Niwot and Paonia aiming for four straight Colorado girls track and field titles

When taking a broad look at the Colorado girls track landscape this season, a pair of potential four-peats immediately spring to mind.

Niwot will be attempting to achieve the feat in Class 4A and Paonia in 2A when the three-day state track meet commences May 19 at Jefferson County Stadium. Only three programs have ever won at least four straight, including a record seven in a row by 4A Mullen, a run that began in 1997.

While many eyes will be on Niwot super sophomore MacKenzie Fidelak and hurdle extraordinaires Alexis Carroll and Kela Fetters, along with Paonia sister standouts Ashley Van Vleet and Brianna Van Vleet, these athletes certainly don't have the spotlight to themselves as the season approaches April and the gigantic meets that come with it.

That's because, despite occasional arguments to the contrary, track largely remains an individual sport. Few individuals stand out more than Air Academy's Katie Rainsberger, who was recently named the Gatorade National Runner of the Year after winning her second consecutive 4A cross country championship in the fall. The Oregon-bound athlete, whose mother, Lisa, won the Boston Marathon in 1985, returns as the reigning champ in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs and was part of the Kadets' winning 3,200 relay.

Rainsberger and Air Academy are among those expected to give Niwot a hefty challenge as the Cougars pursue their fourth straight.

In 5A, defending champion Cherokee Trail (Aurora) returns triple-jump champion Amazing Ashby, as well as three of the four who propelled the Cougars to a win in the 400 relay. Keep an eye out for Fort Collins, though, with junior distance maven Lauren Gregory back in the fold. The three-time big-school cross country champ returns as the winner in the 3,200 and as a key cog to the Lambkins' triumphant 1,600 relay. Fort Collins teammate Becca Schulte, also a part of the winning relay, returns as the winner of the 400.

No classification was buoyed by underclassmen last season as much as 3A, which boasts the largest number of returning champs. The field figures to be fairly wide open, although eyes will initially shift to reigning winner Eaton. The Reds' lone returning champ is shot put winner Tarynn Sieg, but Eaton will again have a solid group. The classification brings back some of its top sprinters, including Moffat County's Kayla Pinnt, as well as 800 and 1,600 champ Taryn Ceglowski of Salida. Manitou Springs' hurdle standout Taylor Finn (first in 100, second in 300) also is back in the fold.

In 2A, Paonia will receive challenge from Western Slope rival Cedaredge, which returns four all-state athletes, including high jump champ Kenzie Henderson. Also keep an eye on Wiggins, which also returns four all-staters including sophomore 3,200 winner Courtney Jenson. In addition, watch out for sprinters Kayla Zink of Caliche (Iliff) and Brittany Fuchs of Calhan, who split first- and second-place finishes in the 100 and 200.

The 1A field might be another that is wide open. Last season's champ, Heritage Christian (Fort Collins), returns 300 hurdles winner Rebekah Rairdon, but she's the only title-winner back in the fold for the Eagles. Among the many to peruse are Shining Mountain (Boulder), Plateau Valley (Collbran) and Idalia, which all boast strong relay squads, and Kim sophomore star Zariah Mason. She won the 100 and 200 last season, including a 1A record 12.72 in the 100.

Class 5A
Defending state champion: Cherokee Trail
Returning all-state athletes: Amazing Ashby, Sr., Cherokee Trail (triple jump); Heide Baron, Sr., Pine Creek (800 relay); Jasmine Chesson, Jr., Fort Collins (1,600 relay); Gina Coleman, Jr., Fountain-Fort Carson (shot put); Tessa Gartrell, Sr., Denver East (800 medley relay); Zoe Gilbertson, Jr., Mountain Range (300 hurdles); Lauren Gregory, Jr., Fort Collins (3,200, 1,600 relay); Symone Holland, Sr., Cherokee Trail (400 relay); Lillian Markusch, Sr., Cherry Creek (3,200 relay); Katie Plomondon, Sr., Cherry Creek (3,200 relay); Haley Rogers, Sr., Cherokee Trail (400 relay); Becca Schulte, Sr., Fort Collins (400, 1,600 relay); Emily Sloan, So, Rock Canyon (100 hurdles); Lisa Swartz, Sr., Cherry Creek (3,200 relay); Taylor Watson, So., Cherokee Trail (400 relay).

