10 athletes to watch at state track and field

By Scott Kaniewski May 16, 2017 | updated 9 years ago

We tried to steer clear of track and field athletes we marked as “Athletes to Watch” before the season started.

But some of those athletes couldn’t be left off this list for obvious reasons. You’ll know why when you read about them here, and again likely later this week.

The state meet starts Thursday and concludes Saturday at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood – snow or no snow, apparently.

Five girls to watch at this week’s state track and field meet:

Kiana JacksonFountain-Fort Carson, jr.The top seed in the 5A triple jump with a mark of 37-8 is only a half inch in front of the second seed. Jackson is also entered in the 100-meter hurdles at 13th (15.73).

Lauren GaleDiscovery Canyon, jr.Last year’s 4A trifecta champ (she won the 100, 200 and 400) battled through injuries and got healthy just in time to qualify in the 100 (tied for second, 12.38) and the 400 (third, 56.88). She also helped the 800 sprint medley team run a time of 1:48.68, good for the second seed.

Michaela MooreCheyenne Mountain, sr.She set the pace in 4A in the 100 (12.27) and is seeded third in the 200 (25.69). She will also run in the 400 relay where the Indians are seeded second with a time of 49.10.

The Classical Academy relaysThe Titans could be looking to pick up big points in the 3A team standings with the success of their relays. They are seeded third in the 400 relay (50.32), second in the 800 relay (1:44.55), second in the 1,600 relay (4:06.27), third in the 800 sprint medley (1:52.12) and second in the 3,200 relay (9:43.44).

Brittany FuchsCalhan, jr.Time of 12.47 in the 100 is second in 2A, while her 200 time of 25.63 is third. She’s also got Calhan’s 400 relay heading into state with the fastest time (51.25) and the 800 relay second (1:49.98).

Five boys to watch at state track and field meet

Donovan WilliamsFountain-Fort Carson, sr.He’s seeded first in 5A’s 100 (10.61) and first in the 200 (21.51) – both of those are top times in the state regardless of classification. He’ll also be running in the top-seeded 400 relay (41.96) and the Trojans’ 800 relay, seeded fifth (1:28.33).

Jequan HoganFountain-Fort Carson, jr.There’s a real chance Hogan takes three individual gold medals and adds a fourth individual medal. The junior is seeded first in 5A in the high jump (6-9) and triple jump (48-0), and second in the 110 hurdles (14.50), .02 seconds behind Rampart’s Xavier Bishop-Falu. He’s seeded seventh in the long jump (22-5).

Vista Ridge relaysThe Wolves have nobody seeded among the top five spots in the 100, 200 or 400. But when it comes to their 4A relays, the Wolves enter the state meet second in the 400 relay (42.54), second in the 800 relay (1:27.84) and first in the 1,600 relay (3:19.89). They also qualified (15th) in the 3,200 relay.

Tanner NormanTCA, sr.Both the 1,600 and the 3,200 are Norman’s to lose in the 3A meet. Earlier this season he broke the state high school record regardless of classification in the 3,200, finishing in 9:04.97. His 1,600 is tops in 3A for the season, too (4:17.99). He took second in both a year ago, when the Titans were 4A.

Chiante’ StewartEllicott, jr.Set the school record with a long jump of 21-8 1/2, which seeds him third heading to 2A meet. His triple jump of 42-6 1/2 has him fifth ahead of state. Will also compete in the 200 and 400 relay.

Fountain-Fort Carsonâs fourth-leg Kiana Jackson sprints toward the finish as the Trojan team won the 4×200 relay 4A/5A finals Saturday, April 22, 2017, during the Fountain-Fort Carson Track and Field Invitational at the Fountain-Fort Carson High School. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)