Valarie Allman's record-setting discus throw punctuates final day of Colorado state track meet

LAKEWOOD - Valarie Allman wasn't alive in 1994.

The Silver Creek (Longmont) junior was all too familiar with what happened that year, though.

It was in 1994 that Shelly Greathouse of Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) threw the discus 160 feet, 1 inch, to establish an all-classification record in Colorado.

On Saturday, Allman shattered that mark. At the Class 4A state track and field meet at Jefferson County Stadium, Allman won the discus title with a throw of 164 feet.



"I can't believe it," she said. "I've been working at this for the last couple of months and it's amazing that I was actually able to accomplish it."

Allman routinely throws in the 160s and 170s in practice, but it wasn't until Saturday that she actually touched those numbers in competition.

"I think it was all just a mental game for me," she said. "We really worked this week on just getting it out there and not worrying about the record, but just about the competition. I think that really helped."

She broke the record on her sixth and final throw of the day. Earlier, she had a throw of 157-1. She easily broke the 4A state meet record of 152-11, set by Kiah Hicks of Falcon (Colorado Springs) in 2011.

BOZMANS WINS THREE: A little hamstring issue wasn't going to stop Raymond Bozmans on Saturday.

A senior at Fort Collins, Bozmans swept the sprints - 100, 200 and 400 meters - in Class 5A boys.



"It was bugging me," he said after grabbing his right hamstring following his third title, in the 200. "Luckily I held out this far. I'm done."

Bozmans said it was his goal to win all three, but to do it all in one day was special.

"You always have to think about a sweep of all three, but to come out here in a span of three hours is really hard," he said. "Luckily, I had a really good day and my hamstring held up until the end of my races. It's just mind-blowing.

His efforts helped the Lambkins win the boys team title.

Also in 5A boys, Kirk Webb of Monarch (Louisville) won the 1,600 meters. He had won the 800 on Friday.

In Class 5A girls, Loveland was the team champion for the third consecutive season, thanks to several great individual efforts. Kaylee Packham won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, while the Indians also won the 400-relay -- their third relay win of the week.



Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) freshman Alleandra Watt proved to be the fastest girl in the state's largest class. She won the 100 and 200 meters. Devan Foster of Arapahoe (Centennial) won the 1,600 meters after winning the 800 on Friday. Katie Pham of Rangeview (Aurora) won the shot put after winning the discus earlier in the week.

SANT WINS THREE, TOO: Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) standout MaryBeth Sant left no doubt about who is the fastest runner in Class 4A. The junior won the 100 and 200-meter sprints. Earlier in the week, she helped her team win the 800 relay.

"It feels awesome. It's exciting," she said of her wins.

Sant went in with the top seed, but said the pressure didn't get to her.

"It can be (tough), yeah, because a lot of eyes are on you," she said. "But, if you just go out there, you'll be OK."

Also in 4A girls, Taylor Klein of Mullen (Denver) won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles; and Thompson Valley (Loveland) middle-distance ace Karina Ernst won the 1,600 meters after winning the 800 on Friday. Ernst helped the Eagles win the team title.



In 4A boys, Broomfield's Harrison Einspahr won the 100 and 200-meter sprints.

Longmont's Steven Wacker won the pole vault, helping the Trojans to a third team title in the past five years.

THREE RECORDS FOR MEAD: Alex Mead of Mead (Longmont) went into the Class 3A boys meet hoping for three titles.

He got all three, and set records in all three events, as well. Mead won the 100 meters (10.62 seconds), 200 meters (21.66) and anchored the Mavericks' 400-meter relay win (42.62). All three times set new 3A state meet marks.

"This meant more to me, being with these guys, than the other two," he said of the relay. "We weren't going to lose this event."

Mead won the 100 and 200 a year ago and said having a target on his back was tough.



"Last year was nice because I could sneak in as the underdog and wasn't supposed to win it," he said. "This year, I was expected to win. I had the target on my back and it wasn't as fun. I had to work harder.

"Afterward, it's fun because then I know I earned it. I feel like I earned it more this year than I did last year."

Evan Fortney of Faith Christian (Arvada) completed a three-race sweep, as he won the 1,600 on Saturday. He had won the 800 and 3,200 earlier in the week.

The long jump title was captured Saturday by John Reynolds of Kent Denver (Englewood). He won the triple jump earlier in the week.

The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) won the boys and girls team titles.

Alexa Chacon of The Classical Academy certainly did her part for the girls team. She won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.



Sierra Williams of Cedaredge won the 100 and 200, setting a meet record in the 200. Berthoud's Courtney Mills won the long jump to go with the triple jump title she won on Friday.

STINT SWEEPS HURDLES: In Class 2A, Lindsey Stindt of Telluride won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

"It means a lot," said Stindt, who was also second in the long jump this week. "I really wanted to go out with a bang my senior year. I had a coach pushing me the whole year to pretty much set the bar high for me and I hit it."

Meeker's Kathryn Doll added a second title to her haul. She won the triple jump after taking the long jump earlier in the week. Tabor Scholl of West Grand (Kremmling) also added a second one by winning the 1,600 meters. She won the 800 on Friday.

In 2A boys, Tyler Cappellucci of Hoehne swept the short sprints, winning the 100 and 200. Ty Williams of Telluride won the 1,600 after taking the 3,200 on Thursday.

For the second year in a row, Lyons swept the boys and girls team titles.



THREE FOR GRUBER: Ashlyn Gruber of Vail Christian (Edwards) had quite a week in Class 1A.

The senior finished with three first-place medals (200, 400 and 800) and a third-place medal in the 100.

"It's exciting. It's still soaking in," she said. "I worked hard all year and I'm glad it paid off. I'm happy."

Gruber was runner-up in the 200, 400 and 800 a year ago.

"I was hoping it was my turn this year and it was," she said.

During the past two years, she won eight top-three medals.



Birdie Hutton of Shining Mountain (Boulder) won the 1,600 after winning the 3,200 earlier in the meet. Danielle Rinaldo of Merino won the 300 hurdles, helping the Rams to the team title.

In 1A boys, Walsh was the team champion, thanks in large part to Jonathan England. He won the 100 and 200 and was second in the 400.

Teddy Grundy of Plateau Valley (Collbran) (400, high jump) and Bethune's John Strobel (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles) took home a pair of titles Saturday.