Vista Ridge, Fountain-Fort Carson boys 800 relays claim state crowns
LAKEWOOD – Markesh Woodson’s hamstring looked just fine at the state track and field meet Friday afternoon.
The Fountain-Fort Carson senior showed the speed that earned him the 100- and 200-meter state crowns last year in anchoring the 800 relay team to the 5A state title with a time of 1 minute, 26.83 seconds. That was enough to edge Grandview’s quartet, which finished second in 1:27.06, and give the two-time defending state champion Trojans another relay state title.
“It feels great – no pain,” Woodson said of the tight right hamstring that kept him out of the 200 prelims Friday. “Lane seven wasn’t the fastest lane, but we knew we could show everyone we can be the fastest in any lane we get.”
Freshman Jordan Smith ran the first leg, with junior Solyde Bankston taking the second leg and freshman Tevin Donnell running the third. The group was all smiles after the victory.
“It feels great,” the Trojans said in unison about their state title.
A few races before, Vista Ridge’s 800 relay team claimed the 4A state crown with a 1:26.29, just 26-hundredths of a second off the state record set by Mullen in 2000. Brandon Cartagena anchored the Wolves’ foursome, which included Josh Lewis, Demitrius Warren and Pierre Copeland.
Broomfield was second in 1:27.77, with Falcon (1:28.12) third and Harrison (1:28.41) fourth. Palmer Ridge also made the medal stand, finishing eighth in 1:30.21.
“Our handoffs were clean, and I knew we had it from the start,” said Warren, a senior, who will run track at UCCS beginning this fall. “Josh Lewis gave us a great start, and I could feel it from the beginning. This is awesome. It feels great.”
Earlier in the day, the same four Wolves qualified for Saturday’s 400 relay finals.
Vista Ridge, Fountain-Fort Carson boys 800 relays claim state crowns
LAKEWOOD – Markesh Woodson’s hamstring looked just fine at the state track and field meet Friday afternoon.
The Fountain-Fort Carson senior showed the speed that earned him the 100- and 200-meter state crowns last year in anchoring the 800 relay team to the 5A state title with a time of 1 minute, 26.83 seconds. That was enough to edge Grandview’s quartet, which finished second in 1:27.06, and give the two-time defending state champion Trojans another relay state title.
“It feels great – no pain,” Woodson said of the tight right hamstring that kept him out of the 200 prelims Friday. “Lane seven wasn’t the fastest lane, but we knew we could show everyone we can be the fastest in any lane we get.”
Freshman Jordan Smith ran the first leg, with junior Solyde Bankston taking the second leg and freshman Tevin Donnell running the third. The group was all smiles after the victory.
“It feels great,” the Trojans said in unison about their state title.
A few races before, Vista Ridge’s 800 relay team claimed the 4A state crown with a 1:26.29, just 26-hundredths of a second off the state record set by Mullen in 2000. Brandon Cartagena anchored the Wolves’ foursome, which included Josh Lewis, Demitrius Warren and Pierre Copeland.
Broomfield was second in 1:27.77, with Falcon (1:28.12) third and Harrison (1:28.41) fourth. Palmer Ridge also made the medal stand, finishing eighth in 1:30.21.
“Our handoffs were clean, and I knew we had it from the start,” said Warren, a senior, who will run track at UCCS beginning this fall. “Josh Lewis gave us a great start, and I could feel it from the beginning. This is awesome. It feels great.”
Earlier in the day, the same four Wolves qualified for Saturday’s 400 relay finals.