Overland’s Jeremy Rankin recently set a national sophomore record with a 6.67-second clocking in the 60-meter dash, and he heads a large group of Class 5A sprinters that includes Terrance McGaughy of George Washington. Fort Collins ended Smoky Hill’s three-year run as the big-school team champion, just as Mountain View interrupted Mullen’s five-year reign at the top of 4A.
Mullen junior John Gaye is the favorite to repeat in the 100 dash and should challenge for a title in the 200. In 3A, defending team champion Faith Christian returns Ian Lettow, state champion in the shot put and discus; and Graham Yantis, defending champion in the long and triple jump. Lettow, who set the 3A state record in the shot at 58 feet, 4½ inches, signed with Colorado State.
Peyton won the 2A team title last season to claim the school’s first championship in any sport, boys or girls. The Panthers’ Travis Stanford won a state title in the 800 and two more on relay teams as a junior. Add the 1,600, and he is a threat to win four this season.
TOP TEAMS
Class 5A
1. George Washington
2. Fort Collins
3. Littleton
4. Smoky Hill
5. Highlands Ranch
Class 4A
1. Mullen
2. Cherokee Trail
3. Mountain View
4. Broomfield
5. Longmont
Class 3A
1. Faith Christian
2. Colo. Springs Christian
3. Holy Family
4. Bayfield
5. Manitou Springs
Class 2A
1. Peyton
2. Wray
3. Lyons
4. Rocky Ford
5. Burlington
TOP COMPETITORS
Class 5A
Blake Bolen, Grandview, Sr., hurdles; Parker Fales, Rocky Mountain, Sr., long-triple jump; Marcus Felker, Thornton, Sr., shot-discus; Antoine Harrison, Eaglecrest, Sr., sprints-relays; David Kollar, Fort Collins, Sr., hurdles; Terrance McGaughy, George Washington, Sr., sprints-relays; Richard Medina, Grand Junction, Sr., distance; Kyle Randolph, Cherry Creek, Sr., hurdles; Jeremy Rankin, Overland, So., sprints-relays; Alex Von Hagen, Legacy, Sr., long-high jumps.
Class 4A
Josh Corbin, Cherokee Trail, Sr., sprints-relays; Jesse Fassler, Centaurus, Sr., middle- distance; John Gaye, Mullen, Jr., sprints-relays; Marcel Gibbons, Mesa Ridge, Jr., long-triple jump; Brian Griffin, Pueblo South, Sr., shot put; Ken Harrimer, Pueblo South, So., shot put; Bobby Potrykus, Conifer, Sr., middle-distance; Patrick Richards, Widefield, Jr., sprints-relays; Nolan Tuck, Liberty, Sr., high jump; Kevin Williams, D’Evleyn, Jr., distance.
Class 3A
August Heffner, Erie, Sr., hurdles; Matt Houghton, Platte Canyon, Sr., hurdles; Ian Lettow, Faith Christian, Sr., shot-discus; Graham Yantis, Faith Christian, long-triple jump.
Class 2A
Dan Baer, Dayspring Christian, Jr., hurdles; Caleb Hellyer, Akron, Sr., pole vault; Brian Hendricks, Burlington, Sr., sprints-relays; Sam McKinley, Grand Valley, Sr., sprints; Victory Montoya, Rocky Ford, So., distance; Travis Stanford, Peyton, Sr., middle distance.
