Scott Stocker
LAKEWOOD - Oh, for just another inch or two.
It certainly was an inch that stymied Camren McWee of Legacy and Autumn Gardner of Mountain Range in the boys and girls Class 5A state high jump championships at Jeffco Stadium. If not for another inch on the standards, the pair might have taken home titles.
It also would have been more pleasant with a little less rain coming down through much of the finals on Saturday.
McWee, who is coming off a foot injury, placed second in the high jump with a 6-foot-6 effort. It was a mark just short of Rampart’s Ryan Cook, who took the title with his 6-7 leap. Yet, it was actually a finish that McWee thought might not happen midway through the season.
“My broken foot has kept me out and I’ve only had a total of five meets this season,” said McWee. “I was pretty excited and the key was just going out and doing the best I could. I’m just thankful I’m able to compete at all.
“My foot is getting better … I’ve had a lot to overcome down the stretch and I hope the foot holds up.”
In the long jump, an inch mattered once again for McWee. This time he was beaten by Chaparral’s Curtis Ray, who leaped 23-01.75 to McWee’s 22-8.50.
“I barely scratched in the long jump on a leap that might have won it,” McWee said. “But, it wasn’t to be. I’m thankful I’ve been able to compete and finish the season, taking it as far as I could.”
Gardner jumped 5-7 for her silver medal, but another inch more she might have stayed in contention with eventual winner Carly Paul of Poudre, who won at 5-8.
“I was not expecting to get 5-7,” Gardner said. “That’s an inch-and-a-half better for me and a PR. This week has just been awesome. I worked out with Camren and he really helped me. He just wanted me to go out and jump. Carly is awesome, such good competition.”
Legacy also had another medal winner in the girls competition with Kara Walling also taking ninth.
“It was a good day against good competition,” Walling said. “I improved my PR from 118-10 to 119-4. I’m really happy, I moved up from sixth.”
Horizon’s Adam Hartman was able to come away with a couple of medals finishing seventh in the 1,600 with a time of 4:22.83 and ninth in the 3,200 at 9:42.45. Kirk Webb of Monarch blazed to victory in the 1,600 with a 4:17.41. Griffin Hay of Fort Colllins helped the Lambkins win the team title with his victory in the 3,200 at 9:30.61.
“That was hard,” Hartman said after his 3,200. “I don’t think I’ve hurt this bad in my life. That second lap really picked up, a fast pace and tough. It’s all mental when you get around these guys. But, I feel that I did as well as I could.”
The Horizon boys were able to pull out an eighth-place finish in the 400 relay behind the quartet of Trevon Weaver, Chad Reffel, Andy Cowhick and Dillon Harshman. And, this one was close from the gun. Fountain-Fort Carson won with a time of 41.99 while the Hawks were close at 43.25.
“Some of the teams we were able to beat in qualifying, but we lost to them today,” Harshman said. “Overall, it was not one of our best years, but there is not a better group of guys to work with.”
Weaver was proud the Hawks were also able to make the final field.
“We felt we went hard enough to earn our berth,” Weaver said. “All in all, it was pretty good, but I do wish we could have done a bit better today.”
Added Reffel, “We had fun and we are proud of each other for our accomplishment. But not taking first is not OK when you get down to it.”
Said Cowhick, “We could have run much better, but it’s been a great experience, one none of us will really forget.”
Westminster’s Zach Castro was 12th in the high jump and Northglenn Jaszen Burbank 15th in the triple jump.
Horizon’s Janelle Lincks was 12th in the 1,600 and 13th in the 3,200.
Legacy’s Emma Gee was 11th in the 3,200 and teammate Melanie Nun was 12th. Nun also finished 16th in the 1,600 and 18th in the 800.
