Twice a Class 4A cross country champion and the defending state titlist in both the mile and 2-mile event in springtime track and field, Ralston Valley sophomore Kaitie Vanatta highlights the bevy of young stars set to return today to the ovals, pits, bars and mats. Vanatta in December finished fourth, easily the best local mark, at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego. That as a freshman last season she swept the distance events is impressive. But Vanatta’s intrigue will be in whether she can top the state records set by Boulder’s Melody Fairchild in the early 1990s. Vanatta has three more seasons to try, starting today. Also, the sprinting titles are vacant and up for grabs, though Rocky Mountain’s Alana Curtis and Fairview’s Sarah Cocco have the middle sprints to defend. And the jumps and throws should be competitive throughout the classifications.
TOP TEAMS
Class 5A
1. George Washington
2. Smoky Hill
3. Rocky Mountain
4. Littleton
5. Fairview
Class 4A
1. Mullen
2. Longmont
3. Cherokee Trail
4. Widefield
5. Broomfield
Class 3A
1. The Classical Academy
2. Platte Canyon
3. Denver Christian
4. Peak to Peak
5. Hotchkiss
Class 2A
1. Limon
2. Akron
3. Burlington
4. Fountain Valley
5. Crested Butte
TOP COMPETITORS
Class 5A
Alana Curtis, Rocky Mountain, Sr., 400; Sarah Cocco, Fairview, Sr., 800; Serena Johnson, Eaglecrest, Sr., shot put; Cambria Pardner, Overland, Sr., long jump; Ari Curtis, Rocky Mountain, Sr., triple jump
Class 4A
Sarah Dennis, Rock Canyon, Sr., 100 hurdles; Kaitie Vanatta, Ralston Valley, So., 1,600 and 3,200; Brooke Regan, Thompson Valley, So., 800; Kyla Motz, Pine Creek, Sr., shot put; Liz Johnson, Fossil Ridge, Sr., discus; Elizabeth Stover, Longmont, Jr., pole vault
Class 3A
Kristen McGlynn, Platte Canyon, Sr., 1,600; Margaret Weingart, Peak to Peak, Jr., 300 hurdles; Kristen McGlynn, Platte Canyon, Sr., 3,200; Jenna Bohnen, Erie, Sr., discus; Abby Weedor, Denver Christian, Sr., triple jump; Carlee Morgan, Gunnison, Jr., pole vault
Class 2A
Emily Hanna, Fountain Valley, So., 100 hurdles and high jump; Emma Coburn, Crested Butte Community, Jr., 1,600 and 3,200; Shaylee Robinette, Crowley County, Jr., 200 and 400; Brittany Brown, Sangre de Cristo, Jr., shot put; Ashley Stroh, Holyoke, Sr., discus; Kelsey Miller, Swink, Sr., long jump; Shaylee Robinette, Crowley County, Jr., triple jump; Elena Vigil, Akron, Sr., pole vault
