Athletes shine at Jeffco League track and field championships

LAKEWOOD — As the 2021-2022 school year comes to a close, saying multi-sport spring athletes who are seniors are busy is a major understatement.

Ralston Valley senior Casia Provencal — who will run track and field at Yale University next school year — is a prime example. The speedster on the track and key contributor on the Mustangs’ girls soccer team is edging near her high school career finish-line.

“My goal with soccer and track is just take care of my body,” Provencal said heading down the home stretch. “I’ve got to make sure I stay on top of my health.”

Provencal was one of the many stars during the Class 5A and 4A Jeffco League championships May 6 and 7 at Jeffco Stadium. The future Yale student-athlete edged Chatfield senior Amelia Hubbell in the 5A girls 100-meter hurdles final May 7.

“There was a 4.3 head wind, so the time wasn’t great,” Provencal said after winning the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.01 seconds. “I did want to win. So I’m happy with the win.”

Hubbell — Montana State University signer — had set a new record during the 100 hurdles prelims May 6 with a time of 14.43 seconds. The Chatfield track star won the 300 hurdles later in the day edging out a trio of Ralston Valley hurdlers — Reece Mercer, Giada Giarratano and Teya Varela.

Ralston Valley did end up winning the 5A Jeffco League girls team title with 219 points. Valor Christian finish second with 163 points.

Pomona junior Emma Stutzman set the league records in both the 5A girls 1,600 and 3,200 a year ago. She defended both of her title again.

“I wanted to win it and get under 5 minutes because I haven’t done that yet this season,” Stutzman said of her goal in the 1,600 on May 7. “I’m pretty happy with it. It hasn’t been hot like this yet. I think it went pretty good.”

Stutzman won the 3,200 the day before with a time of 11:05.18. It was more than 16 seconds faster than second-place Taylor Rorick of Valor.

The Pomona junior is coming off a rough state cross country race from back in October 2021. Stutzman was a favorite to finish in the top-3, but ended up ninth. She struggled to the finish-line and was in the medical tent even during the award ceremony.

“I had never raced a state meet in the morning like that,” Stutzman said of the 5A girls state cross country meeting being the first race of the day in Colorado Springs back on  Oct. 30. “I got up and was a little rushed. I didn’t drink my Gatorade and Pedialyte. I didn’t have enough electrolytes and sodium to keep my body going.”

Stutzman vowed not to make the same mistake again and has been even more vigilant when it comes to her pre-race routine.

“It motivated me to keep my body healthy,” Stutzman said. “I’m more strict with what I intake.”

Golden senior Bryce Reeburgh, who will run at Virginia Tech next year, also had a rough state cross country race. Reeburgh placed 13th last Fall, but looked great at the track and field league championships last week.

Reeburgh swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 4A boys races to help the Demons to the 4A boys team title.

“I woke up feeling pretty bad this morning,” Reeburgh admitted. “I ran a pretty good 2-mile last night. Super consistent. I was just trying to stay tuned up for next week and the week after with state.”

The Demons leaned on their distance runner to beat out Standley Lake by 20 points to win the 4A boys team title.

“We haven’t had a (boys track) league championship title since 1998,” Reeburgh said. “Trying to score as many points as possible. I think we swept up pretty well in the mile there.”

Golden junior Henry Stubenrauch finished second in the 800 and 1,600.

Green Mountain was able to edge Golden for the 4A girls team title. The Rams had 157 points to the Demons’ 148.666. Chatfield boys won the 5A boys team title with 159.333 points. Ralston Valley finished second with 141 points.