Addy Neibauer has tried her hand in a lot of different events but a 10-0 PR in the pole vault makes that her best event. Photo contributed by Marty Neibauer at request of Colorado Track XC.
Early indications suggest it's going to take a lot of mojo to run down Glenwood Springs in 4A girls, but Greeley Central is regenerating their supply even as we speak. The Wildcats will be a very good team this spring, a team deep in state experience.
The biggest area of strength for Greeley Central appears to fall in the events from 800 meters on up. Janelle Martinez and Allie Parks have been to the state meet before and know what it's about. They have one more trip remaining. Both Martinez and Parks should be critical factors for Greeley Central this spring. Previous seasons indicate Martinez is more of an 8/16 type whereas Parks gets better the longer she goes. Parks had a disappointing run in the 3200 at state last spring but certainly has the kind of big meet experience that makes you think better things are coming this year. If these two have big state meets, the Wildcats should be very nicely positioned. Merecedes Davila and Darion Roque add some serious depth to the distance group.
With four as solid as these, the 4x800 is an obvious choice, but the door on the 4x400 is certainly not closed. As spring develops, we should all gain some sort of idea of what the strengths and possibilities are for Greeley Central in the relays. The Wildcats ran a 4:05+ in both prelims and finals of the state 4x400 last spring, so there is good reason to expect them to look that direction again this year.
Katrina Wagner returns with state experience in the shot put and a PR throw of over 36 feet. She will be hoping to qualify--and maybe place--in the discus as well this spring. If you like trying to handicap these things, Wagner appears likely to place in the shot put this spring and teeters of the edge of being able to place in the discus. Typically, that would mean that if technique work goes well this spring, expect her to place in the discus. If technique work stalls out, chances aren't as good.
The pole vault is the Wildcats' remaining area of strength. Between Addy Neibauer and Allyson Foust, Greeley Central has two solid vaulters and a great shot at scoring some serious points in this event at state.
Addy Neibauer also has possibilities in the hurdle events.