At last, all nine of Colorado’s fall sports can open play Thursday in the 92nd season on record.
Boys and girls cross country will be a highlight.
In-staters have been providing a steady stream of accomplished runners for decades, many of whoem have blossomed while in their 20s. In recent eras, Doherty’s Adam Goucher, Boulder’s Melody Fairchild and Smoky Hill’s Megan and Kaitlyn Kaltenbach have been significant contributors to distance running.
First sanctioned in 1951 for boys and in 1978 for girls, fall distance runners should have a different look in 2012 that may last a few seasons — Cherry Creek’s Jordyn Colter and West Grand’s Tabor School, who runs for Middle Park, are the lone returning state champions. And both were freshmen a year ago.
The state championship course has been switched from Arapahoe County Fairgrounds to near Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, with promises of a true course involving all terrains. Accordingly, there will be a mini-state meet of sorts Friday.
However, the jury remains very much out as to the addition of a fourth classification that began in 2008.
The Classical Academy has won nine consecutive lower team state titles in girls and has swept both boys and girls the past two seasons, and three of the past four.
Gymnastics
It’s been an Olympics year, so interest has been heightened. However, the sport only continues to hold on in Colorado high schools for multiple reasons, two being conflicts with club competition and cost.
While in-state boys gymnastics ran from 1948-91, girls gymnastics opened in 1974 and has been hanging on.
The good news: Loveland’s Claire Hammen, who won the all-around title, then swept all four apparatus events, has returned. She’s a junior.
Cherry Creek, the state runner-up the past two seasons, returns its entire varsity lineup. That includes Sela Buted, who placed second behind Hammen in the 2011 all-around.
Boys soccer
It’s been rousing in recent seasons, including a stream of players going on to play at big-time colleges, others going overseas and some making it into Major League Soccer.
But keep an eye out — the move nationally to have younger players commit to virtually year-long academies and passing on schoolboy play is due to emerge.
It’s a controversial situation that bears watching.
Teamwise, look for distinct possibilities of three repeats because all defending class champions opened at No. 1 in The Denver Post poll. Individually, only two of last season’s All-Colorado players return: Denver East’s Cerake Geberkidane and Rock Canyon’s David Boldt.
Field hockey
It’s big in the East, but field hockey has yet to seriously take off in the Rocky Mountain region.
Dominated by private schools, only four publics have won a state title, most recently Mountain Vista in 2010. Kent Denver has won nine times since sanctioning in 1997, including the past season.
Individually, only two All-Colorado players return: Palmer Ridge’s Casey Deeds and Mountain Vista’s Jenell Murphy.
