5A State Track and Field: Cherokee Trail boys are State Champs
The Cherokee Trail High School boys track team took the top spot in the team standings for the second consecutive season last weekend at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood. Beautiful weather held for all three days of competition starting on May 16. The Cougar boys scored 111 points, far outdistancing state runner-up Mountain Vista by a margin of 53 points. On the girls’ side, Eaglecrest placed fourth behind State Champion Rock Canyon and runner-up Fossil Ridge.
Grandview came in fifth in the girls’ team standings, Cherry Creek seventh, Cherokee Trail eighth and Smoky Hill 23rd. For the boys, the district filled out the top five, as Cherry Creek took third overall, Eaglecrest finished fourth, and Overland fifth.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Cougars Head Coach Chris Faust. “These kids worked really hard, and they’ve done a great job.”
CT junior sprinter Peyton Sommers, coming off a minor hamstring injury early in the regular season, was a top medalist in four events; the 100 Meter Dash, the 200 Meters, and the 400 Meters. He also was the anchor leg of the 4x200 Meter Relay win for the Cougars.
“Feels good man, especially after last year,” said Sommers, who also broke a collar bone playing football in 2023. “To be honest, I just go out there and try to run my race and trust my coaching,” he said.
Coach Faust had high praise for the junior sprinter.
“He did a great job,” Faust said. “At that first meet, he tweaked his hamstring, and he was very trusting in rehab and did everything we asked. He came in determined to be the fastest kid at this meet in the 100, 200, and 400, and he did it.”
But the 21-year head coach of the CT program was quick to point out the merits of his whole team.
“The important thing people need to remember about this track team, is that even without Peyton Sommers - undoubtedly the best track athlete at this meet -we would have won this meet without him,” he said. “You cannot forget about all the other kids who contributed.”
In girls’ events, Cherokee Trail junior Kaeli Powe was the state title winner in the Triple Jump with an effort of 40 feet, 06.25 inches.
“It finally happened,” Powe said. “First two years I got second, so I definitely used that to come out here and win, so it felt really good.”
Eaglecrest freshman Zenobia Witt won the girls long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 9.5 inches. Witt took second in the triple jump.
The Eaglecrest relay sprint teams kept up their winning ways in 2024. The Raptor foursome of freshman Tatum Gratrix, senior Anaya Ewing, junior Jaylynn Wilson and freshman Witt took home titles for the 4x100 Meter Relay and the 4 x 200. It was their third straight year winning the 4x200, but the 4x100 event had eluded the Eaglecrest girls.
“Truly, I’m just happy to be here with these great girls,” said Wilson. “Freshman and sophomore year we came up short twice (in the 4x100 Meter Relay), and this year we were able to get the job done, and there’s nothing better than that,” she said.
Cherry Creek took second in the 4x200.
Grandview senior and LSU commit Gabriella Cunningham continued her winning ways. Cunningham won both the 100 and 300 Meter Hurdles for the second straight year.
“I’m feeling very grateful,” Cunningham said. “Grateful for this ending with the two titles as a senior, so it’s a blessing.”
On the boys’ side, Overland junior Jarrius Ward was the story on the first day of competition when he threw the discus a meet record 203 feet, 4 inches, besting a mark that had stood since 1977.
“I originally I didn’t think I was going to get it, but thanks to my competitor (Chatfield senior Charlie LaFore) I knew I had to compete, and that’s how I accomplished the throw,” Ward said.
Overland Head Coach Bruce Reed says Ward will do better in the future.
“He’s explosive,” Reed said of the Blazers junior. “He could probably go 10.9 in the hundred if he wanted to, but he doesn’t want to run the 100. But that’s the explosiveness he puts into throwing the discus. He is just a junior, and I told him our goal is to move forward with the discus to throw it outside the stadium.”
Ward also took second to Chatfield’s LaFore in the Shot Put with a throw of 55 feet, 10.75 inches.
Overland senior Wondame Davis took home the title in the 5A Long Jump with a leap of 22 feet 11.25 inches.
The Eaglecrest boys relay teams kept pace with the girls as they took home State Championships in 4x100 Meter Relay and the 4x400. Junior Eric Hill, senior Jeffrey Poku, junior Noah Brown and senior Peace Warah bested Cherokee Trail in a close finish in the 4x100. Senior Cam Chapa, juniors Evan Keppy and Thierry Asare and senior Warah also edged out CT in the 4x400, also in a very close finish.
See all the final results here.
Congratulations to all the district track and field student athletes!
5A Girls State Team Tennis: Cherry Creek is the state runner-up
The defending champion Cherry Creek High School girls tennis team was defeated by No. 1 - seeded Ralston Valley last Tuesday at Denver Tennis Park. The Mustangs bested Creek 4 matches to 2. It was the first title for Ralston and the first loss for the Bruins since 2017.
The Mustangs took home victories in No. 2 Singles, No. 3 Singles, No. 1 Doubles and No. 3 Doubles. Cherry Creek won No. 2 and No. 4 Doubles. No. 1 Singles did not finish.
“Ralston Valley played exceptional tennis all throughout,” said Bruins Head Coach Chris Jacob. “We knew they’d be tough, and we played our best. I’m so proud of my team, the humans that they are, and how well they represent the program and our community.”
Coach Jacob said a defeat is certainly a character builder.
“To want to go over and congratulate opponents after a loss, just shows the character of who we have here,” Jacob said. “That’s who they are. They are good people, and that will take them far beyond anything we do on the tennis court, and this is what it’s all about.”
5A Regional Baseball: District sends three teams to state
Regional baseball took place on May 18 and Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek, and Grandview all advanced to the State Championship series beginning on May 24.
Region 1 hosted by Fossil Ridge had fireworks early, as the No. 1 Sabercats were ousted by No. 32 Eaglecrest. Final score was 5-1. In the second game of the day, (16) Grandview outlasted (17) Ralston Valley 5-4 in a 14-inning marathon. The championship saw Eaglecrest eliminated by the Wolves 6-2. The Raptors finish the season at 13-12. The Wolves will open first round play against (8) Prairie View on May 24 All-Star Park in Lakewood.
Region 5 play took place at Cherry Creek on May 18. The No. 5 Bruins advanced with an 8-1 win over (28) Far Northeast and a 10-0 shutout of (21) Mountain Vista. Creek Head Coach Marc Johnson’s last season at the helm continues in the first round of the state playoffs on May 24 against (13) Chaparral at All-Star Park.
Region 6 hosted by Rock Canyon saw 11-seeded Cherokee Trail defeat (22) Rampart 8-2. The Cougars then advanced to state with a close 2-1 win over (27) Brighton. CT will begin first round play against (19) Horizon on May 24 at All-City Stadium in Denver.
See the complete 5A bracket here.
Good luck to district baseball teams!
5A Girls State Golf: District players advance to championship
Players from Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek, and Grandview will be at Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield for the 2024 5A State Golf Championships on May 20 and 21. Play begins Monday at 7:30 a.m. Good luck to all CCSD golfers.
Posted 5/19/2024.
