For two decades, Colorado’s prep long jump record stood intact, tempting leapers to knock it down. But in a one-month span last season, the mark flew by the wayside.
Montbello’s Chealsea Taylor set three records between late April and the state meet in May, improving on the 1985 record of 19 feet, 6 inches set by George Washington’s Caryl Smith. Taylor’s jump of 21- 3/4 at the Class 5A state meet last May established the new standard.
But that record is in danger.
Niwot’s Griffin Matthew, who is a leading contender to take over as the queen of Colorado girls track this season, jumped 21-2 in a preliminary round at the Simplot Games in Idaho in February. And her mark last season at the all-comers meet in Golden put her among the best in the country at 20-8 1/2.
Potential state records might be several months in the future, but with each new track season, fans ask: Who could enter the books with a new standard?
And who, along with Matthew (a Stanford recruit), are the athletes to watch? Some of the prominent names who could make a splash:
Matthew is the defending Class 4A champion in the long jump, but she also has titles to defend in the 100 and 200 meters. Her state-meet times of 11.56 in the 100 and 24.00 in the 200 are the fastest times in the state for a returning athlete. And she was part of the Cougars’ title-winning 400 relay team.
Eaglecrest’s Ashley Cruder last season trailed Taylor by .01 of a second for first place in the 100, and she was less than a second behind in the 200. This season, Cruder, a junior, should pace the field in 5A and could contend with Matthew for the honor of fastest girl in Colorado.
“Griffin excels as more of an all-around athlete, while Ashley is more of a power runner,” Eaglecrest coach Tom Southall said. “The most obvious difference is in stride length. But I don’t know if there are many in the state or around the country who can stay with Ashley. It’ll be interesting to see them face off this year.”
Cruder’s 60-meter time last month in Golden (7.30) puts her among the top 10 in the country. “She’s definitely improved since last year,” Southall said.
Not to be outdone in the sprints, George Washington has several threats, including junior KristaBelle Kiper and senior Talaya Owens. Kiper was part of an exciting 200 finish, running just behind Taylor and Cruder. Owens will battle in the hurdles with Nikita Eades, now at Littleton, and Highlands Ranch’s Alexandra Gove, who has two hurdles titles to defend, at 100 and 300 meters.
The Mullen Invitational will begin to sort things out and renew the Griffin-Cruder rivalry on April 8.
Kent Denver’s Danielle Kachulis could pull a sprint sweep in Class 3A, where she is the returning champion in the 100 and 200.
Limon’s Justine Sandersfeld may be the busiest athlete in track and field, with 400 and 800 individual titles and a share of the 1,600 and 3,200 relay titles to defend.
In the team races, Smoky Hill should pace the field in Class 5A. In 4A, Mullen should lead the pack again. Classical Academy tops a wide-open 3A field. Limon will look to make it three consecutive team titles in 2A.
