Although Loveland's 4x400 would eventually bow to Littleton, it was Loveland's relays that gave them a 2010 state track and field title. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Everywhere the opposition turned, the Loveland girls were putting up points. Maybe not always a lot of points, but consistently points. In the end, it added up to more than Cherry Creek, Heritage, Doherty, or any of the other contenders could muster.
Loveland entered Saturday's finals with a gap of at least 18 points on everyone else in the field. But, there was much left to be decided on Saturday. The Indians did that by picking up two points in the 100, seven points in the 4x100, eight points in the 4x400, and two more points in the shot put. Was it a thing of beauty? Not especially, but it was highly effective.
In the end, Loveland claimed the state title with no individual placing higher than third (Kailie Hartman in the 3200), and no relay placing higher than second (4x400, 4x800). The relays, however, were highly effective--piling up no fewer than 35 points toward the cause.
For runner-up Cherry Creek, it was yet another case of "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." The Bruins continued their state championship title drought, a string of frustration that begins to rival the run of frustration posted by the Chicago Cubs in baseball. Creek was led by a third and two firsts (800, 300 hurdles) from Olivia Anderson, but could not put together enough additional points to overcome Loveland. Anderson's gutsy razor-thin triumph over Eleanor Fulton (Highlands Ranch) in the 800 qualifies as the top race of the weekend for 5A girls.
In addition to Anderson, the only other multiple event winners in the 5A classification were GinAsia Hamilton (Fountain-Fort Carson - 200, 400) and Eleanor Fulton (Highlands Ranch - 1600, 3200).