate meets. This one meet calls in all the chips for who gets to be queen of the girls pole vault for 2010.
Long Jump - This one should mark the high point of the season for Brittany Lewis of George Washington. Obviously, she hopes to maintain her seed and win the event, but there might also be some big motivation to regain the all-classification best mark in this event for 2010. It will take at least something in the vicinity of 19 feet to accomplish that.
My apologies. I did not have time to link all the athletes in this article--prior commitment for tonight.
All the best to all competitors at the state meet!