With the state track meet mere weeks away, those who are dominating an event have to feel encouraged. Those who are dominating multiple events have to feel even better.
Yes, things could still shift by the time the heat sheets are unveiled for the state meet (May 18-20, Jeffco Stadium for all classes). But here’s a look at a handful of athletes from each gender who are currently leading their respective classifications in more than one event.
BOYSIsaac Green, Monarch (Louisville): The Coyotes’ distance extraordinaire has posted the best times in Class 5A in the three most grueling runs: the 800 meters (1 minutes, 53.9 seconds), the 1,600 (4:16.37) and the 3,200 (9:22.16). Green has committed to Washington, which will give the family two Pac-12 athletes. His older sister, Claire, also a Monarch grad, runs distance for Arizona.
Audra Koopman, Fort Collins
File photo by Tom Hanson
Make sure your stopwatches are adjusted accordingly for this guy, because he simply can fly. He leads 5A in the sprint events with a 10.61 in the 100 and a 21.87 in the 200. His Trojans teammate,
Jequan Hogan, is also worth keeping tabs on as the triple jump (48 feet) and high jump (6-8) leader.
Nolan Kembel, Mountain View (Loveland): The lean 6-foot- 1 senior has somewhat of a unique concept going on. He has 4A’s top time in the 100 (10.78) and also the 300 hurdles (37.75). It’s not super common for an athlete to win a title in both a sprint and hurdle event.
Sunday Abarca, Aspen: The Skiers senior is leading 3A in two events and nearly a third. While he currently sits in second place in the 100, he’s posted the classification’s best time in the 200 (21.67) and 400 (49.07). He was named the Western Slope League’s runner of the year last season as a junior.
Erick Enriquez-Acosta, Idalia: He might not receive the recognition he deserves as a 1A athlete, but if he wins three events at state, he sure will. He’s the current leader in the 400 (50.39), 800 (1:59.07) and the 1,600 (4:41.79).
Other boys athletes to watch with regard to multiple events are
Tanner Norman (distance) of
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.),
Soroco (Oak Creek) middle distance ace
Ben Kelley and
Wesley Tedstrom of
D'Evelyn (Denver) in the 100 and long jump.
GIRLSOn the girls side, there are nearly 20 athletes throughout the state who currently top the leaderboard in multiple events. Among them:
Arria Minor, Denver East: The fastest freshman in the country last season, Minor topped the 5A podium in the 100, 200 and 400. She has the lead in those events again – 11.54, 23.51 and 54.02 – as the season reaches its precipice.
Audra Koopman, Fort Collins: While many eyes are on her Lambkins teammate, distance runner
Lauren Gregory, Koopman is leaping her way to a top spot on the heat sheets. She currently leads 5A in the long jump (19-1.5) and high jump (5-5).
Mary Gillett, Niwot: The school that produced Elise Cranny and several other high-level runners has another one. Gillett leads 4A in the 200 (25.01) and the 400 (56.29). Her Cougars teammate,
Alexis Carroll, leads the classification in the long jump and triple jump.
Anna Hall, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch): New to the Eagles roster this season, the former Arapahoe (Centennial) athlete has torn up the hurdles scene. The sophomore All-American leads 4A in the 100 hurdles (14.61) and 300 hurdles (43.10).
Quinn McConnell, Peak to Peak (Lafayette): The window to win a distance event in 3A is very narrow with the talented sophomore in the fold. She leads the classification in the 800 (2:15.07), 1,600 (5:00.93) and 3,200 (11:07.91).
Other girls athletes of note include a handful of state champs, including
Telluride junior
Soleil Gaylord, who is back on top in the 1,600 and 3,200 so far this season.
Kim/Branson's talented
Zariah Mason is another to watch, as she prepares for another solid run in 1A.
Also keep tabs on
Gabriella McDonald (shot put, discus) of
Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins),
Maya Evans (sprints, long jump) of
Lutheran (Parker),
Sophia Anderson of four-time 2A champ
Paonia (100, triple jump),
Burlington's Ellie Berry (shot put discus),
Haley Dietz of
Arickaree (Anton) (long jump, triple jump) and distance runner
Emma Schaefer of
Shining Mountain (Boulder).
