After weeks of unseasonably warm weather, Mother Nature dished out a dose of reality right as spring break rolled around for a number of Colorado high schools.
Palmer Ridge senior Caleb Ojennes is one of several
key returnees for a Bears team stacked to win its third
consecutive Class 4A state title.
File photo by Tom Hanson
Fortunately for the
Palmer Ridge (Monument) boys track program, the Bears found the perfect time to get away for a little more sunshine and a lot more competition. A handful of competitors from the two-time defending Class 4A state champions spent two days in Chandler, Ariz., at the Chandler Rotary Invitational, competing against a number of top athletes from around the region.
After all, when you've climbed to the top of the mountain in each of the previous two seasons, getting there a third time requires facing challenges in every meet. That's why second-year coach Kelly Christensen said he's a little more cautious about this season after seeing the urgency of the other competitors out to dethrone the Bears.
"As far as confidence goes this season, as long as we get through the season healthy and the kids show up mentally at state," Christensen said, "we're definitely one of the teams who have a chance to take home the title again."
The Bears captured five individual state championships and two relay titles on their way to a dominant showing at the 4A state meet last May. Palmer Ridge outdistanced second-place
The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs) by 46 points, but graduated four state champions – including half of the winning 3,200-meter relay team.
But five title winners are back, led by senior
Caleb Ojennes, who took first in the 200 and 400 and was on the winning 1,600 relay.
Brandon Pappas and
Bailey Rosenstrauch, also part of that 1,600 relay, are back. Pappas and
James Espinoza were on the 3,200 relay.
That's to say nothing of senior
Kyle Rex, who won the pole vault and is what Christensen referred to as a "jack of all trades" who can fit in anywhere the team needs. A strong contingent of throwers adds more depth to the program.
Ojennes is the sparkplug though, the one with the fire and the desire that motivates his teammates at every turn. The Indiana University-bound senior finished third in the 100 but edged out
Littleton's Noah McGhee in the 200 – McGee is a junior this season – and
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) standout
Ben Waters in the 400. Waters is now a senior.
"What he does best is he works hard, he shows up every day and he tries to include everyone. He has high expectations, and there's not a track race we go to where he doesn't expect to win," Christensen said. "He's so confident, it's contagious."
Elsewhere in 4A,
Longmont's four members of the title-winning 400 relay were underclassmen a year ago, as were three-fourth's of Valor Christian's champion 800 relay squad.
In 5A,
Fountain-Fort Carson ran away with the title last spring. The Trojans captured three of the four relays, but lost a number of seniors from that team, including 100 and 200 champion Tevin Donnell. Only
Christian Lyon, a member of two relays, returns from that list.
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) brings back half of its 3,200 relay title-team.
After winning the 2A crown in 2014,
Lutheran (Parker) moved up to 3A and didn't miss a beat in winning another team championship. Sprint specialists
Kent Harris and
Chris Youngs are seniors, while
Matt Hanson won the 110 hurdles title and
Kharon Hall won the triple jump and teamed with Harris and Youngs to win the 800 relay.
Of note,
Sterling's Austin Chavez, who won the high jump, and
Victor Zimmerman, who took the pole vault, are now juniors. Half of
Alamosa's 3,200 relay-winning team return.
Lyons claimed its fourth 2A title in five years and the Lions have three distance specialists back – including
Paul Roberts, who won the 1,600, 3,200 and teamed with fellow seniors
Joel Such and
Cameron Cross to win the 3,200 relay.
Cedaredge, which took a pair of relays, has a solid core back from its runner-up team. Three-fourths of the winning
Resurrection Christian (Loveland) 400 relay team are currently seniors.
Springfield won its first 1A team title last spring and is led by senior
Andy Borunda, who won the shot put and discus.
Baca County, which placed third, has a handful of relay competitors back in the mix.
