State track: Day 1 results

Roshawn Reid went more than eight inches past his career best in the triple jump on Thursday during the first day of the CHSAA state track and field meet, placing fourth in the event to highlight area athletes’ performances. Reid’s 43 feet, 9 3/4 inch jump, which broke his own school record, was just one inch out of third place. The leap came on the second jump of the day for the senior, who qualified for finals but fouled on two of his attempts there. Caleb Johnson (46-9) of Longmont won the event.

“It was a great day — it was awesome,” said coach Rob Parish, who relished having contenders to follow throughout the day.

“To have all of that going on was really, really fun,” he said of keeping track of his four field athletes and three relays.

T.J. Nixon was unable to match his season best in the high jump (6-6), placing sixth with a mark of 6 feet, 2 inches. Though Parish knows the senior was hoping for more, there was no reason for discouragement in the broader picture.

“He’s had a really great year for us,” Parish said. Antoni Smith (6-8) won the event. Augustine Hancock moved up two places on her final throw in the shot put, placing eighth with a throw of 34-11.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

On the track, Sullivan Middaugh split a 1:57.5 leg in the boys 4×800-meter relay, outleaning Durango to claim fourth place for Battle Mountain. The first three Huskies hovered right around 2:00 for their two-lap portions, but it was the senior who had the fastest stick, moving the sixth-seeded team up two places from their predicted finishing slot. Cheyenne Mountain lead for the final two and a half legs, cruising to a time of 7:50.31.

“The guys ran really well,” said Parish, noting that Will Brunner knocked seven seconds off his best 800 on the second leg.

“For Sully to anchor in 1:57 was really exciting.”

The girls 4×800-meter race went according to script, with No. 1 Niwot creating a 50-meter gap on the first leg, a lead they only increased as the race continued. One of the premiere distance programs in the nation, the Cougars finished nine seconds ahead of second place Durango (9:33.12) with a 9:24.74. Battle Mountain finished third (9:44.25). The Huskies girls’ sprint medley team moved on to Friday’s final, qualifying with the fourth-fastest time on Thursday morning.

The forecast for tomorrow and Saturday is a high of 42 degrees and a 96% chance of precipitation by 8:00 a.m. The 4A 3200-meter run, which features four Huskies, goes off at 8:20. Parish said Whitton, Almonte and the Middaughs are ready for a fast race in any condition and with trail-running pedigree, could be well-suited for a potentially gritty eight-lap contest.

“They’re really tough runners,” he said.

Eagle Valley’s Yanitza Carbajal placed 15th in the triple jump to round out Thursday’s local performances.