Hammer Time was nearly a decade in the making for the Eaglecrest boys lacrosse team.
For eight straight seasons, the Raptors watched archrival Smoky Hill hoist The Hammer traveling trophy — a sledgehammer featuring both schools’ logos — and continue to swing the rivalry in one direction.
The scene was much different April 8 at Legacy Stadium, as junior Jordan Oliver’s goal with 4.2 seconds left lifted Eaglecrest to a 3-2 victory over the Buffaloes on a windy, chilly, defensive-minded night to get The Hammer back for the first time since 2006.
Smoky Hill — held in single digits for the first time in the last nine meetings between the teams — twice had one-goal leads thanks to Joe Whitmore and Hayden Blubaugh.
• Morgan Sahm and Caroline O’Donnell each shot 9-over-par 83 to tie for second place in the second Centennial League girls golf tournament of the season on April 9. The Wolves finished second as a team behind Cherry Creek in play at Aurora Hills G.C., while Cherokee Trail finished fourth and Eaglecrest sixth.
• The Cherokee Trail girls track team posted another decisive victory April 11, as the Cougars racked up 145 points to win the Pomona Invitational at Jefferson County Stadium, site of the Class 5A state track meet in a few weeks. Senior Shayna Yon dominated the meet with victories in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, as well as in the long jump, while she also ran on Cherokee Trail’s winning 4×200 meter relay. Sydnee Larkin (triple jump) added the other event win for the Cougars, while Grandview’s win came from Kennede Brown in the 100 meter hurdles and Brynell Yount captured the 400 meter title for Smoky Hill. On the boys side, Grandview’s Triston Sisneros swept the hurdles and Chukwuma Obinnah claimed the shot put, while Smoky Hill’s Blake Yount ruled the 1,600.
• Maya Evans continued her oustanding freshman campaign on the track for Vista PEAK with two event wins at the loaded Runners Roost Invitational April 11 at Mullen. Evans won the 100 meter dash and the long jump and finished second in the 200. Two Regis Jesuit boys found major success, as Javan Lanier finished first in the fastest heat of both the 100 and 200 meters, while state high jump leader Austin Campbell claimed the event.
• While Fossil Ridge swam away from the field, Smoky Hill edged Ponderosa by a single point to take second at the annual Smoky Hill Invitational April 11. Junior Aidan Mercer won on the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke and senior Alex Kohlman broke his own meet record in the 100 freestyle as the Buffaloes scored 373 points to Ponderosa’s 372. Mercer won comfortably in both the 200 IM (1 minute, 57.71 seconds) and the breaststroke (59.22), while Kohlman’s 46.74 topped the meet mark of 47.17 he set last season. Kohlman also swam faster than former teammate Juhan Hong’s meet record in the 200 freestyle, but he was touched out by Fossil Ridge’s Walter Dauksher by 0.01 for the championship. Diver Eric Lammon secured the only win for Cherokee Trail, which claimed fifth in the 16-team field. Lammon scored 432.30 points to take the diving crown, with teammate Tristan Nation 3rd with 421.90.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasports. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel