Denver Post staff writer Jon E. Yunt looks ahead at this weekend’s action in high school sports:
BOYS SWIMMING
The premier meet of the season
For coaches and athletes alike, Saturday’s Dick Rush Memorial Invitational at the Mountain View Aquatic Center in Loveland is something a little more special than even the state meet. It’s a chance for the “little guys” to compete against the big schools. Sure, the 4A schools’ top times normally don’t match up to 5A’s, but for one day the smaller schools can shoot to be the best.
All eyes will be on Regis. The Raiders have won 14 straight state titles and were pressed last week in a dual by preseason No. 2 Highlands Ranch — a co-op of all the schools in The Ranch. The Falcons will be on hand this week, and Regis has all the motivation it needs to prove to the rest of the state that it is still the team to beat.
TRACK AND FIELD
Mason Finley watch
Shot put and discus fans unite Saturday in Fort Collins for the Runners Roost Invitational. Buena Vista’s Mason Finley, who wowed crowds all over the state last season with his titanic throws, is back for one more record-breaking season.
Finley already owns the Colorado record in the discus with a toss of 222 feet, 1 inch last year and has Niklas Arrhenius’ national record of 234-3, set in 2001, in his sights. The state shot put record still belongs to Arvada’s Jim Banich (66-3 1/4), and the national record of 81-3 1/2 set by Dallas Jefferson High’s Michael Carter is 30 years old. Finals for all the field events begin at noon.
