Of the top teams in 3A girls, Middle Park boasts the most dangerous thrower in Elsa Krieg. Photo contributed by Mark Krieg at request of Colorado Track XC.
You don't understand 3A Girls 2011 if you don't understand this one little fact: Middle Park is a serious threat to blow clean through the 100-point barrier this spring.
Let's start with what everyone knows about Middle Park.
Sam Berggren. It's more or less a given that if Sam Berggren stays healthy, she will score in excess of 30 points at the state meet. If the last three years are any indicator, she will do that at 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, and 1600 meters. She has dabbled at 100 meters during the invitational season, but nobody seems to be confused that she's better at 100 meters than any of her four feature events. Berggren's only state title last spring was at 400 meters, but her appearance at an indoor track meet a couple of week's back suggests she's serious about redemption in the 800 and 1600 this spring. That's not to imply she wasn't serious last year, only that she might be putting a little extra effort in for her sayonara season. She already claimed the cross country title in October.
Middle Park also figures to accumulate a few points in the pole vault. In a classification where few teams contest the pole vault, having a couple of girls like Katy Mulligan (9-0) and Meghan Allen (7-6) gives you a considerable edge on the rest of the competition. With Lyons and Yuma dropping down to 2A and the limit of three state competitors per event now an historical artifact, there's all the more reason for Middle Park to try to squeeze a couple more vaulters out of the student body.
Cheyenne Hickox has developed into a nice 100 hurdler over the last couple of years, with some high jump and triple jump potential on the side. Fellow senior Quincey Pedersen may be the best high jumper in the classification and doubles as a triple jump threat. As if that's not enough high jumpers already, pencil Katy Mulligan into the high jump lineup. And then add in Kelly Allen. All four have cleared at least five feet.
Kelly Allen is probably a better long jumper than high jumper and could easily figure into points at state in the long jump.
And, over in the throwing circles you will find senior Elsa Krieg. You may be surprised to learn that Elsa Krieg is the cousin of Brandi Krieg, the highly-ranked 3A distance runner out of Grand Valley. By some fluke of genetics, though, Elsa is nearly a foot taller than her cousin.
That extra height, though, means extra leverage. Elsa has used that extra leverage toward her advantage, earning a volleyball scholarship to the University of New Mexico. But, we're talking track and field, so it's probably worth mentioning that that extra leverage also comes in handy in the shot and, especially, the discus. Krieg comes into the 2011 season ranked in the top six in 3A in both throwing events.
Did you notice the theme? Middle Park is loaded with seniors. If there's not a little extra motivation there, the coaching staff is missing something big. I'm pretty confident, though, that little fact has not escaped the notice of the coaching staff, or of the girls. Look for Middle Park to be a serious 3A contender this spring.