LAKEWOOD | Gateway’s Zack Golditch and Rangeview’s Katie Pham flexed their muscles Thursday as Aurora swept the Class 5A discus events as the state track meet.
Golditch won his first career state championship with a throw of 167 feet, 11 inches, at Jefferson County Stadium — short of his season best of 171 feet — but enough to make him the first thrower in Gateway history to win a state championship. He was more than three feet in front of Pomona’s Kenny Shinley and four feet better than Columbine’s Josh Croy, his closest pursuer in the rankings for most of the season.
Pham’s victory marked the second of her career in the discus, matching the surprise crown she won as a sophomore in 2010. Her win came by a much smaller margin, as her throw of 141-3 was a mere five inches beyond the best by Loveland’s Sydnie Spencer.
While Golditch is well down on the list of qualifiers for the 5A shot put, Pham has a chance to sweep the girls throwing events as she is the top seed going into the shot put, which is on tap for 8:30 a.m. Saturday. She’ll have two Aurora challengers on her heels in Grandview’s Adaeze Obinnah and Hinkley’s BaJa Robinson.
The discus championships were the lone golds earned by city athletes in the first day of competition, but a handful turned in third-place showings in the sprinkling of finals: Rangeview’s Rikki Gonzales took 3rd in the 3,200 meter run — the same race Rachael Chacko of Smoky Hill led going into the final curve before finishing sixth — Eaglecrest high jumper Avery Roberts cleared 6 feet, 6 inches and finished third, the Smoky Hill boys 4×800-meter relay team was also third, as was Eaglecrest’s Danielle Williams in the long jump, followed in fourth by Cherokee Trail’s Hannah Sparks.
Among notable prelim performances, Smoky Hill junior Zainab Sanni posted the top qualifying time in the 100 meter dash and also was second in the 200 meters. Regis Jesuit’s Mia Holland also made the finals in both events, while Eaglecrest’s Tashay Brown (200 meters), Daisha Stanley (100 meters) and Lettia Wilson (100 meters) — all sophomores — made one each.
On the boys side, Grandview’s Glen Taylor is the only Aurora sprinter to make the finals in both events, a surprise considering Eaglecrest’s Marcus Harris was the No. 2 seed in both events, but finished last in his heat in the 100 and didn’t run the 200 meter prelims. Overland’s Chaz Butler, a top-four finisher in both events last season, was scratched from both events.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
CLASS 5A STATE TRACK MEET RESULTS, MAY 17
FINAL EVENTS (Top 9 place)
5A Girls 3,200 meter run: 1. McKenna Spillar (Dakota Ridge), 11 minutes. 00.85 seconds; 2. Alaina Anderson (Pomona), 11:00.86; 3. RIKKI GONZALES (RANGEVIEW), 11:01.46; 4. Jordyn Colter (Cherry Creek), 11:01.95; 5. Hannah Everson (Liberty), 11:02.42; 6. RACHAEL CHACKO (SMOKY HILL), 11:02.62; 7. Isabelle Kennedy (Fairview), 11:02.71; 8. ERIN NORTON (GRANDVIEW), 11:03.27; 9. Karlee Schwartzkopf (Mountain Vista), 11:03.61; 10. Erin McLaughlin (Boulder), 11:13.52; 11. Emma Gee (Legacy), 11:14.12; 12. Melanie Nun (Legacy), 11:20.05; 13. Janelle Lincks (Horizon), 11:28.77; 14. Lindsey Smith (Mountain Vista), 11:44.48; 15. Sam Lewis (Boulder), 11:55.52; 16. Ashley Bock (Fossil Ridge), 11:58.09; 17. Kari VanZyl (Fort Collins), 12:16.62; Taylor Floming (Monarch) did not start
