After Fountain-Fort Carson track and field coach Ben Montoya blinked last season, his team was already in the driver’s seat to win its second straight 5A title and its 19th in school history.

In little more time than a blink of an eye, junior Markesh Woodson won the 100 meters in 10.45 seconds and the 200 in 21.19 a handful of minutes later.

“He’s the fastest kid I have ever seen in my 30-some years,” said Montoya who has coached track for 31 years and retired from teaching in May.

Woodson had his feet in 40 of his team’s 68 points at Jefferson County Stadium. Along with his sprints, he anchored the Trojans’ 400 and 800 relays to wins. 

(Sophomore Dakota Leazer claimed the other state title for Fountain-Fort Carson with a 38.59 in the 300 hurdles.)

Woodson plans to attend Missouri  as of now – a change from last year when he was considering the Air Force and Cornell – but wants to repeat his success in high school first.

“I want to do what I did last year, just do it better,” said the 5-foot-6 senior. “I might even try the long jump just to put up some more stats for the team.”

Fountain-Fort Carson is not only looking for its 20th track and field championship but hopes to cap off a historic year for its athletic program.

In the fall the Trojans’ softball program made state for the first time led by Gazette Player of the Year Lauryn Chase, who was a star with her arm and bat.

The football team took No. 4 Ralston Valley down to the wire in round two of the playoffs in the schools’ second year on the 5A gridiron. Linebacker Kevin Davis was the Gazette Player of the Year and committed to play for CSU.

In the winter, the basketball team lost by a fingertip to the eventual 5A champs Chaparral in the round of 16.

And last month, the wrestling program took sixth at state as Josh Schoenberger, in his Captain American singlet, won the title in the 182-pound weight class, which gave Fountain-Fort Carson its first title on the mats in 43 years.

And even though Montoya, 57, doesn’t spend his days in the classrooms anymore, the change in the school’s athletic culture is apparent.

“I’m sure they used us as an example a little bit,” Montoya said. “They probably thought if we can do it there is no reason that they can do it as well.”

Today, the Trojans track team’s goal is to be humble, work hard and well …

“We don’t say it out loud that we want to be state champions,” Montoya said. “But I know it’s in the back of everyone’s mind.”

 

ODDS AND ENDS

The Young

Woodland Park has 47 boys out for track and only four are seniors.

“Our future is down the road,” seventh-season coach Ron Payton said.

Coronado’s coach Jeremy Kane, who is in his ninth season, said seniors are few on his team, but senior captain Andre Young will lead the team. He placed in state last season in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Fountain Valley coach Sarah Segesdy, who takes over for Jennifer Buckley, said most of her team is new to the school – but they bring track experience with them.

Vanguard freshman William Mayhew will lead the Coursers. His best 800-meter time is 2:05 (indoors) and his best 1,600 time is 4:40 (indoors)

Wasson has a  big squad, but half are freshmen. Sierra is young under new coach Bobby Muhammad. Of Canon City’s 50 participants, 25 are freshmen and Mesa Ridge is loaded with talented freshman as well.

 

And the restless

Pikes Peak Christian is dealing with two hurdles in its 2012 campaign. First it loses 1A state champion weight thrower Caleb Smith. He won the shot put and discus events last season at state. Secondly, the Eagles only have access to a track one or two days a week.

So they might need to call it field and track.

But at least fifth-year coach Lisa Ratterree can sigh a little knowing she’ll have the 3,200 state champ Micah Tate back. Tate finished fourth in the 1,600 and then finished fourth at the 1A cross country state meet. To think three years ago he started running just to get his parents off his back.

St. Mary’s reported a low number of runners coming out for the program.

 

Senior citizens

Pine Creek is senior heavy, said 11th-year coach Max Oliver. The Eagles should have three state qualifiers in each of its throwing events led by seniors Stuart Jackson (shot put) and Ian Kluckman (discus).

Jackson and Kluckman were both on the defensive line for Pine Creek’s runner-up football program. Jackson is listed at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds. Kluckman is 6-4, 245.

Doherty also tips in favor of its senior class. The Spartans have their largest numbers in five years and are led by senior Ryne Chavez who finished 10th at state in the 300 hurdles last spring.

Palmer, a team that finished  third in state with five athletes last season, look to improves led by senior Seth Brown in hurdles.

 

Could it be state?

Peyton has its largest team since 2006 when it won the 2A state title. The Panthers finished second in the Black Forest League last season.

Rampart 2007 100 hurdles state champion Kelly Coomes is back to coach the hurdlers for the Rams.