Class 5A
Defending state champion: Fountain-Fort Carson
Returning All-State Athletes: Isaac Green, Jr., Monarch (1,600); Dan Hamson, Jr., Cherry Creek (3,200 relay); Christian Lyon, Sr., Fountain-Fort Carson (400/800 relay); Kyle Moran, Jr., Cherry Creek (3,200 relay); Braden Smith, Sr., Lakewood (long jump).
Class 4A
Defending state champion: Palmer Ridge
Returning All-State Athletes: Conlan Berger, Sr., Longmont (400 relay); Trevor Cook, Sr., Longmont (400 relay); Gianni Espinoza, Sr., Longmont (400 relay); James Espinoza, Jr., Palmer Ridge (3,200 relay); Logan Goodner, Sr., Longmont (400 relay); Vince Hood, Jr., Valor Christian (800 relay); Noah McGee, Jr., Littleton (100); Caleb Ojennes, Sr., Palmer Ridge (200, 400, 1,600 relay); Brandon Pappas, Jr., Palmer Ridge (1,600/3,200 relay); Anthony Peters, Sr., Vista Ridge (triple jump); Danny Rambo, Jr., Valor Christian (800 relay); Kyle Rex, Sr., Palmer Ridge (pole vault); Bailey Rostenstrauch, Jr., Palmer Ridge (1,600 relay); Ben Waters, Sr., Valor Christian (800 relay).
Class 3A
Defending state champion: Lutheran
Returning All-State Athletes: Sunday Abarca, Jr., Aspen (400); Ben Butler, Sr., SkyView Academy (3,200); Austin Chavez, Jr., Sterling (high jump); Bryce Coop, Jr., Manitou Springs (400 relay); Isaiah DeLaCerda, Jr., Alamosa (3,200 relay); Cooper Eggleston, Sr., Buena Vista (300 hurdles); Tyler Gard, Sr., Vanguard (1,600 relay); Kharon Hall, Sr., Lutheran (triple jump, 3,200 relay); Matt Hanson, Sr., Lutheran (110 hurdles); Kent Harris, Sr., Lutheran (800 relay); Miles Hatton, Sr., Vanguard (1,600 relay); Parker Jones, Sr., Platte Valley (shot put); Jared Keul, Jr., Manitou Springs (400 relay); Oscar Martinez, Jr., Alamosa (3,200 relay); Josiah Simons, Sr., Vanguard (1,600 relay); Chris Youngs, Sr., Lutheran (800 relay).
Class 2A
Defending state champion: Lyons
Returning All-State Athletes: Evan Anderson, Sr., Resurrection Christian (400 relay); Cameron Cross, Sr., Lyons (3,200 relay); Cooper Daniels, Sr., Vail Christian (pole vault); Shane Finnegan, Jr. Wiggins (400); Shane Gates, Sr., Cedaredge (300 hurdles, 800 relay); Jack Holling, Sr., Resurrection Christian (400 relay); Bryce Klaseen, Sr., Cedaredge (800/1,600 relay); Brendon Klaseen, Jr., Cedaredge (1,600 relay); Ivan Mendoza, Sr., West Grand (110 hurdles); Chad Mikelson, Jr., Sedgwick County (triple jump); Garrett Quintana, Sr., John Mall (discus); Paul Roberts, Sr., Lyons (1,600, 3,200, 3,200 relay); Joel Such, Sr., Lyons (3,200 relay); Isaac Swoffer, Jr., Cedaredge (800 relay); Cooper Ward, Sr., Resurrection Christian (200, 400 relay).
Class 1A
Defending state champion: Springfield
Returning All-State Athletes: Dallas Balderas, Soph., Baca County (1,600 relay); Andy Borunda, Sr., Springfield (shot put, discus); Micah Crane, Sr., Baca County (1,600/3,200 relay); Morgan Crane, Sr., Baca County (3,200 relay); Luke Duggan, Sr., Pawnee (3,200); Erick Enriquez-Acosta, Jr., Idalia (800); Rafe Hutches, Sr., Springfield (800 relay); Caden Parker, Jr., Eads (long jump); Christian Strozier, Pikes Peak Christian (400 relay).
