LAKEWOOD | With one state championship to their credit, Cherokee Trail is looking forward to adding a bigger prize.
The Cougars’ hopes for winning the Class 5A boys state track championship got a boost from Jaylyn Mars, Evan White, Devin Arnold and Brandon Singleton, who teamed to win the 5A boys 4×200 meter relay on Friday at Jefferson County Stadium.
With the victory, Cherokee Trail’s point total rose to 28.5, putting it second behind Centennial League rival Cherry Creek with 36.
The Cougars victory — which came with Grandview on their heels in second — marked the lone championship for Aurora athletes on the second day of the three-day state meet.
Gateway’s Zack Golditch won the 5A boys discus and Regis Jesuit’s Jordan Hatfield took the 5A boys pole vault title on Thursday.
The meet wraps up on Saturday with a whole slew of finals, which could see plenty of winning for Aurora athletes.
Mars is the No. 1 seed in the 5A boys 200 meters, Singleton had the top prelim time in the 5A boys 400 meters, Regis Jesuit’s Ana Holland is No. 1 going into the 5A girls 100 and 400 meter dashes and Grandview’s Jordan Charles comes into the finals of the 5A boys 110-meter hurdles with the No. 1 seed in some of Aurora’s expected highlights.
A battle in the 4×400 meter relay could be pivotal in the 5A boys championship chase, as Cherry Creek and Cherokee Trail finished with the two best time in the prelims in the event that closes out the meet.
The Cherokee Trail girls also had some strong performance in relays and sit fourth in the team standings through two days with 28 points, just one behind Fort Collins for third and 14 behind leader Cherry Creek.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2013 CLASS 5A STATE TRACK MEET
May 17 at Jefferson County Stadium
Boys 5A team scores: Cherry Creek 36; CHEROKEE TRAIL 28.5; Highlands Ranch 22; Ft. Collins, 21; GRANDVIEW 19; GATEWAY 18; Palmer 17; Poudre 16; Liberty 15; Chatfield 14; Arapahoe 11.5; ThunderRidge 11; Ralston Valley 10; Columbine 10; REGIS JESUIT 10; Chaparral 10; Rampart 10; Loveland 9; SMOKY HILL 9; Doherty 8.5; Greeley West 8; Fairview 7.5; Legacy 7; Pine Creek 6; Pomona 6; Castle View 6; Ftn.-Ft. Carson 5; Rocky Mountain 4; Heritage 4; Fossil Ridge 4; Mountain Vista 3; Rock Canyon 2.
Girls 5A team scores: Cherry Creek 42; Arapahoe 39; Ft. Collins 29; CHEROKEE TRAIL 28; Loveland 25; Ftn.-Ft. Carson 22; Poudre 18; SMOKY HILL 18; Lakewood 17; Monarch 16; Pine Creek 15; Rocky Mountain 14; GRANDVIEW 11; Legacy 11; Denver East 10; Fossil Ridge 9; Brighton 9; Fairview 8; EAGLECREST 8; Highlands Ranch 7; Arvada West 7; Mountain Range 7; Rampart 6; Littleton 5; ThunderRidge 5; Doherty 4; Dakota Ridge 4; RANGEVIEW 4; REGIS JESUIT 3; Chaparral 2.5; Grand Junction 2.5; Boulder 2; Greeley West 1; Standley Lake 1; Mountain Vista 1; Chatfield 1.
