Team by team outlooks Class 5A

Boulder Panthers

Coach: Carl Worthington Jr.

The Scorecard: The Panthers return four state qualifiers from last year’s state meet, said Worthington Jr. The coach going into his 27th season in charge has a strong core of returning boys, led by Gavin Geer. The senior leads the Panthers’ state qualifiers after taking 17th in last year’s 5A 3,200-meter race, coming in at 9 minutes and 41.56 seconds. He also was part of the 4x800 relay that placed 17th (8:22.13), which also included Nathan Reseigh. At an early season invite at Centaurus, the Coyote/panther Invite, Geer took second in the 1,600 at 4:42.42. On the girls’ side, Amy Perkins is back after she placed ninth in the 5A pole vault. Her state mark of 10 feet was two feet shy of last year’s winner Lilly Nichols of Broomfield. Others to watch on the boys’ side include seniors Logan Marshall (sprints, relays, jumps), Christian Munoz (throws) and Hobbes Giberson (jumps). On the girls, look out for sophomores Ava Priest and Embla Weibring in hurdles, while senior Lindsay Cook should be a nice threat in both distance and jumping events.

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Craig Boccard (boys) and Justin Hazzard (girls)

The Scorecard: The Eagles return nine state qualifiers from last year, including seven on the girls’ side. Leading the bunch is pole vault extraordinaire Lilly Nichols, who won a state title in the event last year as a freshman. Her highest jump last season, per Milesplit, was 13-feet, 3 1/2 inches. That ranked second in the state and 28th in the country among high school girls in 2021. Along with her on the girls’ side will be Maelynn Higgins, who took second in the state 800-meter run and fourth in the 1,600. The others from the 2021 state squad are seniors Sophie Buschmann (4x200, seventh last year at state; 4x400, ninth), Emma Alford (4x200, seventh; long jump, 16th), and juniors Paisley Williamson (4x800, 14th), Norah Powers (4x800, 14th) and Lexi Harris (4x200, 7th). On the boys’ side, Miles Dondelinger returns, as does Baylor Baessler, who listed on the 4x200 relay that placed eighth at state. Others to watch include the ever-versatile senior Josh Dunn (hurdles/relays) and fellow classmates Matt Winston (sprints/jumps) and Leo Mowery-evans (sprints). On the girls’ side, look out for junior Grace Mosley (throws), and sophomores Rylee Kane (sprints) and Kayleigh Jones (sprints/ jumps).

Fairview Knights

Coach: Tricia Vieth

The Scorecard: The Knights have doubled in size since last year, said Vieth, who is headed into her 12th year as head of the program. At the forefront are eight returning state qualifiers, including two state medalists in pole vault. Sophie Pierce finished second in the event and Olivia Kosanovich was third. Both are back as juniors. Along with them on the girls’ side are sophomores Helen Carlson (800, 12th last year at state; 4x800, sixth) and Charlotte Elliston (long jump, sixth). On the boys’ side, the Knights bring back Ethan Desjardins and Jackson Zoldak, who were listed on the 4x100 that placed 10th at the state meet, as well as sprinter Marcus Cote. Also back is 5A distance threat Eric Sankey, who finished 15th in the 1,600 and 13th in the 3,200 at last year’s state track meet. In the fall, he took third at the 5A cross country meet. “Kids are eager to compete again in what feels like more of a normal season,” Vieth said.

Legacy Lightning

Coach: Kory Skattum

The Scorecard: The Lightning return three state qualifiers, per their second-year coach, led by standout girls’ runner Mia Mraz. Mraz was a stud last year during the track season, posting the fourth-fastest time in the state in the 5,000, the 12th fastest in the 3,200 and the 34th in the 1,600. She finished 10th at state in the 3,200 and 14th in the 1,600. On the boys’ side, Zander Irish and Lucas Montera return after placing 15th in last year’s 4x400 relay. Irish also placed 16th in the 400. Others to watch include Lexie Lit on the girls’ team. Skattum said she is “going to have a breakout season and we look forward to seeing what she can do.” Another name the coach mentioned was Keira Wilkinson, who is “looking stronger than ever” and could have a breakout season in the 3,200. “We have a young team but expect to do big things,” the coach said. “With a new sprints (coach) in Ron Jones, we are looking forward to big gains on the sprinting side of things.”

Monarch Coyotes

Coach: Kent Rieder

The Scorecard: The Coyotes listed that they return six state qualifiers on the girls’ team and none on the boys’, per coach Rieder, who is headed into his 18th year in charge. Leading the returnees is senior Julia Pattison — who took ninth in the state 200, seventh in the 400, sixth in the 4x100 and third in the 4x200 — and junior Mia Munoz, who was 15th in the 100, 10th as part of the sprint medley relay