 

Basketball connection

Cheyenne Mountain’s Canyon Barry, Wasson’s DJ Hanes and Rampart’s Ryan Cook all found their legs in basketball.

Barry is the son of NBA Hall-of-Famer Rick Barry and he is half-brothers with former NBA players Drew, Brent and NBA player/ESPN basketball analyst Jon. Canyon scored 16.2 points per game for the Indians before a high ankle sprain in February ended his season. As a junior he was a state qualifier in the triple jump. He’ll also do the high jump for the defending 4A champions this year.

Hanes led the Thunderbirds to the round of 16.  He scored 17 points per game. Last spring he took 10th in the long jump and 11th in the triple jump at 4A state.

Cook’s dad and grandpa left their mark on basketball, but the senior will go into track at Drake. He won the 5A state title in high jump last year.

 

Coming back for more

Fountain-Fort Carson has won the past two 5A titles. Cheyenne Mountain won its first 4A title last season in nearly two decades.

The Trojans were led by Markesh Woodson, who won four titles. He won the 100 and 200. Then he anchored the 400 and 800 relays. Woodson was involved in 40 of Fountain-Fort Carson’s 68 points at Jefferson County Stadium.

Fountain-Fort Carson looks to improve on the school’s best athletic year in history with its 20th track field state championship.

The Indians’ Jake Fox took second in the 1,600 and 3,200 last season at state. He has graduated, but overall balance from the team coached by Stan Lambert, who is also the cross country coach, gave them the 4A trophy last year.

 

Notables on coaches

Jay Peltier, Vista Ridge: The new Wolves’ coach inherits a team that took fourth in last year’s state meet. They return four state champs: Brandon Cartagena, Josh Lewis and Demeitrius Warren were a part of the first-place 800 relay. Cartegena and Lewis also placed in the 100 and Warren qualified in the 200.

Andrew Dubiel took 4A state in discus.

Peltier takes over for Scott Winter who coached for three seasons.

Phil Rich, Manitou Springs: It is his 19th season coaching the Mustangs.

Gary Vandemark, Peyton: It is his 20th year coaching the Panthers.

Ed Latimer, St. Mary’s: It is his 21st season coaching the Pirates.

Bobby Muhammad, Sierra: Takes over for Joe Roskam who spent a year as the Stallions’ coach.

Phil Roiko, Air Academy: Father of Kellyn Roiko, a state hopeful in track and state champion in basketball.

Al Melo, Harrison, Stan Lambros, Cheyenne Mountain, Archie Malloy, Mitchell: Multisport coaches. Melo is the football coach for the Panthers, Lambros is the cross country coach for the Indians and Malloy is the football coach for the Marauders.

 

Teams to watch in 5A

 

5A individuals to watch

Markesh Woodson, Fountain-Fort Carson: Won the 100, 200 and anchored the 400 and 800 relay at state. He ran the 100 in 10:45 – 1.3 tenths of a second off the Colorado high school record. Woodson is planning on attending Missouri. The senior will also try long jump this season.

Ryan Cook, Rampart: Returning state champ in the high jump. He jumped 6-10 last year and wants to do 7-2 this season. Will look into other jumping events this season.

Dakota Leazer, Fountain-Fort Carson: Won the 300 hurdles as a sophomore at state last season.

 

 

Teams to watch in 4A

 

4A individuals to watch

Andrew Dubiel, Vista Ridge: 4A discus state champ. He captured the title with a throw of 164 feet – nearly seven feet farther than any of the state’s best throwers.

Alex Inzer, Lewis-Palmer: Won the 200 at the Liberty Lancers Invitational in 23.61.

Zac McCoy, Canon City: The 400 school record holder. He finished fourth in 4A last season.

 

Teams to watch in 3A

 

3A individuals to watch

Conner Wilburn, TCA: The sophomore followed his region-championship performance with a second-place finish in cross country state.

Josh George, TCA: Finished third at state cross country.

Dylan Brown, Manitou Springs: Leads Phil Rich’s team and could qualify in track and field events – double-threat guy.

 

Teams to watch in 2A

 

3A individuals to watch

William Mayhew, Vanguard: The freshman might burst onto the scene in the 400 and 800.

Adam Magginett, Peyton: A state qualifier in the 800 relay.

Zachary Nasif, Peyton: A distance runner who transferred from powerhouse Fountain-Fort Carson.

Fountain-Fort Carson’s Markesh Woodson leaves the field in the dust for the win in the 100 M dash Saturday, April 2, 2011, during the Pikes Peak Invite at Garry Berry Stadium. Photo by CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Christian murdock