The first practice for The Classical Academy last season was a dreary taste of bad things to come.

Then-junior Allison Kropkowski severely injured her hamstring to kick off what was an injury-clogged spring for the Titans.

“There was just so many,” nine-season TCA coach Timothy Daggett said.

The Titans had won five consecutive 3A state track and field titles before last year’s third-place finish. Kropkowski’s injury took her away from the 100, 200, 400 and relays for most of the season.

“It almost took her dream away,” said her dad, Greg Kropkowski, who saw his daughter fight through injuries to run in the 400 and 800 relays at state last May.

But her times were without a doubt sluggish compared to her sophomore season.

For the next handful of months she worked with coaches and exercise physiologist Chris Knott to regain strength in her left leg.

She continued to struggle at club meets over the summer but kept her head up. Off the track she kept up her 3.7 GPA and helped her parents care for her autistic brother.

Her good tough mentality on and off the track took her to better places.

“It was a tough road,” she said. “But it was worth it.”

On July 31 Kropkowski’s labor came to fruition in the Rocky Mountain State Games where she regained form and took first in the 100 (in 13.2 seconds), 200 (26.8) and 400 (1:01.59).

“I just felt good,” said Kropkowski, who won the events on the same day. “It was great to win but I was so excited to feel like me again out there.”

Weeks later, the senior was named the Female Athlete of the Year for the State Games. Of the 6,500 who participated, one male and one female were named as the games’ best.

Leading up to the spring she has run the 400 in a personal-best 59.91 indoors in January. And according to her dad, coaches usually can take off 2 to 3 seconds when transferring to outdoor.

“(And that) would put her among the better quarter-milers she sees in the results sheets from college meets of the schools she’d like to attend,” said her dad. (Kropkowski is looking intently to run at Northern Colorado or Colorado Mesa.)

Before that though, Kropkowski has one more step she needs to make after last year’s nightmare season.

“I want to get that feeling I had as a freshman and sophomore when we won state,” said Kropkowski, who has qualified for state all three years. “It’s such a great feeling and I am just ready to go for it.”