Palmer Ridge takes second

The Bears’ Class 4A state titles streak ended at two years. The silver-lining was second place on Saturday. Mountain View won with 89 points, Palmer Ridge had 79.

“It was an emotional weekend,” Bears coach Kelly Christensen said.

Caleb Ojennes led Palmer Ridge with state titles in the 200 (21.55 seconds), 400 (46.71) and 1,600 relay (3:18.92) on Saturday. George Silvanic won 4A discus with a toss of 158 feet and 7 inches.

“We’re still feeling good,” Ojennes said. “I’m proud of each and every one of those guys for fighting in the state meet.”

Behind the Bears, TCA was third (61) and Vista Ridge was fourth (57).

CSCS and Manitou Springs win the 1,600 relay

CSCS girls and Manitou Springs boys won the 3A 1,600 relay to close out the state track and field meet on Saturday.

Abby Skrastins anchored the Lions to a win in 4:05.98. Jared Keul finished off the Mustangs’ win with a meet record of 3:21.46.

“We were just hoping to place really well,” said Skrastins. “We PR’d (set personal record) in prelims, and taking first in our heat was a huge confidence boost.

“And so, when we were warming up, we were thinking to ourselves, ‘Let’s just go win this thing. We’ve worked so hard this season to this point. Why not just win it?'”

Cañon City pair hurdles

Aaron McCoy and Alexis Buckhaults each won hurdle titles for Cañon City on the final day of state.

Buckhaults won the Class 4A 100 hurdles in 14.90 early in the day. And McCoy caught TCA’s Alex Miller in the final meters and won the 300 hurdles in 37.94.

“He was quite a few steps ahead of me but he hit a hurdle,” McCoy said of Miller. “I was just focused on catching him after that.”

Oh so close for TCA hurdler

TCA’s Alex Miller was edged out of a state title in both 4A hurdles.

He missed winning the 4A 110 hurdles by .03 seconds (14.66), and the 300 hurdles by .28 seconds (38.22).

Other silver winners from the final day

The area took home 17 golds and 16 silvers Saturday.

Among the second-place finishers were Rampart’s Xavier Bishop-Falu, who went second in the 5A boys’ 110 hurdles (14.72). Teammate Tyler Prejean did the same in the 300 hurdles (39.32).

TCA’s Chantae Steele was second in the 4A girls’ 400 (55.66); the Titans also took second in the 400 relay in 48.60; Erika Willis took second to her sister Andrea in pole vault (11-11); Tanner Norman was second in the 4A boys’ 1,600 (4:22.45); and Alex Miller took second in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

– Other silvers: Manitou Springs’ Jared Keul, who lost a lead late into the 3A boys’ 400 (48.66); Donovan Williams after coming behind teammate Christian Lyon in 5A boys’ 200 (22.02); Calhan’s Brittany Fuchs in the 2A girls’ 200 (25.79); Vista Ridge in 4A boys’ 1,600 relay (3:19.53); Pikes Peak Christian’s Tommy Harmon in the 1A boys’ pole vault (10-9); CSCS’s Ethan Rummell in 3A long jump (21-7.5); Air Academy’s Nik Chappee in the 4A boys’ 400 (47.88); and Palmer’s William Ross in 5A boys’ triple jump (46-2.25).