Records are on track to tumble at Colorado state meet

The first gun hasn't yet sounded at the state track and field meet, but that doesn't mean that records haven't already fallen.

Earlier this season two seniors from the Colorado Springs-area etched their names into the state record books. Katie Rainsberger of Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) broke the Colorado prep record in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4 minutes, 44.31 seconds. Rainsberger is the top seed in the 4A girls 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs headed into the three-day meet at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. Action gets underway Thursday and concludes Saturday.

Andrea Willis of The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) set the Colorado mark in the pole vault, clearing a height of 13 feet, 9 inches. The national record is 14-02.75.

So, what records could fall later this week? Only time will tell, but here is a look at some names to watch in each of the five classifications for both boys and girls:

Class 5A
Boys
Fountain-Fort Carson came away with the title a year ago thanks to its prowess in the sprint events, and the Trojans are no slouch this year. After Tevin Donnell claimed the 100 and 200 last spring, senior Christian Lyon is in position to do the same this week. Lyon owns the top times in both events coming into state.
Henry Raymond of Poudre (Fort Collins) will shoot for the distance trifecta, as the Impalas senior has the top times in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Last year's state champion in the 1,600, Isaac Green of Monarch (Louisville), is the third seed in the 800 and 1,600.
The 5A state meet record in the high jump is 7-2. Cherokee Trail (Aurora) senior David Thornton could challenge that mark, coming into state having cleared the 7-foot mark earlier this season.
2015 Team Champion: Fountain-Fort Carson
Defending State Champions: 1,600 – Isaac Green, Jr., Monarch; Long Jump – Braden Smith, Sr., Lakewood

Katie Rainsberger, Air Academy

File photo by Tom Hanson

Girls
Will this be the year that a Denver Prep League sprinter leaves her mark on the state? Denver East freshman Arria Minor enters state with the top times in the 100 (11.64 seconds) and 200 (23.65). Both of those times aren't far off the state meet records for Minor, who also runs the 400.
Fort Collins senior Becca Schulte, the defending champion in the 400, is currently seeded second in the 200; second in the 400; and third in the 800.
Grandview (Aurora) junior Brie Oakley has the top times in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, followed by Megan Mooney of Horizon (Thornton).
The hurdles events will also be ones to keep an eye on, with defending 100 champion Emily Sloan of Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) the top seed; and Mountain Range (Westminster) junior Zoe Gilbertson, the 2015 winner in the 300 hurdles, the same in that event.
2015 Team Champion: Cherokee Trail
Defending State Champions: 400 – Becca Schulte, Sr., Fort Collins; 3,200 – Lauren Gregory, Jr., Fort Collins; 100 hurdles – Emily Sloan, So., Rock Canyon; 300 hurdles – Zoe Gilbertson, Jr., Mountain Range; Triple Jump – Amazing Ashby, Sr., Cherokee Trail (Aurora); Shot Put – Gina Coleman, Jr., Fountain-Fort Carson



Class 4A
Boys
Palmer Ridge (Monument) senior Caleb Ojennes captured two state championships as a junior, and is in line to pursue three this week. Ojennes has the second-fastest time in the 100, 200 and 400.
Littleton's Noah McGhee is the defending champion in the 100 and enters state with the top-seeded time. Air Academy (US Air Force Academy) junior Nik Chappee has the top seed in the 200 and 400.
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) senior Alex Miller has the top times in the 110 and 300 hurdles and will attempt to sweep both events.
In the relays, Longmont has the top times in 4x100 and 4x200 (its time of 41.69 seconds in the 4x100 is not far off the state meet (41.28) or Colorado prep (41.21) records. Palmer Ridge has the top times in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
2015 Team Champion: Palmer Ridge
Defending State Champions: 100 – Noah McGhee, Jr., Littleton; 200 – Caleb Ojennes, Sr., Palmer Ridge; 400 – Caleb Ojennes, Sr., Palmer Ridge; Pole Vault – Kyle Rex, Sr., Palmer Ridge; Triple Jump – Anthony Peters, Sr., Vista Ridge (Colorado Springs)