Class 4A
Defending state champion: Niwot
Returning all-state athletes: Rylee Anderson, So., Silver Creek (high jump); Alexis Carroll, Jr., Niwot (100 hurdles); Helena Ernst, Jr., Thompson Valley (1,600 relay); Maya Evans, So., Vista PEAK (long jump); Kela Fetters, Sr., Niwot (300 hurdles, 800 relay); MacKenzie Fidelak, So., Niwot (800 relay); Lilly Hamilton, So., Air Academy (3,200 relay); Maren Janda, Sr., Thompson Valley (1,600 relay); Shynesti Johnson, So., Widefield (400 relay); Brooke Moore, Jr., Widefield (400 relay); Katie Rainsberger, Sr., Air Academy (800, 1,600, 3,200, 3,200 relay); Emily Roma, Jr., Lewis-Palmer (800 medley relay); Diana Scott, Sr., Widefield (400); Madelyn Smith, Sr., Lewis-Palmer (800 medley relay).

Class 3A
Defending state champion: Eaton
Returning all-state athletes: Shelby Adonay, Sr., James Irwin (800 medley relay); McKayla Bauer, Sr., University (high jump); Allee Beach, Sr., Platte Valley (1,600 relay); Taryn Ceglowski, Jr., Salida (800, 1600); Taylor Finn, Sr., Manitou Springs (100 hurdles); Christina Hamerly, Sr., Peak to Peak (3,200 relay); Selena Hernandez, Sr., Moffat County (400 relay); Kera Kapu, Sr., James Irwin (800 medley relay); Kiarra Mattern, Jr., James Irwin (800 medley relay); Rachael Metzler, Jr., Peak to Peak (3,200 relay); Alice Oveson, Sr., Peak to Peak (3,200 relay); Kayla Pinnt, Sr., Moffat County (100, 200, 400 relay, 800 relay); Jacey Reinert, So., Platte Valley (1,600 relay); Skylar Ritchey, Sr., Platte Valley (1,600 relay); Emma Samuelson, Jr., Moffat County (400 relay, 800 relay); Ary Schaffer, Sr., Moffat County (800 relay); Tarynn Sieg, Jr., Eaton (shot put); Nicole Swain, Sr., James Irwin (800 medley relay); Lily Tomasula-Martin, Jr., Estes Park (3,200); Brenna Vallejos, Jr., Lamar (long jump, triple jump); Sarah Yocum, Jr., Faith Christian (300 hurdles).

Class 2A
Defending state champion: Paonia
Returning all-state athletes: Ellie Berry, Jr., Burlington (discus); Shayna Dale, Jr., Cedaredge (400 relay); Melanie Deering, Jr., Kiowa (400); Marisa Edmondson, Sr., Paonia (800 relay); Brittany Fuchs, So., Calhan (200 meters); Megan Godsey, Jr., Wray (triple jump); Faythe Harris, Sr., Wiggins (800 medley relay); Kenzie Henderson, Sr., Cedaredge (high jump); Amber Jenkins, Sr., Cedaredge (400 relay); Courtney Jenson, So., Wiggins (3,200); Tori Jordan, So., Wiggins (800 medley relay); Brenna Kuskie, Jr, Lyons (pole vault); Kendall McHugh, Sr., Cedaredge (400 relay); Emily Pieper, Jr., Paonia (800 relay, 1,600 relay); Randi Rapke, So., Paonia (1,600 relay); Sierra Tucker, Sr., Lyons (3,200 relay); Brianna Van Vleet, Jr., Paonia (long jump, 800 relay, 1,600 relay); Ashley Van Vleet, Sr., Paonia (800 relay, 1,600 relay); Jessica Veeman, Sr., Wiggins (800 medley relay); Kayla Zink, Jr., Caliche (100).

Class 1A
Defending state champion: Heritage Christian
Returning all-state athletes: Ella Baca, Jr., Shining Mountain (3,200 relay); Sarrah Claman, Sr., Shining Mountain (3,200 relay); Kaelyn Dennis, Sr., Plateau Valley (1,600 relay, 800 medley relay); Laura Greene, Sr., Plateau Valley (1,600 relay, 800 medley relay); Susana Herrera, Sr., Idalia (800 relay); Lisette Laforge, Sr., Otis (high jump); Tatelyn Lasley, Jr., Springfield (400 relay); Brooke Lenox, Sr., Eads (discus); Ally Loflin, Jr., Springfield (400 relay); Zariah Mason, So., Kim (100, 200); Jenna McKinley, Sr., Sangre de Cristo (shot put); Rebekah Rairdon, Sr., Heritage Christian (300 hurdles); Bryce Schafer, Sr., Idalia (800 relay); Antonya Schaffert, Sr., Otis (pole vault); Emma Shaefer, So., Shining Mountain (3,200 relay); Reagan Shaffer, Sr., Idalia (800 relay); Sarah Storey, Sr., Sangre de Cristo (long jump); Savannah Turner, Sr., Plateau Valley (800 medley relay).