De Beque attempting to overcome injury bug in Colorado girls track and field

Even as Mike Kirschner works through some adversity this spring, the De Beque girls track and field coach understands that his program is still headed in the right direction.

The Dragons, who placed second at the Class 1A state meet last May, are battling a rash of injuries, one of which may sideline defending 100- and 200-meter champion Jentry Largent for the season.

But Kirschner, who has coached at De Beque for around 10 years, has overcome tougher odds. Kirschner, who coaches both the boys and girls programs, had one season early in his coaching career where only two athletes – both throwers – competed on the boys and girls side.

"We have a good middle-school program. The kids don't get a lot of meets, but we have a lot of good development happening at the younger levels," said Kirschner, who has 12 girls out this spring. "We're getting some good coaches in at the different sports, which has made my job easier. We get some success in basketball and it just carries over."

De Beque finished behind only Springfield in the 1A girls standings last season. Largent won the 100 and 200 as a sophomore, and teamed with fellow sophomores Nataly Castro, Cecilia Landeros and Faith Novess to win the 4x100 relay title.

Largent sustained a foot injury during volleyball season, and re-aggravated the injury late in the basketball season. Landeros is battling a hamstring injury, but Kirschner hopes to have her back by state.

"We've got quite a few new girls that have really stepped up, especially in those relay spots," Kirschner said. "Two of them are first-year track people and they're doing great. They're learning so much. They know how good we were, and that is their expectation – they want to get back to that point."

Novess, who placed third in the 300 hurdles and second in the high jump at state, has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Dragons this spring. She recorded a time of 27.76 seconds in the 200 meters at the Eagle Valley Invitational – good for second in 1A thus far – and ran 1:03.78 in the 400 at the Hotchkiss Invitational, also good for second in 1A. Her leap of 5-foot-5 in the high jump at the Grand Valley Cardinal Open leads 1A and she also has the top time in the 300 hurdles at 48.48 seconds.

"She picked up her game in the offseason and really worked hard at weights," Kirschner said. "She's worked tremendously hard, and she's a great leader."

Kirschner pointed to sophomore Jadyn Graham, senior Kalina Winters, junior Treylee Payan and sophomore Madison Scott as other individuals who are helping the Dragons through their injury issues.

Just like every other sport deals with injury issues, it all comes down to the "next man up" mentality.

"It reminds me of the (Philadelphia) Eagles quarterback situation this year," Kirschner said. "It doesn't matter who gets hurt – the next person is going to step up and do their job."

With the state meet slated for May 17-19 at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, here is a quick overview of the state's five classifications to this point:   MaxPreps Colorado girls track and field leaders

Class 5A
Defending Champion: Grandview (Aurora)
Overview: For the second year in a row, Denver East's Arria Minor swept the 100, 200 and 400 sprint events. Now a junior, the Angels standout wasn't too far off state meet and overall state marks in the events last May. East has plenty of depth in the sprint events as well: Syanne Algee and Kyairra Reigh have been in the top four in the 100 and 200 to this point, and Reigh has the top 400 time. … Sydnee Larkin of Cherokee Trail (Aurora) currently has the top time in the 200 (24.54) and is second in the 100 to Algee. Teammate Taylor Watson is top-four in both events as well. … With distance specialists Lauren Gregory of Fort Collins and Brie Oakley of Grandview having graduated, keep an eye on Broomfield's Madison Mooney, Marlena Preigh of Fairview (Boulder) and  Jenna Fitzsimmons of Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) in the 800 and 1600. … Defending 100 hurdles champion Emily Sloan of Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch) and Delaney Smith of Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) (300 hurdles) will renew their rivalry as seniors. Cherokee Trail's Jaiden Paris is right there as well. … The Cougars were junior-heavy in the relays last May, including the winning 4x100. Paris, Watson, Larkin and Chian Deloach were a formidable foursome. … Grandview returns a handful of runners from its two winning relay teams. Fairview has two back from its winning 4x800 relay squad. … The Wolves have defending high jump champion Kylee Harr back. … Monarch (Louisville) standout Mia Manson has already eclipsed her winning mark in the pole vault, clearing a height of 12-8 at the Mullen Invitational. … Larkin has the top jumps thus far in the long jump and triple jump, with the senior the defending champion in the latter event. … Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins) senior Gabriella McDonald is the defending champion in the shot put and discus, and leads both events this spring.