Girls
In addition to Rainsberger – the defending champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 – there are several other events the bear watching.
Vista PEAK Prep (Aurora) sophomore Maya Evans is a contender on multiple fronts. Evans and fellow sophomore Lauren Gale of Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) are the top two seeds in the 100 and 200, with Evans first overall in the 100 and Gale tops in the 200.
Evans is also the favorite in the long jump, with her current mark of 20-06.75 already bettering the previous state meet record. The Colorado prep record is 21-00.75.
The state meet record in the high jump is 5-8.25, set back in 1999. Two jumpers come into state having already cleared 5-8: defending champion Rylee Anderson of Silver Creek (Longmont), and Elizabeth Wayne of Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs).
The Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) 4x100 and 4x200 relays come into state with top times.
2015 Team Champion: Niwot
Defending State Champions: 800 – Katie Rainsberger, Sr., Air Academy; 1,600 – Katie Rainsberger, Sr., Air Academy; 3,200 – Katie Rainsberger, Sr., Air Academy; 100 hurdles – Alexis Carroll, Jr., Niwot; 300 hurdles – Kela Fetters, Sr., Niwot; High Jump – Rylee Anderson, So., Silver Creek; Pole Vault – Andrea Willis, Sr., The Classical Academy; Long Jump – Maya Evans, So., Vista PEAK

Class 3A
Boys
Lutheran (Parker) staked its claim on the 3A team title a year ago, and stopping the Lions this week will be no easy task. Lutheran opens the top time/mark in eight of the 18 events.
In the 100, Lutheran seniors Chris Youngs and Kent Harris are the top two seeds, and Harris is first in the 200. His top-seeded time of 21.68 seconds is just off the 3A state meet record of 21.66.
The Lions also rank first in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, are third in the 4x400 and second in the 4x800.
SkyView Academy (Highlands Ranch) senior Ben Butler, who won the 3,200 title last season, has the top seed in that event and is second in the 1,600.
2015 Team Champion: Lutheran
Defending State Champions: 400 – Sunday Abarca, Jr., Aspen; 3,200 – Ben Butler, Sr., SkyView Academy; 110 hurdles – Matt Hanson, Sr., Lutheran; High Jump – Austin Chavez, Jr., Sterling; Pole Vault – Victor Zimmerman, Jr., Sterling; Triple Jump – Kharon Hall, Sr., Lutheran; Shot Put – Parker Joens, Sr., Platte Valley (Kersey)

Girls
Moffat County (Craig) finished fourth overall a year ago, but the Bulldogs could make a run at the top spot. Senior Kayla Pinnt, who won the 100 and 200 as a junior, has the top time entering state in both of those events and the 400. Her times are not far away from the 3A state meet records.
The Bulldogs are also seeded first in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and are second in the 4x200 and third in the 4x800.
Faith Christian (Arvada) junior Sarah Yocum is the top seed in the 100 and 300 hurdles and is the defending champion in the 300. Defending 100 champion Taylor Finn of Manitou Springs is the third seed.
Eaton junior Tarynn Sieg won the shot put title a year ago, and is the favorite in both the shot and discus. Her mark of 46-6.50 in the shot put would already best the 3A state meet record; and her mark of 149-8 in the discus would do the same.
2015 Team Champion: Eaton
Defending State Champions: 100 – Kayla Pinnt, Sr., Moffat County; 200 – Kayla Pinnt, Sr., Moffat County; 800 – Taryn Ceglowski, Jr., Salida; 1,600 – Taryn Ceglowski, Jr., Salida; 3,200 – Lily Tomasula-Martin, Jr., Estes Park; 100 hurdles – Taylor Finn, Sr., Manitou Springs; 300 hurdles – Sarah Yocum, Jr., Faith Christian; High Jump – McKayla Bauer, Sr., University (Greeley); Long Jump – Brenna Vallejos, Jr., Lamar; Triple Jump – Brenna Vallejos, Jr., Lamar; Shot Put – Tarynn Sieg, Jr., Eaton

Class 2A
Boys
Paul Roberts has virtually owned the distance events, both in cross country and track. The Lyons senior won the 1,600 and 3,200 as a junior, and is a heavy favorite in both events again (he is also second in the 800). His 1,600 time of 4:17.35 is already 4 seconds better than the 2A state meet record, and his 3,200 time of 9:18.13 is more than 10 seconds better than the state meet time.
Resurrection Christian (Loveland) could be in line for a big day as well. Senior Cooper Ward is the top seed in the 100 and 200, and teammate Evan Anderson is tops in the 400 coming into state. The Cougars also have top times in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays.
John Mall (Walsenburg) senior Garrett Quintana has the top marks in the shot put and discus. His discus best of 180-3 is currently better than the 52-year-old state meet record of 178-6.50.
Vail Christian (Edwards) senior Cooper Daniels has done the same in the pole vault with a current top mark of 15-03.
Cedaredge senior Shane Gates is the top seed in the 110 and 300 hurdles.
2015 Team Champion: Lyons
Defending State Champions: 200 – Cooper Ward, Sr., Resurrection Christian; 400 – Shane Finegan, Jr., Wiggins; 1,600 – Paul Roberts, Sr., Lyons; 3,200 – Paul Roberts, Sr., Lyons; 110 hurdles – Ivan Mendoza, Sr., West Grand (Kremmling); 300 hurdles – Shane Gates, Sr., Cedaredge; Pole Vault – Cooper Daniels, Sr., Vail Christian; Triple Jump – Chad Mikelson, Jr., Sedgwick County (Julesburg); Discus – Garrett Quintana, Sr., John Mall

