Connor Winter knows all about individual success. After all, the Arapahoe senior won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring at the Class 5A state track and field championships. He also knows a little something about helping his team, running a leg on the Warriors’ 4×800 relay team that placed fifth a year ago.
That being said, Winter’s primary focus for this season is to succeed not just individually but collectively with his teammates in hopes of landing Arapahoe’s first team title since 2008.
“He’s a total team guy. He thinks the team might be decent this year and will do anything he can to help try to win a state championship,” Arapahoe coach Stuart Lienemann said. “With him, 30 points individually gives us a chance. Obviously, he has those lofty goals. With that being said, he’d do anything to help the team’s success.”
Winter, who missed most of the fall cross country season with an ankle injury, knows there’s a target on him after last year’s success, but he’s not worried. He revels in the challenge.
“I don’t feel it that much. I put pressure on myself to help the team,” Winter said. “I love that pressure. I showed last year that it didn’t have too much of an effect. I just did what I could.”
So now before Winter takes off for the University of Colorado this fall — he also looked at Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Stanford and Arizona State — he has some unfinished business. That would be doing as well as he can individually while helping Arapahoe challenge for a 5A team championship.
“That would be great to share a memory as a whole team as opposed to just yourself,” Winter said.
Teams, athletes to watch
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: May 19-21,
Jefferson County Stadium, Lakewood
Top 5A teams: Cherry Creek, Regis Jesuit, Fountain-Fort Carson, Arapahoe, Fort Collins.
5A athletes to watch: Reginald Allison, Palmer, Sr., 110 hurdles, long jump; Johnny Edmunds, Littleton, Sr., triple jump, long jump; Chris Ganem, Castle View, Sr., 1,600; Ben Goodman, Palmer, Soph., 400; Marcus Harris, Eaglecrest, Soph., 100; William Kincaid, Columbine, Sr., 3,200; Kirk Webb, Monarch, Jr., 800, 1,600; Connor Winter, Arapahoe, Sr., 800, 1,600, 3,200; Markesh Woodson, Fountain-Fort Carson, Jr., 100, 200; Casey Young, Regis Jesuit, Sr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles.
Top 4A teams: Longmont, Valor Christian, Mullen, Widefield, Sierra.
4A athletes to watch: Boris Berian, Widefield, Sr., 400, 800; Trevor Evanson, Golden, Sr., high jump; Laquan Johnson, Widefield, Sr., long jump; Josh Kamrass, Valor Christian, Jr., 100; Nolan Mayhew, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr., 400, 800; Malik McKinney, Mullen, Sr., 100, 200; Jeff Richmond, Northridge, Sr., 100; Ryan Schuler, Niwot, Sr., long jump; Michael Seaman, Skyline, Jr., triple jump; Hunter Warwick, Palmer Ridge, Sr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles.
Top 3A teams: Classical Academy, Faith Christian, Cedaredge, Brush, Bayfield.
3A athletes to watch: Amos Bowen, Brush, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Zach Browning, Roaring Fork, Sr., 400; Anthony Erps, Florence, Sr., 110 hurdles; Thad Hocking, Colorado Springs Christian, Jr., pole vault; Kristjian Malouff, Monte Vista, Sr., discus; Evan Marshall, Faith Christian, Sr., 100, 200; Danny Martinez, Cedaredge, Jr., high jump; Clint Myers, Salida, Sr., shot put; Josh Simkins, Classical Academy, Sr., 1,600, 3,200; Jake Wood, Manitou Springs, Sr., 300 hurdles.
Top 2A teams: Burlington, Wray, Lyons, Holyoke Paonia.
2A athletes to watch: Andrew Bowers, Lutheran (Parker), Sr., high jump; Ethan Browning, Cripple Creek, Sr., high jump; Jarrett Cure, Wray, Sr., 200, 400; Spencer Cure, Burlington, Sr., 300 hurdles; Coley David, Burlington, Jr., 400; Jeremy Loutensock, Holyoke, Jr., 1,600; Ty Van Oort, Rye, Jr., discus, shot put; Daniel Weirich, Eads, Soph., shot put, discus; Ty Williams, Norwood, Jr., 3,200; Chris Zirkle, Hayden, Sr., 3,200.
Top 1A teams: Walsh, Pikes Peak Christian, Merino, Caliche, Springfield.
1A athletes to watch: Laken Alley, Walsh, Sr., 100; Landry Cogburn, Walsh, Sr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles; Adam Marostica, Idalia, Sr., long jump; Colin Simon, Stratton, Sr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles; Caleb Smith, Pikes Peak Christian, Sr., discus, shot put.
