Micah Tate is among the very best 1A distance runners you probably haven't heard about. Photo by Alan Versaw.
I'm going to let you in on a secret here. After hours of looking at the various returning rosters of this year's 1A teams, I can tell you what it is going to take to be a competitive 1A team at state this spring. You need two guys who can score big points. Then you need a few more who can fill in smaller points here and there. If anyone ever brings three total studs to the table, duck for cover.
Pikes Peak Christian meets the "two guys who can score big points" criterion and probably has the supporting cast to chink in a few additional points. And that, folks, makes them a potential 1A contender (but read the disclaimer at the end of this article, please).
Though hardly a big guy, Micah Tate has become a big presence on the cross country course. And his performances from the fall suggest that his track performances this spring will take a big step forward from last spring. Given that Norwood (and therefore Ty Williams) plans to compete in 2A, it looks as if the big guns in 1A distance will be Tyler Barela of Sierra Grande, Matt Fulmer of Flagler, and Micah Tate of PPCS. If Tate can rise to the top of this crew, Pikes Peak's chances take a healthy step forward.
But, as I indicated, it takes two. And the deuce for PPCS would be thrower Caleb Smith. If you've followed small school track and field, you may recognize this name. Or, it may just be that you know so many Smiths that you think you recognize the name.
In either case, Caleb Smith is a legitimate thrower in a classification that will be looking to establish some legitimacy this spring. With Daniel Weirich of Eads staying in 2A for competitive purposes, Smith has one of the best resumes of any 1A thrower coming into the season (though, arguably, he takes second to Otis's Lance Pickett in that category). Smith's 47-4.75 at state last spring gives him the #2 in the classification coming into the season. A discus mark of 134-11 also has him ranked at second in the classification, but the shot put mark is a stronger mark. Regardless, Smith has the potential to win both events.
Throws seem to be something of a specialty for Pikes Peak Christian. Casey Smith (I'm guessing a younger brother of Caleb) will also start the season as a ranked 1A shot putter. Riley Depasse could be yet another.
Heath Austin showed some good potential last spring in the 300 hurdles. C. J. Nordberg should be representative in distance events but may need one more season of development to be ready to score at state. If Nordberg can score points this spring, however, it will definitely help the cause.
Since I've raised the topic of a second distance runner in the stable, now is as good of a time as any to discuss the possibilities for the 1A boys 4x800 this spring. As of this moment, nobody (and I do mean nobody) in 1A has four obvious 800 runners. Many schools aren't even assured of having four boys out for track, let alone four willing to suffer through two laps around the track at something under 2:20. There will be points to be claimed for up to nine 1A schools in the 4x800 this spring, but it will likely take a nice sales effort on the part of a few coaches to build those teams. Schools that are now 1A have produced an occasional strong 4x800 relay, but never nine of them in the same spring. So, the development of the 1A 4x800s should be an interesting thing to watch.
And here is a final important key to note: Being competitive at state is a whole new experience for most 1A schools to navigate. Outside of Walsh (who competed as Baca County last spring) and possibly Idalia, Otis, and Merino, most current 1A boys programs are woefully short in experience at being competitive at state. It is not as simple as having the talent and expecting the other 1A programs to genuflect before you. While no team has that posted on the wall as their season plan, there will be teams figuring in April that their talent will get them there only to find out in May that somebody else worked harder, somebody else listened more intently to the coach and spent a little extra time getting better, and somebody else was just a bit more committed to the process. The state title will go to the team that refuses to believe that talent alone with get them there.
Micah Tate is among the very best 1A distance runners you probably haven't heard about. Photo by Alan Versaw.