5A Boys 3,200 meter run: 1. Griffin Hay (Fort Collins), 9 minutes, 30.61 seconds; 2. Jefferson Abbey (Fort Collins), 9:33.30; 3. Danny Carney (Dakota Ridge), 9:33.99; 4. Brandon Williams (Bear Creek), 9:35.01; 5. Stefan Lowe (Bear Creek), 9:37.19; 6. Garrett Kenyon (Liberty), 9:38.39; 7. Ed Cleary (Fossil Ridge), 9:38.80; 8. Christopher Davis (Arapahoe), 9:39.80; 9. Adam Hartman (Horizon), 9:42.45; 10. Clayson Shumway (Liberty), 9:44.81; 11. Cerake Gerberkidane (Denver East), 9:47.85; 12. Tucker Hamilton (Rampart), 9:52.14; 13. John Patterson (Fort Collins), 10:04.38; 14. Michael Claflin (Liberty), 10:05.28; 15. Taylor Anders (Greeley West), 10:08.20; 16. Andrew Walton (Mountain Vista), 10:13.78; KYLE AMES (SMOKY HILL), Kirk Webb (Monarch), did not start
5A Girls 4×800 meter relay: 1. Cherry Creek, 9 minutes, 6.26 seconds; 2. Monarch, 9:15.78; 3. Arapahoe, 9:19.38; 4. Loveland, 9:20.09; 5. Mountain Vista, 9.25.29; 6. Fort Collins, 9:26.84; 7. Pine Creek, 9:30.38; 8. Highlands Ranch, 9:35.70; 9. SMOKY HILL, 9:36.27; Other Aurora results: 15. Grandview, 9:50.42
5A Boys 4×800 meter relay: 1. Cherry Creek, 7 minutes, 47.12 seconds; 2. Fairview, 7:56.44; 3. SMOKY HILL, 8:01.83; 4. Chatfield, 8:03.58; 5. Littleton, 8:04.39; 6. Mountain Vista, 8:07.13; 7. Heritage, 8:07.50; 8. Fossil Ridge, 8:09.10; 9. Chaparral, 8:11.85; Other Aurora results: 13. Grandview, 8:15.48; 16. Cherokee Trail, 8:21.74
5A Girls pole vault: 1. Lauren Santi (Lakewood), 11 feet, 6 inches; 2. Lauren Brunsdale (Lakewood), 11-0; 3. Mikeala Lodl (Lakewood), 10-6; 4. Megan McCabe (Cherry Creek), 10-6; T5. McKenzie Patarino (Lakewood), 10-0; T5. Paris Duhamel (Arapahoe), 10-0; T7. Zoe Robb (Boulder), 10-0; T7. Madison Gomer (Ralston Valley), 10-0; T9. ANNA LOKEN (GRANDVIEW), 10-0; T9. Lisa Bohannon (Loveland), 10-0; T9. Emily Cleary (Fossil Ridge), 10-0; Other Aurora results: T14. Drew Cooper (Smoky Hill), 9-6
5A Boys pole vault: 1. Nick Dalton (Bear Creek), 15 feet, 9 inches; 2. Josh Holland (Arapahoe), 14-6; 3. Mackenzie Felkley (Boulder), 14-6; T4. Austin Walter (Rocky Mountain0, 14-0; T4. Dakota Vickles (ThunderRidge), 14-0; T6. JORDAN HATFIELD (REGIS JESUIT), 13-6; T6. Nolan Ellis (Chaparral), 13-6; 8. Ryan Reasoner (Chaparral), 13-6; 9. MITCHELL WALTZ (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 13-0; Other Aurora results: 10. Harley Korte (Cherokee Trail), 13-0
5A Girls long jump: 1. Chyna Ries (George Washington), 19 feet, 5 inches; 2. Haley Brogan (Lakewood), 18-4 1/4; 3. DANIELLE WILLIAMS (EAGLECREST), 17-9 3.4; 4. HANNAH SPARKS (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 17-9 1/2; 5. Stephanie Bess (Arvada West), 17-7 1/2; 6. Koree Willer (Fossil Ridge), 17-6 1/2; 7. Carly Lester (Rocky Mountain), 17-6 1/4; 8. Whitney Jackson (Grand Junction), 17-4; 9. Diana Curti (Palmer), 16-11 1/2; Other Aurora results: 11. Stephanie Nwagwu (Grandview), 16-3; 17. Brianna Pardner (Overland), 14-10 3/4
