She was only a freshman. But GinAsia Hamilton, by her own admission, went to the Class 4A track and field championships last year with a chip on her shoulder.
At the time a Widefield High School sprinter, she nipped at the heels of Conifer phenom Emily Blok, coming in second place in the 100 and 200 meters. It was a good performance, but it wasn’t good enough for Hamilton.
“It was a great experience, but it made me work a lot harder. I wasn’t as good as I thought I was,” Hamilton said.
Yet it’s hard to deny just how good she was and could be this year, especially considering she was to be the top returning sprinter among Class 4A girls.
That was until Hamilton transferred — for what she said were educational reasons — to Fountain-Fort Carson, a Class 5A school.
No longer running in 4A, the 15-year-old sophomore is taking her talent to the state’s highest level and a likely showdown with Montbello star Kayla Fisher-Taylor.
Fisher-Taylor is the top 5A returnee from last year in the 100 and 200, running times at the state meet that were just two-hundredths of a second better than Hamilton in the 100 but slower in the 200. Nevertheless, like Hamilton faced with Blok last year, Hamilton figures to have her hands full with Fisher-Taylor.
“I don’t think (running in 5A) will be more competitive (than 4A), but Kayla Fisher-Taylor is a great runner. I plan on doing the best I can,” Hamilton said.
That’s when she is allowed to compete. Hamilton must sit out the first five track meets of the season because of Colorado High School Activities Association transfer rules, so she won’t be eligible for varsity competition until the Ray Campbell Invitational at Fountain-Fort Carson on April 24.
She still will be allowed to practice and run in junior varsity meets, which she plans to do. Meanwhile, new head coach Ben Montoya will be eagerly awaiting her varsity debut.
“Of course we are (excited),” Montoya said of having Hamilton on board. “I’m wishing she could run right away.”
In addition to running the 100, 200 and 400, Hamilton may compete in the long jump and a relay or two.
Montoya and Fountain-Fort Carson’s program expect the wait will be worth it.
Girls track and field preview
Start of season: Today
Class 2A-3A regionals: May 13-15
State championships: May 20-22, Jefferson County Stadium, Lakewood
Class 5A
Top 5 teams: Littleton, Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, ThunderRidge, Boulder
Athletes to watch: Jenna Adams, Littleton, Sr., pole vault; Olivia Anderson, Cherry Creek, Soph., 800, hurdles; Sara Benson, Rampart, Sr., 100, 200, hurdles; Kayla Fisher-Taylor, Montbello, Sr., 100, 200; Eleanor Fulton, Highlands Ranch, Jr., 800, 1,600, 3,200; GinAsia Hamilton, Fountain-Fort Carson, Soph., 100, 200, 400; Brooke Jackson, Littleton, Sr., discus; Kelsey Lakowske, Boulder, Jr., 1,600, 3,200; Brittany Lewis, Overland, Jr., long jump; Kamie Mendez, East, Soph., hurdles
Class 4A
Top 5 teams: Thompson Valley, Mullen, Lewis- Palmer, Alamosa, Longmont
Athletes to watch: Emily Elliott, Windsor, Jr., 100, 200, 400; Karina Ernst, Thompson Valley, Soph., 800, 160; Vanessa Fabrizio, Sr., Mullen, 200, 400, 800; Morgan Griffin, Lewis-Palmer, Sr., 200, 400, long jump; Kiah Hicks, Falcon, Jr., discus, shot put; Samantha Kee, Longmont, Sr., 100, 200, 400; Annie Kunz, Wheat Ridge, Jr., hurdles, high jump, triple jump; Amy Medina, Mountain View, Sr., high jump, long jump, triple jump; Sarah Swenson, Greeley West, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Kayla Wein, Broomfield, Sr., 100, 200, hurdles
