A lot of Colorado's top talent is headed to Albuquerque this weekend.
If the twelve weeks of track and field culminating in the state meet weren't enough for you, there's still time to hop on I-25, drive a few hours, and catch the Great Southwest Classic.
In the sprints, Colorado will be represented by Chyna Ries and Ana Holland in the elite heat of the girls 100 meters, Markesh Woodson and Gavin McHenry in the elite heat of the boys 100 meters. Dior Hall will take the top seed into the girls 100 meter hurdles.
Boris Berian and Nolan Mayhew will be matched once again in the 400 meters, only this time a lane will separate the two. Sam Berggren and Ana Holland, among others, will represent the Centennial State in the girls 400. Berggren aims to double back in the 800.
The 2000 Steeple entries are always interesting because this is an event rarely contested (and never during the CHSAA-sanctioned season) in Colorado. Colorado's steeplechase entries include Laura Yarrow, Daniel Lara, and Gus Waneka. Yarrow is an easy pick for this event due to her 300 Hurdle experience. Lara and Waneka have a little less apparent experience in this event.
Although Colorado has several relay entries in this meet, it's generally a good idea not to count on particular relays running until they come to the line. This meet has a long history of relays scratching as athletes tend to be more focused on individual events for a meet like this.
Field events are a lot less dicey.
Carly Paul takes her high jump to Albuquerque for what appears to be her first big post-season test in that event. Trey Richardson and Tony Carodine are taking their triple jump talents to Albuquerque, but in a field with two seeds over 50 feet, their skills will be severely tested. Kiah Hicks finds herself in much the same kind of field in the shot put and discus.
The multi events, which have already begun as this article is going to press, will include, for the girls, Tiffany Kenney, Kelsey Traxinger, and Brittany Lewis, and, for the boys, only Dillon Manzanares from Colorado.
We wish all of Colorado's athletes all the best in their endeavors this weekend and all post results as they become available.
If someone from the Colorado contingent cares to send along a few photos, I will take at least one and use it as a cover photo for the summary article following the meet. My hunch is that a lot more people would be interested in seeing that than a repeat of the meet logo on the cover of this article.