5A Boys high jump: 1. Ryan Cook (Rampart), 6 feet, 7 inches; 2. Camren McWee (Legacy), 6-6; 3. AVERY ROBERTS (EAGLECREST), 6-6; 4. Simon Hayes (Pine Creek), 6-5; 5. Trevor Rex (Highlands Ranch), 6-5; 6. CAMERON SMITH (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 6-3; 7. Brandon Rodewald (ThunderRidge), 6-3; 8. Tre Howard (Greeley West), 6-2; T9. Tyler Russell (Fossil Ridge), 6-2; T9. Matt Bolt (Liberty), 6-2; Other Aurora results: 12. Jr Smith (Grandview), 6-0
5A Girls discus: 1. KATIE PHAM (RANGEVIEW), 141 feet, 3 inches; 2. Sydnie Spencer (Loveland), 140-8; 3. Ashley Ehardt (Rampart), 133-5; 4. Anna Gerhard (Loveland), 127-6; 5. Valleria Miranda (Lakewood), 126-5; 6. Brigitta Games (Chatfield), 125-3; 7. Josephine Natrasevschi (Fort Collins), 123-10; 8. Rachel Pott (Poudre), 119-8; 9. Kara Walling (Legacy), 119-4; Other Aurora results: 18. Maddie Leatherbury (Cherokee Trail), 95-5
5A Boys discus: 1. ZACK GOLDITCH (GATEWAY), 167 feet, 11 inches; 2. Kenny Shinley (Pomona), 164-2; 3. Josh Croy (Columbine), 163-3; 4. Austin Waterman (Greeley West), 159-9; 5. Colton Deters (Grand Junction), 154-3; 6. Deshaun Harris (Grand Junction), 151-5; 7. Cody Nitzel (Bear Creek), 150-11; 8. Bryce Wilson (Rocky Mountain), 150-8; 9. Brendan Boyle (Rocky Mountain), 150-8; Other Aurora results: 13. Ben Hanson (Grandview), 133-0; 17. Taylor Schultz (Grandview), 112-2
PRELIMS (Top 9 qualify for finals)
5A Girls 800 sprint medley relay: 1. Loveland, 1 minute, 46.47 seconds; 2. EAGLECREST, 1:48.33; 3. Fountain-Fort Carson, 1:47.40, 4. Ponderosa, 1:48.69, 5. Pine Creek, 1:48.36; 6. Littleton, 1:48.84; 7. Arapahoe, 1:48.51; 8. Fort Collins, 1:48.87; 9. OVERLAND, 1:48.95. Other Aurora results: No. 12 Rangeview, 1:50.38; No. 18 Regis Jesuit, 1:56.19
5A Girls 100 meter dash: 1. ZAINAB SANNI (SMOKY HILL), 11.80 seconds; 2. Chyna Ries (George Washington), 11.93; 3. Alleandra Watt (Pine Creek), 11.96; 4. Emily Romo (Cherry Creek), 12.11; 5. DAISHA STANLEY (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 12.29; 6. LETTIA WILSON (GRANDVIEW), 12.30; 7. Kiera Brown (Liberty), 12.37; 8. MIA HOLLAND (REGIS JESUIT), 12.39; 9. Sierra Vaden (Denver East), 12.48; Other Aurora results: 11. Shayna Yon (Cherokee Trail), 12.60; 12. Brianna Pardner (Overland), 12.62
5A Boys 100 meter dash: 1. Raymond Bozmans (Fort Collins), 10.67 seconds; 2. Ben Meyer (Fairview), 10.74; 3. Gavin McHenry (Chaparral), 10.78; 4. Markesh Woodson (Ftn.-Fort Carson), 10.79; 5. Solyde Bankston (Ftn.-Fort Carson), 10.85; 6. Enyinna Isiguzo (George Washington), 10.91; 7. Tanner Townsend (Castle View), 10:96; 8. Matthew Hughes (Fort Collins), 11.00; 9. GLEN TAYLOR (GRANDVIEW), 11.04; Other Aurora results: 11. John Green (Cherokee Trail), 11.21; 12. Joey Scott (Cherokee Trail), 11.27; 16. Marcus Harris (Eaglecrest), 11.86; Chaz Butler (Overland) did not start
5A Girls 4×200 meter relay: 1. Loveland, 1 minute, 39.22 seconds; 2. EAGLECREST, 1:40.28; 3. Littleton, 1:42.19; 4. Fort Collins, 1:42.20; 5. CHEROKEE TRAIL, 1:42.47; 6. Cherry Creek, 1:43.24; 7. Pine Creek, 1:43.16; 8. Fountain-Fort Carson, 1:43.33; 9. Arapahoe, 1:43.63; Other Aurora results: 12. Smoky Hill, 1:44.61; 14. Rangeview, 1:44.82; 15. Grandview, 1:45.32
