McCabe, Colter lead Cherry Creek's Colorado state track charge

The memories of last spring still hold strong for Megan McCabe and Jordyn Colter.

The Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) standouts each captured a pair of state titles a year ago in helping lead the Bruins to the team title at the Class 5A state track and field championships.

Headed into this year's state meet, which gets underway Thursday at Jeffco Stadium, the Bruins are still a force to be reckoned with, though the team isn't as deep after losing a handful of sprinters to graduation. McCabe will have the opportunity to defend her titles in the pole vault and long jump, with Colter trying to do the same in the 800 and 1,600 meters.

"This is kind of a different group of kids. We know we're not the same team this year," Cherry Creek coach Sally Adams-Moos said. "Our focus has been to go out and compete and do the best we can and see how we are this time of year."

McCabe, a senior who is headed to Vanderbilt in the fall to pole vault, pulled off the double last season with winning marks of 18 feet, 3.5 inches in the long jump and 12-2 in the pole vault. She was fourth in the pole vault as a sophomore.

"I tell (coach) all the time I have the tendency to surprise myself with things. I didn't see the long jump coming at all – I just had a lot of confidence in my ability," she said. "Faith is very important to me as well, and it was really just amazing to see that day and how it turned out.

"The team title to top it all off was awesome too."

McCabe has been battling an injury to her left foot this season, but still enters state with the second-best mark in the pole vault and is third in the long jump. She said the injury has given her a whole new appreciation for competing.
She plans to jump off her right leg in the long jump and will have to battle through the pole vault.

"It just comes down to stride," she said. "I have to be really conservative, coming in at the right heights and (deciding) when to skip and when not to skip. It comes down to being very technical and strategic."

Colter, who captured her first state championship as a freshman in cross country, claimed the 800 last season in 2:10.51 and the 1,600 in 4:57.50. She was third in the 3,200.

"It was super special. It's state. It's so, so amazing to get to run against 18 amazing athletes," she said. "To come away with doing so well is really an honor. In a field that's so competitive, my goal is always to try my best and just let the chips fall where they fall."

Colter holds the top time in the 800 going into state over Claire Green of Monarch (Louisville). Her time in the 1,600 is .07 seconds behind Fort Collins freshman Lauren Gregory, and she is eighth in the 3200. Gregory is first there as well.

"I love state. It's just really cool to see how our whole team has been working so hard this season," Colter said. "We're just excited to see what we can do out there. State is just a great opportunity to show everyone how hard you've been working."

Another Bruin hoping to show how hard she has worked is sophomore Ashley Miller, who qualified in the 100, 200 and the 100 and 300 hurdles. Miller took second in the 100 hurdles in 2013 to Dior Hall of George Washington (Denver), and those two own the top times this season headed into Thursday's preliminaries (13.39 for Hall to 13.59 for Miller).

"Ashley has had kind of an injury and really hasn't competed in all four events in any one meet so far," Adams-Moos said. "She's such a talented individual that I think hopefully this weekend she'll be able to rely on her talents and be able to take her time as she goes through the four events."

Cherry Creek sophomore Lillian Markusch is seeded seventh in the 1,600 and 11th in the 3,200.

Two of the most exciting races of the meet in 5A could come in the sprint events. In the 100, five girls clocked a time of less than 12 seconds this spring, led by Denver East senior Chyna Ries at 11.76. Grandview (Aurora) freshman Michaela Onyenwere (11.77), Cherokee Trail (Aurora) standout Shayna Yon (11.80), Alleandra Watt of Pine Creek (Colorado Springs) (11.85) and Hall (11.96) are right there as well.

That same group is also in the 200, where Onyenwere owns the fastest time this season (23.97).

Hall is looking to defend her 100 hurdles title, as are Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins)'s Carly Lester in the 300 hurdles and Kelcey Bedard in the discus, and Carly Paul of Poudre (Fort Collins) in the high jump.

Class 4A

All eyes will be watching Niwot senior Elise Cranny, who rolled to titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 a year ago. Cranny, who is headed to Stanford, has the top times this season in the 800 (2:08.67) and the 3,200 (10:54.72).

With Valor Christian's Marybeth Sant having graduated, a new champion will be crowned in the 100 and 200. Widefield (Colorado Springs) sprinter Jordan Edmonds, Nicole Montgomery of Lewis-Palmer (Monument) and Golden's Payton Miller are all in the mix, with Montgomery and Miller leading the way in the 400 as well (Montgomery is the defending champion).

Harrison (Colorado Springs) owns the top seed time in three relays with Thompson Valley (Loveland) leading the way in the other two. The Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) duo of Rebecca Harris (long jump) and Mariah Walker (shot put) are returning champions.

Class 3A

The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) has captured seven of the past eight 3A titles, and the Titans have multiple returning state champions in Brianne Hoglin (400), Lauren Hamilton (800 and 1,600) and Hannah Carr (shot put and discus).

The 100 and 200 could be another repeat battle between defending state champion Alicia Lawrence of James Irwin (Colorado Springs) and Moffat County (Craig) ace Kayla Pinnt, who was the runner-up in both events in 2013 but owns the top times headed into state.

Bayfield's Eva-lou Edwards is the defending champion in the 3,200 and owns the top time this season. Other returning state champions include Taylor Strohecker of Pagosa Springs in the high jump and Eaton's Jazmin Schwark in the pole vault.

Class 2A

The biggest story that could come from the 2A ranks is a battle between Hotchkiss senior Jennifer Celis and West Grand (Kremmling) junior Tabor Scholl.

Celis is the defending state champion in the 400 and 800 (breaking the 2A state record in both) and owns the top time in both those events and the 1,600 this season. Scholl won the 1,600 a year ago and should challenge Celis in all three events.

The only other returning state champion is Eads' Eboni Nash in the shot put. Sangre de Cristo (Mosca) senior Marissa Storey posted the fastest time in the 100 and 200 this season.

Paonia edged Akron a year ago by a single point to win the team title and returns a number of competitors.

Class 1A

Shining Mountain (Boulder) won the team title a year ago behind Ginger Hutton, who won championships in the 400, 800 and 3,200. Hutton has the best overall time in all those events this spring in addition to the 1600, which also includes defending champion Darian Hale of Briggsdale.

Dove Creek's Corissa Guynes is back to try and defend her 300 hurdles title. Other returning state champions include Cheyenne Wells' Morgan Howard (high jump); Taylor Alexander of Vail Christian (Edwards) (pole vault); and Kaylee Elliott of North Park (Walden) (discus).