LAKEWOOD | Hinkley’s resurgence continued on the track continued with more phenomenal performances from stars Darrien Wells and Angel Heredia Sunday on the final day of the Class 5A state track meet.
In an abbreviated two-day meet at Jefferson County Stadium, the Thunderbirds racked up 20 points more than they did a year ago and repeated their third-place finish from the previous season, as the Thunderbirds lacked the depth to keep up with Fountain-Fort Carson and Monarch, who traded punches until the last event.
Wells streaked to his second straight 5A state championship in the 400 meters and earned his fourth trip to an elevated position on the medal podium for the meet, while Heredia followed up his state championship in the 300 meter hurdles with a third place in the 110 hurdles and also placed sixth in the 400 for coach Chris Carhart’s team.
Not far behind Hinkley came Cherokee Trail, which amassed 43 points to finish fourth.
The Cougars’ team of Kellen Monemstine, KJ Sapp, Tyler Kruse and Nelson Alluce tried to join the Cherokee Trail girls team as 4×100 relay state champions, but couldn’t quite knock off Fountain-Fort Carson.
Regis Jesuit’s Geoffrey Lord managed to graduate in the morning and get to the stadium in time to grab fourth place in the boys vole vault, giving the Raiders a boost towards their 23 points, which put them in a tie for 13th.
Overland picked up 18.16 points in all with junior Cam Murray responsible for many of them, including eight from his third-place finish in the 400 meters. Murray was in position to win the race down the stretch until Wells accelerated past him to the finish line.
Chance Walker and Mathew Thomas both made the medal podium in the long jump for Rangeview, which collected 16 points to tie for 19th, while senior Josiah Barker came in fifth in the pole vault to pace Eaglecrest.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2017 CLASS 5A STATE TRACK MEET RESULTS, BOYS
5A boys team scores: 1. Fountain-Fort Carson 106 points; 2. Monarch 101; 3. HINKLEY 59; 4. CHEROKEE TRAIL 43; 5. Denver East 36; 6. Fort Collins 35; 7. Highlands Ranch 32; 8. Castle View 30 9. Cherry Creek 28; 10. Denver South 27; 11. Mountain Vista 25; 12. Rock Canyon 23.16; T13. REGIS JESUIT 23; T13. Pomona 23; 15. Legend 20; 16. OVERLAND 18.16; 17. Douglas County 18.16; 18. Fruita Monument 18; T19. RANGEVIEW 16; T21. EAGLECREST 14; T21. ThunderRidge 14; 23. Broomfield 13; 24. Grand Junction 10.5; 25. Rampart 10; 26. Palmer 8; T27. Poudre 7; T27. Lakewood 7; T27. Coronado 7; 30. Ralston Valley 6; 31. Bear Creek 5.16; 32. Arapahoe 4.16; 33. Columbine 4; T34. GATEWAY 3; T34. Chatfield 3; T34. Loveland 3; 37. Horizon 2.5; T38. Liberty 2; T38. Prairie View 2; T40. Dakota Ridge 1; T40. Legacy 1; T40. Brighton 1; T40. Chaparral 1; T40. Doherty 1; 45. Fossil Ridge 0.16
