LAKEWOOD • The 5A state track meet ended with one local area athlete winning another state title, and two others capturing their first.In one of the biggest surprises of the 2009 state track and field meet, Air Academy triple jumper Anthony Cardinale, ranked No. 14 entering the meet, won the state title.Cardinale jumped 46 feet, three inches on his final jump to capture the state title, after previously having a personal best of 43 feet, six inches.“This was Anthony’s first year of ever coming out for the track team, and we were all pleasantly surprised by his amazing performance,” Air Academy jumpers coach Phil Roiko said.

“Coach Roiko prepared me very well for this weekend, and today I learned that with hard work anything really is possible,” Cardinale said. “It didn’t hit me for a while that I had won. It was crazy, and I was definitely in shock”Cardinale wasn’t on the radar of most favorites in the event, or their coaches, but quickly gained attention by jumping farther then he ever had before.“He is a kid with a lot of talent, and I think we’re just scratching the surface of what he could do with more training,” Roiko said.The other first-time state champion in 5A was Rampart’s Devin Mohn, who ran the boys’ 400-meter race in 48.01.Mohn exploded from the pack the last 100 meters and cruised to his first title.“This feels really good because I’ve put so much work in, and now it’s paid off,” Mohn said. “I just got out quickly, then moved into first and was able to stride in for the win.”Coronado’s LaTraia Scott won her second state title in as many days, as she crushed the field in the girls’ 100 dash with a time of 11.91 to defend her title.Scott made sure to win the final individual event of her career by a wide margin, as she pulled away and won by several feet.“I just started out fast and I could see the people beside me, but I can accelerate the entire race, and that’s what got me the win,” Scott said. “It feels very surreal to win this event.”

Photo by