FORT COLLINS — Jared Markham did not want to bother with any drama.
Markham just wanted to get to the business of setting records out of the way so he could focus on Cherry Creek’s drive toward dethroning perennial state champion Regis Jesuit.
The versatile junior led an impressive effort by the Bruins during the preliminary heats of the Class 5A boys state swim meet Friday, setting a state record in the 200-yard individual medley at the Edora Pool and Ice Center.
Markham, the defending state champion in the event, finished in 1 minute, 49.12 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:49.98 of Regis Jesuit’s Jay Kim in 2008.
“I was thinking about going for it (today), but I just decided to get it out of the way because I could,” Markham said.
Thanks to the performance of Markham and teammate Spencer Fronk, the Bruins, along with Highlands Ranch, are in position to end the 15-year reign of Regis Jesuit when the finals begin today at 2 p.m.
Fronk recorded two of the Bruins’ seven top preliminary times, with the best mark in the 200 freestyle (1:40.50) and 100 free (45.40).
While Markham certainly is focused on perhaps trimming his new record while defending his IM crown today, it is the team race that truly has his attention. Markham finished second in the 500 freestyle last year, but because the Bruins boast a handful of strong, young distance swimmers, Markham decided to instead compete in the backstroke to optimize Creek’s scoring potential. He posted the top qualifying time in the backstroke at 49.21 seconds.
“I know Regis and us, we’re kind of like battling each other, and Highlands Ranch is right there too,” Markham said. “Anything can happen this weekend.”
Among the eight individual swimming events, Highlands Ranch will have 22 entrants in today’s finals and consolation heats. Cherry Creek will have 19 individual entrants, and Regis Jesuit will have 17.
All three teams will compete in the finals of the three relay events.
“(Markham) has a competitive fire that I haven’t seen before in all the athletes I’ve worked with in my history at Cherry Creek,” Bruins coach Chris Loftis said. “It’s never about him, which is great in a high school setting. Whatever we ask of him, or whatever he suggests may work best based on what he sees, we work together on that. He’s a team player all the way.”