Class 3A
Top 5 teams: The Classical Academy, Eaton, Lyons, Middle Park, Valley
Athletes to watch: Samantha Berggren, Middle Park, Jr., 100, 200, 400, 800; Kaitlyn Hanenburg, The Classical Academy, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Rachel Hinker, Lyons, Jr., 100, 200, 400; Lindsey Hubbard, Valley, Sr., hurdles; Tiffany Kenney, Colorado Springs Christian, Jr., 100, 200, hurdles, long jump; Emily LaValley, The Classical Academy, Sr., 800; Adrienne Lettow, Faith Christian, Sr., discus, shot put; Beth Jones, Eaton, Sr., long jump, triple jump; Christine Scott, St. Mary’s Academy, Soph., 100; Kara Slavoski, St. Mary’s, Sr., 1,600, 3,200
Class 2A
Top 5 teams: Akron, Limon, Paonia, Wray, Holyoke Athletes to watch: Ashley Atkin, Fleming, Jr., 400, 800; Brittany Crippen, Vanguard, Sr., 100, 200; Caitlyn Hubbard, Limon, Jr., hurdles; Erin Kelly, Crested Butte, Jr., 1,600, 3,200; Amber Lowther, Rocky Ford, Sr., high jump, long jump; Johanna Reed, Paonia, Sr., 800, 1,600; Kat Robinson, Nederland, Sr., 800, 1,600; Kelley Robinson, Nederland, Soph., 800, 1,600; Marissa Smith, Holyoke, Sr., 200, 400; Lori Weirich, Eads, Sr., shot put, discus
Boys track and field preview
Start of season: Today
2A/3A regionals: May 13-15
State championships: May 20-22, Jefferson County Stadium, Lakewood
5A
Top 5 teams: Littleton, Arapahoe, Rampart, Regis, Doherty
Players to watch: Reginald Allison, Palmer, Jr., hurdles, and triple jump; Kenneth Chambers, Doherty, Sr., 200; Ryan Duman, Pomona, Sr., discus; Danny Nicolls, Regis Jesuit, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Walter Schafer, Cherry Creek, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Travis Scott, Coronado, Sr., 400, high jump; Sam Stratton, Chatfield, Sr., 400; Joe Takikawa, Littleton, Sr., long jump and triple jump; Jaden Terry, Doherty, Sr., shot put and discus; Connor Winter, Arapahoe, Jr., 800, 1,600, 3,200.
4A
Top 5 teams: Longmont, Sierra, Mullen, Broomfield, Cherokee Trail
Players to watch: Trevor Brown, Wasson, Sr., hurdles; Jordan Davis, Greeley West, Sr., shot put and discus; Phillip DeCoud, Lewis-Palmer, Sr., 100, 200; Chris Ganem, Castle View, Jr., 800, 1,600, 3,200; Trent Ireland, Broomfield, Jr., 100, 200, 400; Hondo Katz, Mullen, Sr., relays; Tevan McIntire, Longmont, Sr., long jump and high jump; David Perry, Niwot, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Aaron Praska, Longmont, Sr., hurdles; Kobi Rex, Lewis-Palmer, Sr., high jump and pole vault.
3A
Top 5 teams: The Classical Academy, Faith Christian, University, Buena Vista, Holy Family
Players to watch: Amos Bowen, Brush, Jr., 1,600, 3,200; Ben Hinckfoot, The Classical Academy, Sr., hurdles; C.J. Kukus, Brush, Jr., long jump; Hayden Loudenslager, Faith Christian, Sr., triple jump; Alex Nadow, Weld Central, Sr., high jump; Ryan Poland, Denver Christian, Sr., 800; Greg Reese, Erie, Sr., pole vault; Deron Rindels, Faith Christian, Sr., relays; Kevin Schwindt, The Classical Academy, Sr., pole vault; Sterling Zehnder, Platte Valley, Sr., 800.
2A
Top 5 teams: Wray, Wiggins, Miami-Yoder, Rocky Ford, Limon
Players to watch: Nick Bennett, Evangelical Christian, Sr., 400; Kyle Carper, Holyoke, Sr., long jump and triple jump; Landry Cogburn, Baca County, Jr., hurdles; Shawn Dobbs, Cripple Creek, Sr., 1,600; Alex Estes, Soroco, Sr., long jump; Victor Montoya, Rocky Ford, Sr., 3,200; Logan Ramseier, Idalia, Sr., pole vault; Murphy Smartt, Hayden, Sr., high jump; Luke Terrell, Idalia, Sr., pole vault; Matt Watwood, Soroco, Sr., discus.