Girls
Paonia is expected to make another strong push at defending its team championship. The Eagles are strong in all the relays, and the combination of Ashley Van Vleet and Brianna Van Vleet are tough to stop.
Ashley, a senior, is the top seed in the high jump and the 400. Brianna, a junior, is the top seed in the long jump and is second in the 400.
In the sprint events, Calhan sophomore Brittany Fuchs and Caliche (Iliff) junior Kayla Zink are one-two in seeded times in both events. Zink won the 100 a year ago and Fuchs took the 200.
Telluride sophomore Soleil Gaylord (top time in the 1,600 and 3,200) and Lyons senior Sierra Tucker (first in the 800, second in the 1,600/3,200) should have some interesting battles in Lakewood.
Vail Christian (Edwards) senior Taylor Alexander has the top pole vault mark of 12-4, which is 15 inches better than the current 2A state meet record.
Keep an eye on Wray senior Alyssa Valko, who owns the top times in the 100 and 300 hurdles.
2015 Team Champion: Paonia
Defending State Champions: 100 – Kayla Zink, Jr., Caliche; 200 – Brittany Fuchs, So., Calhan; 400 – Melanie Deering, Jr., Kiowa; 3,200 – Courtney Jenson, So., Wiggins; High Jump – Kenzie Henderson, Sr., Cedaredge; Pole Vault – Brenna Kuskie, Jr., Lyons; Long Jump – Brianna Van Vleet, Jr., Paonia; Triple Jump – Megan Godsey, Jr., Wray; Discus – Ellie Berry, Jr., Burlington

Class 1A
Boys
Springfield senior Andy Borunda is the defending state champion in the shot put and discus, and heads into state with the top marks in both events. His shot put best of 50-9.75 is already better than the current 1A state meet record.
Pawnee (Grover) senior Luke Duggan could set a state meet record in the 1,600, as his top-seeded time of 4:33.94 is more than 8 seconds better than the current meet record.
Shining Mountain (Boulder) senior Jordan Cherin has the top times in the 400 and 800.
Arickaree (Anton) (4x100 and 4x200) and Heritage Christian (Fort Collins) (4x400 and 4x800) are the early relay favorites.
2015 Team Champion: Springfield
Defending State Champions: 800 – Erick Enriquez-Acosta, Jr., Idalia; 3,200 – Luke Duggan, Sr., Pawnee; Long Jump – Caden Parker, Jr., Eads; Shot Put – Andy Borunda, Sr., Springfield; Discus – Andy Borunda, Sr., Springfield

Girls
Kim's Zariah Mason won the 100 and 200 as a freshman, setting a 1A state meet record in the 100. She enters state with top-seeded times in both events.
Heritage Christian (Fort Collins) seniors Rachel Rairdon and Rebekah Rairdon currently rank one-two in times in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
Granada's Kylee Holden has the same in the 100 and 300 hurdles.
Sangre de Cristo (Mosca) seniors Sarah Storey (long jump) and Jenna McKinley (shot put and discus) are favorites as well. Storey's leap of 17-11 is more than a foot better than the current 1A state meet record.
McKinley's 42-11 shot put mark would also set a state meet record, as would her throw of 137-7 in the discus.
2015 Team Champion: Heritage Christian
Defending State Champions: 100 – Zariah Mason, So., Kim; 200 – Zariah Mason, So., Kim; 300 hurdles – Rebekah Rairdon, Sr., Heritage Christian; High Jump – Lissette Laforge, Sr., Otis; Pole Vault – Antonya Schaffert, Sr., Otis; Long Jump – Sarah Storey, Sr., Sangre de Cristo; Shot Put – Jenna McKinley, Sr., Sangre de Cristo; Discus – Brooke Lenox, Sr., Eads