5A Boys 4×200 meter relay: 1. Fort Collins, 1 minute, 27.10 seconds; 2. GRANDVIEW, 1:27.54; 3. Fountain-Fort Carson, 1:27.23; 4. RANGEVIEW, 1:27.653; 5. Chaparral, 1:27.654; 6. Fairview, 1:28.21; 7. CHEROKEE TRAIL, 1:27.79; 8. ThunderRidge, 1:28.26; 9. Heritage, 1:28.29
5A Girls 100-meter hurdles: 1. Dior Hall (George Washington), 13.31 seconds; 2. Erin Bowers (ThunderRidge), 14.60; 3. Carly Lester (Rocky Mountain), 14.65; 4. Haley Brogan (Lakewood), 15.08; 5. Kaylee Packham (Loveland), 15.10; 6. Monica Franco (Fort Collins), 15.24; 7. Margaret Hurst (Doherty), 15:18; 8. Justine Sherman (Fairview), 15.36; 9. AMANDA ANDREWS (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 15.51; Other Aurora results: 10. Taylor Hill (Grandview), 15.58; Victoria Coombe (Eaglecrest) did not start
5A Boys 110-meter hurdles: 1. Nick Dalton (Bear Creek), 14.82 seconds; 2. Ryne Chavez (Doherty), 14.86; 3. Jace Horak (Fossil Ridge), 14.84; 4. Aaron Paden (Pine Creek), 14.97; 5. DEVIN BELL (CHEROKEE TRAIL), 15.00; 6. John Lambert (Fountain-Fort Carson), 15.11; 7. Cody Billings (Littleton), 15.06; 8. Charles Rappe (Poudre), 15.07; 9. Ethan Leonard (Fossil Ridge), 15.24; Other Aurora results: 16. Jordan Charles (Grandview), 15.54
5A Girls 400 meter dash: 1. Rhianna Williams (Fossil Ridge), 55.94 seconds; 2. Sarah Clough (Cherry Creek), 56.39; 3. Amanda Lark (Ponderosa), 56.45; 4. McKenzie Brogan (Lakewood), 56.82; 5. Kaela Edwards (Littleton), 56.81; 6. Grace Brittan (Littleton), 56.97; 7. Taryn Phipps (Arapahoe), 57.34; 8. Dana Gaetani (Littleton), 57.41; 9. BRIANNA PARDNER (OVERLAND), 57.61; Other Aurora results: 12. Alicia Taurchini (Eaglecrest), 59.05; 13. Ashley Windom (Eaglecrest), 59.54
5A Boys 400 meter dash: 1. Kordell Deffebaugh (Montbello), 47.19 seconds; 2. Ian Rozier (ThunderRidge), 47.92; 3. Raymond Bozmans (Fort Collins), 48.20; 4. Erik Gaytan (Chatfield), 48.34; 5. Lance Loken (Arapahoe), 48.36; 6. Jesse Dunn (Pomona), 48.52; 7. Ben Goodman (Palmer), 48.66; 8. JORDAN MEDINA (RANGEVIEW), 49.06; 9. Ryne Chavez (Doherty), 49.06; Other Aurora results: Brandon Singleton (Cherokee Trail), did not start
5A Girls 200 meter dash: 1. Alleandra Watt (Pine Creek), 24.48 seconds; 2. ZAINAB SANNI (SMOKY HILL), 24.71; 3. TASHAY BROWN (EAGLECREST), 24.79; 4. Chyna Ries (George Washington), 24.83; 5. DIor Hall (George Washington), 24.92; 6. Emily Romo (Cherry Creek), 25.24; 7. MIA HOLLAND (REGIS JESUIT), 25.46; 8. Rhianna Williams (Fossil Ridge), 25.50; 9. McKenzie Brogan (Lakew00d), 25.75; Other Aurora results: 10. Lettia Wilson (Grandview), 26.09
5A Boys 200 meter dash: 1. Raymond Bozmans (Fort Collins), 21.56 seconds; 2. Ben Meyer (Fairview), 21.70; 3. Kordell Deffebaugh (Montbello), 21.62; 4. Erik Gaytan (Chatfield), 22.11; 5. Enyinna Isiguzo (George Washington), 21.89; 6. Ryan Rubley (Mountain Vista), 22.19; 7. Gavin McHenry (Chaparral), 21.96; 8. GLEN TAYLOR (GRANDVIEW), 22.30; 9. Tanner Townsend (Castle View), 22.39; Other Aurora results: 13. John Green (Cherokee Trail), 22.76; Marcus Harris (Eaglecrest), Chaz Butler (Overland), did not start
