Many track and field coaches moonlight as number crunchers this time of the season.
As the state meet approaches, they will estimate probable finishes in each event and tally a rough team score, for their own program and usually for the top competition.
“With what we’ve qualified, our feeling is that we should point out around 60,” said John Hancock, the longtime boys track coach at Mullen.
Hancock knows numbers, such as “10,” as in the 10 Class 4A state championships the Mustangs have won under his watch. But a coach with more than two decades of experience, Hancock knows just as well as a first-year coach that anything can happen.
“You know how state works,” new Rocky Mountain coach Jamie Mackenzie said. “Sometimes you get the good breaks and sometimes you get the bad breaks. Hopefully you can avoid the silly mistakes, then you can concentrate on getting the baton around the track or hitting marks.”
The boys and girls state championships begin Friday and finish Saturday, with the 5A and 4A classes being held at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood and 3A and 2A at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.
Each classification will decide four finals Friday, with the big finish Saturday.
“You usually have a pretty good idea of how things are going for you after Day One,” Mackenzie said.
Beginning with the fastest, Overland sophomore Jeremy Rankin and George Washington senior Terrence McGaughy highlight fast fields in the boys 5A 100- and 200-meter dashes.
George Washington’s Ashley Cruder is favored in the girls 100, and the Patriots could place three sprinters in the top five.
Cherry Creek, the arguable front-runner in the 5A boys team race, features recent transfer Charles White, who could threaten state records in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
In 4A, the Mullen boys will have to fend off Longmont, and possibly Cherokee Trail and Sierra, in the team race, and an individual showdown in the discus should highlight the meet. Mullen’s Kane Kunz and Longmont’s Sean Conlin figure to battle it out for a title in that event.
The Mullen girls have won eight of the past nine team titles and appear to have the advantage again. As with the boys, Longmont and Cherokee Trail should figure in the title hunt. Thompson Valley’s middle and distance runners should provide big points.
Ralston Valley’s Kaitie Vanatta, if she is at full strength after recovering from an injury, is favored to defend her titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs.
Moving down a classification, Salida sophomore Mason Finley could give defending state champion and 3A state record holder Ian Lettow of Faith Christian a challenge in the discus and shot put.
In 2A, the Limon girls are three-time defending state champs, and the Badgers’ loaded relay teams could keep them at the top this time. On the boys side, Peyton ended Limon’s two-year run as champion last season, and both will have to contend with Wiggins.