Class 4A
Defending Champion: Air Academy
Overview: Niwot, which finished just nine points back of Air Academy for the team title, has senior Mary Gillett aiming for the sprint sweep. Gillett won the 200 and 400 as a junior. She and reigning 100 champion Olivia Whitaker of Air Academy are tied for the top time in the 100 this spring at 12.41. Anna Hall of Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) ran a 24.54 in the 200 at the Mullen Invitational, which would have won state in 2017. Lauren Gale of Discovery Canyon (Colorado Springs) is among the leaders in all three events. … Air Academy graduated distance standout Maria Mettler, who won the 800 and 3200 and was second in the 1600. … Hall is the defending champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles, and currently has the top 4A times in both events. … Harrison's winning 4x200 relay team didn't graduate any of its foursome. … the Battle Mountain (Edwards) duo of Naomi Harding and Lizzy Harding are among the leaders in the distance events. Those two combined with Sophia Piliero and Alex Raichart to win the 4x800 relay as well. … Rylee Anderson of Silver Creek (Longmont), who won the high jump as a junior, currently has the top mark in the event. … Gillett was the runner-up in the long jump as a junior, and could be the favorite next month. Aaliyah Ricketts of Widefield (Colorado Springs) is first in the triple jump and second in the long jump. … Shaelynn Williams of Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs) is the defending champ in the shot put.

Class 3A
Defending Champion: The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs)
Overview: After winning the 4A title in 2016, The Classical Academy dominated 3A a year ago, winning by 34 points. The Titans dominated in the relay events, winning the 4x200 and 4x400, and graduated only one individual from its state relay contingent. Senior Erika Willis is also the defending champion in the pole vault. … Lutheran (Parker) sprinter Maya Evans swept the 100 and 200 on her way to four titles overall. The Lions have ¾ of their winning 4x100 relay team back. … Peak to Peak (Lafayette) won the 4x800 relay with three sophomores, and Anna Shults captured the 1600 and 3200 as a junior. She and teammates Quinn McConnell and Tiana Bradfield figure to be tough to beat in the three individual distance events. … Faith Christian's Sarah Yocum, who won the 400, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, has graduated. That opens up the field in all three events. … Bayfield's Jordan Lanning is one who could fill the void in the two hurdle events, as well as the high jump, where she placed third. … Evans set a state meet record in winning the long jump. She isn't far off that mark after recording a jump of 19-2.75 in late March. … Pagosa Springs' Keena Murphy, who placed second in the discus, has the top mark in that event this season.

Class 2A
Defending Champion: Paonia
Overview: Paonia has won the past five 2A state championships, but was hit hard by graduation. That opens the door for teams like Telluride and Meeker to make moves. … Remington Ross of Highland (Ault) won the 100 as a freshman, and has the top times in the 100 and 200 in 3A this spring. But Hotchkiss junior Kaiya Firor – the defending champion in the 400 and 300 hurdles – is top-three in all three sprint events and first in the 300 hurdles. Denver Christian's Monika Williams is top-two in the 200 and 400, fifth in the 100 hurdles and second in the 300 hurdles. … Rylee Haynes of Crowley County (Ordway) is the defending champion in the 100 hurdles. … Telluride senior Soleil Gaylord is the defending champion in the 1600 and 3200, and easily owns the top times in both events this spring. … Telluride owned the 4x800 relay that included Gaylord. Only one team member graduated. … Meeker graduated half of its winning 4x100 and 4x400 winning relays. … Haynes and defending champion Katie Kurz of Dayspring Christian (Greeley) should have another interesting battle in the high jump. … Paonia's McKenna Palmer, who has the top marks in the long jump and triple jump, will look to continue the Eagles' strong tradition in those events.

Class 1A
Defending Champion: Springfield
Overview: Kim/Branson's Zariah Mason was the runner-up to De Beque's Largent in the 100 and 200, and figures to be a contender again in those events, along with Caliche's Cristen Houghton. … Kiowa's Melanie Deering won the 400 and 800 but graduated, potentially opening the door for Briggsdale's Skyla Miller. … Emma Schaefer of Shining Mountain (Boulder) claimed the 1600 and 3200 and will be a big favorite in both distance events again next month at state. … Caliche's Kaitlyn Houghton is the defending champion in the 300 hurdles and Granada's Tarin Kemp is the same in the 100 hurdles. … Springfield won the title on the strength of its relays. Julia Mondragon and Kylie Parks were big parts of that as freshman, as was Audrey Rau as a sophomore. … Fleming only graduated one individual off of its winning 4x400 relay. … Simla's Jerraldawn Rector took the high jump as a junior, but has De Beque's Novess to contend with in the event once again. … Briggsdale's Miller currently has the top mark in the long jump. … Genoa-Hugo's Heather Graham won the shot put as a junior. She easily has the top mark in the event this spring, and is second in the discus. Teammate Ryely Smartt is top-four in both events as well.