5A
TOP FIVE
1. Smoky Hill
2. Montbello
3. Rocky Mountain
4. George Washington
5. Fairview
RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS
Adwoa Abadie, Eaglecrest, Sr., 400 relay
Lindsay Bailey, Fairview, Sr., 3,200 relay
Ashley Cruder, Eaglecrest, Jr., 400 relay
Alana Curtis, Rocky Mtn., Jr., 1,600 relay, 800 medley relay
Ari Curtis, Rocky Mountain, Jr., 1,600 relay
Jennifer Elam, Eaglecrest, Sr., 400 relay
Taylor Gamble, Rocky Mountain, Sr., 1,600 relay
Alexandra Gove, Highlands Ranch, Sr., 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles
Nicole Gruber, Littleton, Sr., 800 relay
Renee Harris, Rampart, Sr., discus
Whitney Hoyne, Rocky Mountain, So., 800 medley relay
Tanesha Johnson, Eaglecrest, Sr., 400 relay
Lindsey Kaye, Littleton, Jr., 800 relay
Sabine Kunz, Fairview, So., 3,200 relay
Kirsten Lake, Chaparral, So., 800
Emily Matthews, Rocky Mountain, Sr., 800 medley relay
Denis Matton, Arapahoe, Jr., shot put
Sara Price, Rocky Mountain, Sr., 1,600 relay
Alexis Skarda, Fairview, So., 3,200 relay
Morgan Stumb, Fairview, Sr., 3,200 relay
Kaile Wilson, Smoky Hill, Sr., triple jump
4A
TOP FIVE
1. Mullen
2. Sierra
3. Longmont
4. Niwot
5. Fountain-Fort Carson
RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS
Brianne Beemer, Mountain View, So., 3,200 relay
Zoria Brooks, Fountain-Fort Carson, Jr., 800 medley relay
Molly Calendar, Mullen, Sr., pole vault
Haylet Elmers, Niwot, Jr., 400 relay
Marina Lara, Alamosa, Jr., 1,600 relay
Katie Markham, Niwot, Sr., 400 relay
Griffin Matthew, Niwot, Sr., 100, 200, 400 relay, long jump
Portia Maul, Sierra, Jr., 800 relay
Kiara Pittman, Fountain-Fort Carson, Jr., 800 medley relay
Bethany Praska, Longmont, Jr., 400
Ashlyn Rhule, Mountain View, Jr., 3,200 relay
Hannah Steffey, Niwot, Jr., 300 hurdles
Denise Tillman, Sierra, Jr., 800 relay
Maurene Walsh, Alamosa, Jr., 1,600 relay
Michele Williams, Sierra, Sr., 800 relay
Nyeisha Wright, Widefield, Sr., triple jump
3A
TOP FIVE
1. Classical Academy
2. Centauri
3. Denver Christian
4. Burlington
5. Platte Canyon
RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS
Rebecca Burditt, Classical Academy, Sr., 1,600 relay
Sarah Dennis, Rock Canyon, Jr., 100 hurdles
Lisa Drew, Valley, Sr., 300 hurdles, 800 medley relay
Devin Eckhardt, Valley, Jr., 800 medley relay
Melissa Hadfield, St. Mary’s, Sr., long jump, triple jump
Emily Hannenburg, Classical Academy, Sr., 1,600 relay
Brooke Jeffcoat, Classical Acadedmy, Sr., 1,600 relay
Danielle Kachulis, Kent Denver, Sr., 100, 200
Kirsten Knobbe, Lamar, Jr., 400 relay
Michelle Lofe, Denver Christian, So., 800 relay
Sarah McManus, Denver Christian, Sr., 800 relay
Janette McCarroll, Centauri, Sr., 3,200 relay, 800
Lisa McCarroll, Centauri, Sr., 3,200 relay
Kayla Meisner, Valley, So., 800 medley relay
Elena Miller, Centauri, Sr., 3,200 relay
Anna Muegge, Classical Academy, So., 1,600 relay
Janelle Noel, Trinidad, Jr., shot put
Lindsey Osborne, Lamar, Jr., 400 relay
Robyn Scherer, Cedaredge, Sr., discus
Abby Weedor, Denver Christian, Sr., 800 relay
Morgan Witzel, Burlington, So., high jump
2A
TOP FIVE
1. Limon
2. Rye
3. Fountain Valley
4. McClave
5. Julesburg
RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS
Amanda Brown, Limon, Jr., 800 relay, 1,600 relay
Janeé Burgess, Limon, Sr., 800 relay
Emma Coburn, Crested Butte, So., 1,600, 3,200
Ashley Frost, Limon, Jr., 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay
Kaylea Goff, Fowler, So., high jump
Kaylie Gomez, Holyoke, Sr., 400 relay
Maggie Hanna, Fountain Valley, Jr., 300 hurdles
Sarah Manuel, Rye, Sr., 100 hurdles
Halley Parks, Paonia, Sr., 100
Jenny Payne, Limon, Jr., 3,200 relay
Justine Sandersfeld, Limon, Sr., 400, 800, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay
Kyla Schmidt, Soroco, Sr., 800 medley relay
Amanda Woolf, Holyoke, Jr., 400 relay.
