RIGSBY MAKES HUGE LEAP FROM 3A JUNIOR SEASON TO 5A WINNER
lakewood» Gunner Rigsby failed to make the Class 3A state long jump finals as a junior at Grand Valley last year, his first competing in track and field. On Sunday, he became the 5A state champion in the event. Rigsby transferred to Fruita Monument ahead of his senior season, and as he honed his technique in the long jump, the natural athletic ability that allows him to easily dunk a basketball as a 5-foot-10 guard took over. His jump of 22 feet, 10K inches Sunday gave him the crown. “It means a lot,” said Rigsby, who also finished second in the triple jump. “All the hard work paid off. Competing against these guys is the most fun I’ve had in my high school career.”
Monarch’s Green avoids upset.
Hayelom Fitsum was about 10 meters from scoring a big upset in the 800 meters when disaster struck. The Denver East senior had a sizable lead on Monarch standout Isaac Green, but he tripped a few strides from the finish line. As Fitsum fell to the ground, Green scurried past him to win the race, adding to Saturday’s title in the 3,200 meters. Green also won the 1,600 on Sunday in 4:21.98, part of Monarch’s sweep of the top three spots.
More than distance running.
Monarch was in the running for the 5A team title, largely thanks to its domination in distance events. But a 1-2 finish in the pole vault was a big boon as well. Junior Cole Rowan won the event with a mark of 16 feet. Sophomore teammate Max Manson was second at 15-1.
Soroco junior breaks his own record.
The second day of the finals began with a record performance. Ben Kelley, a junior at Soroco, set a 2A meet record in the 800-meter finals with a time of 1:54.75. Kelley broke his own record of 1:55.61, which he set as a sophomore at last year’s meet. He has improved his time by almost eight seconds from his freshman year, when he finished seventh in the event.
Within tenths of a second … twice.
How close was Hinkley senior Darrien Wells to winning double 5A sprinting gold? Wells finished second in the 100and 200-meter finals to Fountain-Fort Carson’s Donovan Williams, with a razor-thin margin of defeat of 0.03 seconds in both races. But Wells took the results in stride. “It kind of hurts, because you know you’re so close,” he said. “At the same time, I’m happy to be here. When I look back on my freshman year, I didn’t think I’d make it this far.” Wells later found redemption in the 400 meters, winning his second straight title in the event with a time of 47.62.
Hogan a hero.
Fountain-Fort Carson junior Jequan Hogan followed Saturday’s title in the 5A triple jump — which he won with a school-record leap of 50-7N — by winning the high jump Sunday with a mark of 6-9. Hogan also finished third in the long jump, meaning he contributed 27 points to the Trojans’ championship run.
Champs of all sizes.
Vista Ridge won the 4A title behind its sprinting excellence. Lutheran captured its fourth straight team championship in 3A. Cedaredge won the 2A title, and Heritage Christian secured the 1A championship.