Alexis Seifert finished second in the 2A 100 and 200 meter events last spring. She comes in as the favorite in this year's 1A 100 and 200. Colorado Track XC file photo.
The stories of Otis, Merino, and Fleming could be told separately, but it's more interesting to tell them together.
For starters, let's locate these three communities on the Colorado map. Each community is situated in the northeast corner of the state. Each has a major road leading out of town that heads more or less directly toward Sterling.
The respective enrollments for each school, according to the latest CLOC committee report are: Merino - 96, Otis - 67, and Fleming - 58. All three schools might seem to be likely candidates for consolidation--and the ever-increasing economic realities may eventually force that issue--but, for now, community pride runs deep in each of these schools, and they still proudly maintain their distinct identities. If people in these communities wanted to consolidate with anyone, there have been a myriad of opportunities to do exactly that over the last generation.
If consolidation were to occur, Merino would almost certainly be absorbed by Sterling, Fleming could move in with either Sterling or Haxtun (Sterling is in the same county, Haxtun is not), and Otis would most likely be absorbed by either Akron (same county) or Yuma (across the county line).
But consolidation isn't going to happen before May, so it's a moot point as we discuss the possibilities for 1A state track and field this spring.
What makes these three schools so interesting from a 1A state track and field perspective is that if you take the season-best marks from last spring for all 1A athletes who return this spring, Otis, Merino, and Fleming go 1-2-3, in that order, in a virtual meet. And this would be a long way from the first time these schools have butted heads in a state championship setting.
In fact, we need go no further back than November to find the last time. Fleming, Merino, and Otis were three of the four semifinalists in last fall's state volleyball championship, with Fleming blowing out Otis in the state championship match. Fleming, by the way, is on something of a run of late with state volleyball titles. Merino, on the other hand, is one of the few legitimately small schools in the state that can rival Akron and Limon for accumulated state titles. Merino and Fleming are currently enjoying undefeated basketball seasons.
Needless to say, we're talking about schools with rich athletic traditions. And, realistically speaking, one of these schools is highly likely to add a state championship trophy to their case this spring. It would be an upset of major proportions if anyone was able to take down all three of these schools.
Otis appears to have the strongest hand heading into the track season, but as King Ahab reminded King Ben-Hadad, "One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off." That's just an historical way of alluding to the fact that this one is a long way from being over.
But it's beyond dispute that Otis holds a very strong hand.
Alexis Seifert has the kind of wheels that just might sweep the 1A 100 and 200 titles. Hannah Brandon has one of the best discus throws in the classification in what figures to be a bit of a down year for throws among 1A girls. Amber Chambers cleared 6-0 in the pole vault last year, and one year's progression on that mark should be good enough to place her at state. And, finally, Tawney Bleak looks to be a contender for points in both the 300 hurdles and 3200, maybe the 1600 as well. That, and a personal best of 7-0 in the pole vault. That's the sort of event combination that probably only ever happens in 1A.
Did I mention that having pole vaulters is the shortest route to piling up a few points at the state meet?
Merino doesn't figure to have anyone who can win two events, but they do seem to have a slightly larger pool of potential state placers. The top hopes for points for Merino appear to be Larissa Conger (long jump), Malia Michel (300 hurdles and pole vault), and Anna Kindvall (800 meters and discus--another testimony to the fact that event combinations in 1A don't fit within your usual constructs). Others who could possibly notch a state place or two include Jessica Gill in the distance events and Makaya Lechman (300 hurdles and pole vault). Merino boasted a pretty solid 4x800 relay last spring. If they can reprise that event this spring, there may be a lot potential for points in that event when competing solely against 1A competition.
The story at Fleming High School is a very different story--and a much shorter story. At least in 2010, Fleming's track and field program was Ashley Atkin. No more, no less. But, if you had to pick one girl from of the entire cast of 1A characters to have as your program, you would most likely choose Ashley Atkin.
The matchup at 200 meters between Ashley Atkin and Alexis Seifert should be a dandy. Seifert edged Atkin at state last spring (in 2A), but Atkin had the better mark during the season. Atkin is pretty much unrivaled for having the best returning time in the 400 and 800 and trails only Seifert in the 100.
If nobody joins Atkin for 2011, then 40 points is the best Fleming can hope for at the state track meet. That's not going to be enough to win it. Then again, maybe Fleming track has a few more bodies this spring. If so, they might be able to make a run at something. But, what if they're all committed to club volleyball? Well, that's another story.
Figure that relays will have a lot to do with the eventual outcome at the state meet. It's difficult in the extreme to forecast what might happen with relays in 1A this spring. Very few of the 2A state relay teams last spring came from 1A schools. That's not very surprising when you stop to think that many 1A track programs have five or fewer athletes. That situation doesn't usually lend itself to a lot of relay options. Those schools that figure out how to package a solid relay or two with some nice individual talent will go straight to the front of the pack.
Spring should fill out a few of the details in these stories. For the time being, however, a lot of folks in at least two of these communities have some serious emotional investment in their respective basketball seasons. We'll let them finish those first.