(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
LAKEWOOD – A steady rain forced Taylor James to rush in packing up her belongings on the infield at Jefferson County Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and it caused her to get soaked as she conducted post-race interviews.
The moisture did not, however, dampen her spirits as the Niwot senior closed one of the most remarkable track and field careers in Colorado history.
James won two more state titles on Saturday, leading Niwot to one of the most dominating team performances in state history.
“That hasn’t quite sunken in yet,” she said of knowing her high school career has come to a close. “Definitely I’m gonna miss the state meet, Jeffco Stadium, the crowd and what an amazing meet the organizers put on. It’s tough for sure, but I’ve still got things to look forward to.”
The Stanford-bound star has a bright future, but put together another memorable performance this weekend.
On Saturday, James won the 200-meter dash (24.61 seconds), the 400-meter dash (54.69) and anchored the Cougars to a win in the 400-meter relay (48.30). She helped them to a win and meet record in the 800-meter relay on Friday.
James closed her three-year career (she didn’t get a 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic) with 10 state titles in the 12 events she competed. She placed first in the last nine state events she ran, including going 4-for-4 in 2019 and this year.
James ranks not only among the greatest in Niwot history – along with Griffin Matthew, Elise Cranny and others – but in state history.
“Yeah, it’s definitely very exciting,” she said. “I do try to take time to reflect a little bit. Sometimes I can be a little hard on myself, so I try to think back to a lot of my best races and I love the feeling of coming across the line first for sure. I’m a very competitive person in nature. But my goal orientation is always about what my team wants me to do.”
With James leading the way, the Cougars scored a stunning 183 team points to beat second-place Mullen (48) by 135.
In addition to James on Saturday, the Cougars got an individual title from sophomore Kimora Northrup in the 300 hurdles (43.78 seconds) and two more championships in relays. Niwot won the 400 relay and 1,600 relay on Saturday, completing a sweep of the five girls relays.
Niwot won its second consecutive team title after finishing as runner-up in James’ freshman year, 2018.
“It means everything,” James said of the team crown. “All these girls have been working so hard, battling their own battles, but yet coming to practice every single day for their teammates. I’m so excited to stand on the podium with all of them because I’m so proud of them. I know the coaches are proud of them. As a team leader, appointed team captain, it means a lot to see them all kind of grow and mature and everybody running so well.”
Class 5A
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When this season began, Valor Christian senior Camille Peisner wasn’t sure she’d make it to the state meet. On Saturday, she was a three-time champion.
Peisner won the 100 meters with a time of 11.88 seconds and then narrowly won the 200 meters in 23.92 seconds. Denver East’s Kyairra Reigh was just .01 of a second behind Peisner.
“It’s so exciting,” said Peisner, who added a second-place finish in the 400 meters and helped the Eagles to a victory in the 1,600-meter relay (3:52.92 seconds). “This was a comeback season for me. I started in the hospital, so I was just surprised to get the (100 and 200) and I can’t complain about the 400.”
Peisner got appendicitis this spring and then had some complications that kept her in the hospital for about five days.
“At that point I was like, ‘Hopefully I can even make it to the state track meet,’” she said. “I’m just thankful to be here let alone get the win.”
Peisner, who won three relay titles with the Eagles earlier in her career, was runner-up in the 400 in 2019 and third in the 200. Her performance this weekend, however, helped Valor Christian to the team title, with 130.50 points (Grandview was second, with 83.5).
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
“I don’t know about other teams, but last year with the COVID season, we were still working out on our own every day, whether if it was in our garage or driveways or something like that,” she said. “Coming back and seeing all that work come to fruition is really rewarding.”
Cherry Creek junior Riley Stewart capped a remarkable weekend with a victory in the 1,600 meters. Stewart, who set the Colorado prep record with a time of 4:44.13 earlier this year, came up just short of that mark, but did establish a new 5A state meet record, crossing the line in 4:45.96.
Stewart swept her three individual races this weekend, also taking titles in the 800 meters and 3,200 meters. In addition, she helped the Bruins to a win in the 3,200-meter relay.
“It’s amazing,” Stewart said. “The whole weekend has been so fun and to finish it on this high note, I’m so excited.
While Reigh lost the 200 meter final to Peisner, the Denver East star did win the 400 meters, in a time of 53.27 seconds. She also helped the Angels win the 400-meter relay, in 47.72 seconds.
In other events Saturday, Overland senior Zeaniah Wedgeworth won the 100-meter hurdles (14.36); Valor Christian junior Kylie Bahr won the 300 hurdles (42.93); Loveland junior Kajsa Borrman won the discus (145-10); and freshman Lilly Nichols of Broomfield won the pole vault (12-0).
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
Class 4A
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
While James and Niwot dominated the team race, Mullen had a great meet, as well. The Mustangs finished second in the team race, led by junior Agur Dwol and senior Kaleah Ruff.
