TCA girls hold their own in Pueblo against 5A and 4A competition
PUEBLO – The Classical Academy coach Timothy Daggett will tiptoe, hurdle and jump around the notion of winning 3A state for the sixth time in seven years.
When asked why he was hesitant to consider another state track and field title this season — after his girls took third with 62 points in the Centennial Invitational, which was mostly comprised of 4A and 5A schools Saturday — he laughed and remained hushed in humility.
“Part of the reason I am (reserved) is because of (all the injuries) we had last year,” said Daggett whose Titans had a letdown last year when they took third at state after many of the top runners suffered injuries early in the season. “And part of it is I never want to say I expect something. There are so many variables and they’re just high school kids.
“I will say we are really excited about our race today.”
And while TCA was The Cautious Academy off the track, on the track The Collected Academy proved it is back to its winning ways.
To start the day, the Titans were without arguably their top two runners in Shelby Stableford and Regan Mullen, who were running in Chandler, Ariz. By the end of the meet, TCA still managed to place 11 girls in the top five over 19 events.
But more importantly it managed to look healthy.
Senior Allison Kropkowski finished second in the 400 at 57.57 seconds — .25 off the lead. Last spring she severely injured her hamstring in the first practice of her junior year. After a year of rehab, Daggett said she is past expectations and looks to be in top form.
“Which makes me a little nervous,” Daggett said. “You don’t want to peak too early so we need to be careful not to overrun her.”
Sophomore Lauren Hamilton caught Pueblo South’s Taylor Lopez-Cepero, who was dealing with allergies during the race, and crossed first at 2:23.75. The time was nearly 4 seconds better than any other runner.
Last season, Hamilton’s pulled hip muscle ended her season after the second meet.
“We feel pressure to win,” she said. “We want to take it one week at a time, but we really, really want to win state.”
Notables:
Out of 18 schools, Sand Creek finished second with a score of 91, Pine Creek finished fourth with 56 points and Pueblo South won the meet with a score of 128.5.
The Scorpions dominated the sprint relays. They won the 400 and 800 sprint medley; then took second in the 800.
“This is what we expected,” said junior Hayley Gantt who ran a leg of the 800 medley and then anchored the 400 and 800. “We’re definitely going to go to state, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Classical Academy’s Hannah Carr competes in the discus at the Pueblo Centennial Bulldog Invitational Saturday at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Pine Creek’s Sarah Kosbab competes in the discus at the Pueblo Centennial Bulldog Invitational Saturday at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo. Photo by KEVIN KRECK, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE