PUEBLO — Knowing Shaylee Robinette’s history at the Class 2A state track and field championships left little doubt she would put a personal stamp on her final event.
The same was true for Dan Baer.
The two put on gritty showings Saturday at Dutch Clark Stadium. Both won or had a hand in winning four events in a stunning wave goodbye to high school competition.
With victories Saturday in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes as well as the triple jump, Robinette finished her career at Crowley County with 11 state championships.
In her career, she won two state titles in the 100, three in the 200, three in the 400 and three in the triple jump.
“I lost in the 100 by four-hundredths of a second (in 2006) or I’d have a dozen,” Robinette said. “The championships are something everybody knows about.
“I don’t think anything is easy. This year I came in with only the third-best time during the year. There were some other runners here today who knew what they were doing.”
Robinette set a 2A state record in the 200 last year at 25.42. Her times in the 100 and 200 meters were better than the state record, but a steady wind out of the north wind was too strong to allow the records.
Baer, of Dayspring Christian in Greeley, had winning performances in the 110 and 300 hurdles and was a member of the winning 400 and 1,600 relays. His time of 14.49 in the 110 hurdles set a 2A state record.
“Coaches are a blessing,” Baer said. “They really get on you. But that usually means you get it right. A good coach gets on you real tough, but they push you along.”
Said his coach, Harley Lowe: “There hasn’t been another athlete at Dayspring like Dan in quite awhile. He’s been huge.”
The Lyons girls team won the title with 90 points in their final year in 2A before moving up to 3A. Baer’s big day led Dayspring to the boys title with 62 points.
