Valor Christian track’s Cole Sprout breaks all-classification record in boys 3,200
LAKEWOOD — History was made Friday, May 4, at Jeffco Stadium.
Valor Christian sophomore Cole Sprout broke Colorado’s all-classification record in the boys 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:01.53 during the Jeffco League Championships. The previous record was held by The Classical Academy’s Tanner Norman, who ran a time of 9:04.97 just last year at the Pueblo Twilight Meet.
Sprout said it has been his goal all season to go after the all-classification record in the 3,200 at Jeffco’s League Championships.
“Coming in I had the goal of breaking the state record. The conditions were pretty great for that,” said Sprout of the 3,200 that was run at 7 p.m. Friday night. “I wanted to see if I could break 9 minutes. It was a great race.”
The sophomore ended up the 24-hour stretch during the 2-day meet by winning the Class 4A boys 1,600 and 800 races Saturday to help the Valor boys win the 4A Jeffco League title.
Sprout said that his plan is to run the 3,200 and 1,600 at state meet coming up May 17-19 at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. He added that his mission will be to go after the all-classification record in the 1,600, one of the oldest track records in the state. The all-classification record in the 1,600 was set in 1981 by Wildfield’s Rich Martinez. The time Sprout will be attempting to break is 4:10.98.
Standley Lake junior Tyler Williams was up to a little record breaking of his own. Williams shattered his old 4A Jeffco League record in the 400 on Saturday by nearly a second.
“It was very important,” Williams said of his 47.51 seconds run in the 400 that broke his old meet record of 48.37 he set last year. “Trying to improve always.”
Williams has qualified for state in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×200 relay. He plans on running in all four events. Williams said he would like to win all four events, but would be OK with finishing top-3 in the 100, 200, 400 and 4×200 relay in a few weeks at state.
“We’ll see what happens when state comes,” said Williams, who won all four events at Jeffco conference championships. “It’s a lot in three days with four events.”
While Sprout and Williams have a few more high school track meets, Pomona senior Ryan Marquez is wrapping up one of the most impressive 3-year runs athletically by a three-sport athlete in Jeffco.
“It’s been an amazing run and I’ve loved every second of it,” said Marquez, who played in three 5A state football games, along with playing basketball and running track at Pomona. “It feels right. Everything is wrapping up right for high school. Now it’s time to take this success and momentum into college.”
Marquez will play football at the University of Wyoming next fall, but he had some unfinished business to take care of this weekend at Jeffco Stadium. Marquez was successful in getting personal records in the 110 and 300 hurdles to set the school record in both events.
“My focus all season has really to get that 110,” said Marquez, who ran a 14.46 in the 5A boys 110 hurdles and 38.75 in the 5A boys 300 hurdles to win both events. “I just want to go out on top.”
There was a big question if Marquez would get his chance to shine his senior year after suffering a broken left arm Oct. 7 at Shea Stadium in Pomona’s football league opener against Rock Canyon.
“I was in tears when I was walking off because the trainer there told me I wouldn’t be back on the (football) field the rest of the season,” said Marquez, who did return for Pomona’s run to an eventual 5A state football title. “I had nothing going for me and this was my year to prove myself as a quarterback. Thinking my opportunity was gone really brought be down.”
Marquez was nearly perfect in Pomona’s title game against Eaglecrest. He was 20-for-22 passing for 345 yards and five touchdowns in the 56-49 victory. On the basketball court he averaged more than a dozen points per game along with 6.6 rebound and 4.1 assists to help guide the Panthers to one of their best hoops seasons in several years.
Marquez is a huge believer in the three-sport athlete.
“Each sport complements one another,” Marquez said. “Going into college I wanted to keep my competitive edge, keep competing out here. I love this. It’s fun. It’s always a good time.”
It will be an end of an era for Pomona when Marquez isn’t on the field, court or track next season.
“It’s sad parting ways with something this great,” Marquez said as his time on the high school stage comes to a close.
