Niwot Girls Win Sixth Straight State 4A Crown With 148 Points, Boys Make It A Sweep; Fossil Ridge Girls, Cherokee Trail Boys Win 5A Titles

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The dynasty continues for the Niwot girls track program. At the Colorado High School Activities Association state track and field meet held May 15 through May 17, the Cougars won their sixth-straight Class 4A title with 148 points.

At Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, Niwot used a balanced effort to dominate the meet, as they were led by the standout national-ranked trio of Addison Ritzenhein, Reese Kasper and Jade West.

Distance standout Ritzenhein, a junior, won the 3,200 (10:27.80) and was the lead-off leg on the winning 4x800 relay (9:18.74) on Thursday. Saturday, she claimed the 1,600 title in 4:47.05.

Kasper, a senior, put on a show on the track, repeating as the 300 hurdles champion (41.35), an event she’s currently ranked US#10. She added the 100 hurdle title (14.22) and was part of the winning 4x200 relay that set a state record in the prelims of 1:38.78. She was also the anchor of an epic 4x400 relay battle that saw Niwot dip under the previous state record, clocking 3:48.93. Windsor, however, won the race in a meet record time of 3:48.21.

West, a senior ranked US#16 in the shot put, repeated as the discus title (133-7) on Thursday and won her third straight shot put title on Saturday with a mark of 42-7.75.

Niwot’s Eliana Henriques won the long jump (18-3), finished second in the triple jump (36-11.25), and was on the 4x400 relay to help add points to the team total. 

After finishing runner-up a year ago, the Niwot boys totaled 98 points to secure the 4A title and make it a program sweep. Niwot’s Ryder Keeton won the 3,200 in 9:02.44, more than 20 seconds faster than last year’s time. Rocco Culpepper defended his titles in the 800 (1:54.51) and 1,600 (4:12.23). Niwot’s 4x800 won in 7:51.53 and the team added a finishing touch with a first-place finish in the 4x400 in 3:21.70.

In the field, Cooper VanMaurer of GJ Central set a 4A pole vault meet record, clearing 16-4.75.

Jayden Nohr of Roosevelt, a top 25 jumper in the country, won the long jump with 23-2.50.

Class 5A

Fossil Ridge junior Addyson Smith led her team to a repeat of the 5A state team title as she placed second in the 100 (11.76), 200 (24.08) and ran on the first-place 4x100 (46.62) and runner-up 4x200 relay (1:40.03).

In the sprints, Heritage sophomore Zona Welling won the 100 (11.75) and 200 (23.96).

In the jumps, Kaeli Powe of Cherokee Trails repeated as the triple jump champion, soaring 41-4.50, more than two feet farther than the next finisher. Power, who is committed to Central Florida was second in the long jump as Eaglecrest’s Zenobia Witt took home first as both finished with a mark of 18-7.50, but Witt had the second further mark.

Junior Emily Cohen of Cherry Creek claimed the 3,200 title (10:27.70) edging out Fossil Ridge’s Tatum Berg (10:27.85).  Cohen had another close victory on Saturday, winning the 1,600 in 4:52.07. Keeghan Edwards of Mountain Vista was second in 4:52.46. Cohen was also part of the winning 4x800 (9:10.27).

Denver East senior Rosie Mucharsky, who is committed to Notre Dame, won her third consecutive 800 title in 2:09.26

Mountain Vista’s Benjamin Adams won the 3,200 in 9:07.93, while teammate Benjamin Anderson was right behind for second in 9:08.60.

Cherokee Trail picked up just two individual wins, but that’s all they needed to claim the 5A title. Senior Peyton Sommers, a standout sprinter who battled injuries this season, won the 400 in 47.09 and also ran the anchor on the winning 4x400 relay (3:17.26). Senior Taylor Waters had the other individual victory for Cherokee Trail, winning the pole vault with a state-leading jump of 16-9.

In the 800, ThunderRidge junior Ben Lee claimed back-to-back titles, running the fastest 800 of the state meet, clocking 1:51.42. Lee also added the 1,600 title to his name winning in 4:09.44.

Cherry Creek’s Soren Shinofield, a Utah football commit, won the shot put (56-3.50).

Class 3A 

The Classical Academy boys and girls swept the 3A titles.

The Classical boys won their third straight title with a balanced effort, scoring points in nearly every event. Senior Cole Hoffman was the team’s lone individual champion claiming the shot put title (53-11.75).

University senior Nicolas Rothe set a 3A meet record in the pole vault clearing 16 feet.

The Resurrection Christian boys went 1-2-3 in the 800 led by Jackson Fagerlin’s 1:54.59 winning time. Fagerlin won the 1,600 (4:26.43) and was also on the winning 4x800 (7:59.36).

Classical Academy’s Heidi Nielsen helped guide her team to a repeat 3A title. The senior defended her 200 title (25.24), placed third in the 100 and ran the anchor on the winning 4x2 (1:42.23) and 4x1 (48.86). Classical also claimed the 4x800 (9:33.87).

Coal Ridge’s Braille Jensen won the shot put (40-3.25).

Class 2A

Wiggins junior Brooke Schmidt set a 2A state meet record in the discus on Thursday with a mark of 146-10, and added a shot put title on Friday with a throw of 36-11.75 to help her team to a 2A state championship with 69 points. Heritage Christian was a close second with 68.50 points. Wiggins’ Nahia Kelley won the 200 (25.56) and 400 (57.92) and ran on the second place 4x200 relay.

Peyton junior Caleb Kearse ran to a 3A state record in the 400 of 48.76 to lead his team to a runner-up finish in the 3A title race with 57 points, as Sedgwick County won the title with 57.50 points. Sedgwick junior Brady Mollendor led his team with a first-place long jump title (21-10), and two second place titles in the high jump (6-0) and triple jump (43-6).

Senior Bobby Kiesewetter of Golden View Classical ran away with the 3,200 title in a 2A state-record time of 9:25.63. He added a win in the 800 (1:54.84) and on Saturday, capped off an amazing state meet with another 2A record in the 1,600 of 4:17.84.

On Thursday, Holyoke ran a state meet record time of 1:29.95 in the 4x200 prelims. The team won the event in 1:30.40 in Saturday’s final.

Class 1A

The Idalia girls and McClave tied with 70 points a piece for the 1A title.

Idalia’s Jaylyn Kechter set a state meet record in the discus with a mark of 138-2.

In girls 1A Cheyenne Wells’ Roxy Unruh broke two state meet records, winning the 200 (25.58) and the 400 (56.45). She added a victory in the 100 (12.29).

Cheraw senior Delaney Bond won the 300 hurdles (46.41) and also claimed the 800 (2:18.17) and 1,600 (5:35.71). She was fourth in the 100 hurdles.

Haxtun senior Ryland Wolff set a 1A meet record in the 100 (11.04), won the 200 (22.78), and was second in the 400 (51.01) to guide his team to a state championship. He was also part of the meet record setting 4x100 relay (43.37).

Springfield sophomore Parker Arbuthnot swept the distance events, winning the 3,200 (10:19.62), 1,600 (4:39.40) and 800 (2:01.81).

Team Champions

5A: Cherokee Trail boys 72.5 points, Fossil Ridge girls 97 points 

4A: Niwot boys 98 points, Niwot girls 148 points

3A: Classical Academy boys 118 points, Classical Academy  girls 103.50 girls

2A: Sedgwick County boys 57.50 points, Wiggins girls 69 points

1A: Haxtun boys 77.50 points; Idalia and McClave girls 70 points (tie)