Dwol, who won the long jump on Thursday, easily won the triple jump on Saturday with a leap of 40 feet, 9 inches. Ruff was beaten out by James in the 200, but won the 100 meters, in 12.03 seconds. She lost the 100 meters by .03 of a second in 2019.
“It was well deserved,” Ruff said of the first state title of her career. “I’ve been working for two years to run a good time and to win state, so it felt really nice.”
Ruff said the strong team showing meant a lot because the Mustangs didn’t bring a large contingent to Jeffco Stadium.
“It’s been really amazing because we only have seven girls right now at state compared to most schools,” she said. “I love all my girls and we’re doing the very best we can, putting 100 percent into our races and we’re seeing good results from it.”
Also on Saturday, Bethany Michalak of Air Academy won the 1,600 (4:55.01) by just .07 of a second over Niwot’s Lucca Fulkerson; and Sand Creek senior Jahzara Davis won the 100 hurdles (14.62).
Class 3A
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
Coal Ridge won the first team title in its history, outlasting Liberty Common, 111-80. And, it was junior Peyton Garrison who was the star for the Titans.
Garrison swept the sprints, winning in the 100 meters (12.38 seconds), 200 (25.02) and 400 (56.23). She also capped her day by helping the Titans win the 1,600-meter relay in 4:01.78.
“It’s exciting. It really is,” she said after winning her three sprints. “My freshman year I didn’t win and I thought I was going to, but I came in this year a little more confident. I’m proud of where I came.”
In 2019, Garrison was third in the 200 and fourth in the 100.
“My times have been increasing ever since freshman year and I’ve been working really hard to get where I am,” she said.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Logan Haugestuen of Liberty Common won the 100 hurdles in 15.9 seconds and helped her team win the 400-meter relay (48.98); Alexandria Tice of Lamar won the discus (125-0); Basalt’s Katelyn Maley won the 1,600 meters (5:01.10); Holy Family’s Skylar Hawk won the 300 hurdles (46.05); and Sterling’s Valarie Allen won the triple jump (36-6).
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
Class 2A
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
Despite some sore legs on Friday, South Park senior Jordan Burnett made sure the final meet of her prep career was a memorable one.
On Saturday, she won the 200 meters (25.29 seconds) and the 400 meters (56.91) for the first state titles of her career. She also finished second in the 100 meters, behind Mikayla Hutchison of Banning Lewis. Hutchison had a time of 12.53, while Burnett was 0.09 behind.
“It was so much fun,” Burnett said. “It was great. I didn’t know what to expect. My legs were a little sore yesterday even, so today I was just like it’s for fun; we’re just going to go out and give it everything we’ve got and it was so much fun.”
Cedaredge won the team title, 87-53 over second-place Banning Lewis Academy.
The Bruins dominated all weekend in relays and won two more on Saturday, taking the 400 relay (52.17) and the 1,600 relay (4:13.43). Megan Jenkins also won a title in the 300 hurdles (46.20)
Dayspring Christian freshman Eboselulu Omofoma was a two-time champion. After winning the high jump on Thursday, she came and won the 100 hurdles on Saturday (15.41 seconds).
In other Saturday finals, Peyton’s Eowyn Dalbec won the 1,600 meters (5:24.65); Holyoke’s Correy Koellner won the shot put (38-8.25); and Hannah Turpin of St. Mary’s won the long jump (16-11.75).
Class 1A
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
Heritage Christian cruised to the team title – the third in program history and first since 2016 – and freshman Ainsley Stanton played a starring role.
On Saturday, Stanton easily won the 1,600 meters, her time of 5:4377 beating the field by nearly six seconds. It was the third title in three events this weekend for the freshman, who also won the 3,200 meters and helped the Eagles win the 3200 relay.
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)
“I’m really excited,” Stanton said. “I wasn’t really expecting it. The mile was the one I was most nervous for. I’m pumped.”
Adding a team title made the weekend even sweeter.
“It’s amazing,” Stanton said. “My team is great and I think we’ve worked really hard for it.”
Individually, nobody had a better meet in Class 1A than Alivia Weathers of Lone Star. The junior went 4-for-4 on the weekend, including a pair of titles on Saturday in the 100 hurdles (16.5 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (48.15). She also won the pole vault and triple jump.
Sangre de Cristo senior Avery Palmgren had a big day, winning three individual state titles. She started her day with a leap of 17 feet, 1.75 inches to win the long jump. Then, she cruised to the win in the 100 meters (13.14 seconds) and added a title in the 200 meters (27.24)
Other champions on Saturday included Eads senior Colby Stoker in the shot put (38 feet, 2 inches); Merino junior Taysa Conger in the 400 meters (1:01.91); Haxtun won the 400-meter relay (54.04); and Merino won the 1,600 relay (4:23.96).
(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)