5A state track: Loveland’s Borrman wins third title and other action from Day 1

LAKEWOOD – After winning the Class 5A girls discus state title as a freshman in 2019, Loveland’s Kajsa Borrman was driven in workouts to become a four-time state champion.

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 season and Borrman’s shot at four titles, but that didn’t diminish her excitement on Thursday. On the first day of the state meet at Jeffco Stadium, Borrman, now a senior, won the championship to complete a 3-for-3 run in her career.

“It means the world,” she said. “I feel like I’ve worked pretty hard to get here and I’ve  had so many great people along the way to help me. Just to have this accomplishment, it makes me proud and I think it’s okay to be proud of yourself.”

Bormann, who is slated to compete for Colorado State University next year, had a winning throw of 146 feet, 1 inch. Laura Davis of Fort Collins was second, at 127-1.

“I’ve been having some struggles in practice and stuff, but I don’t know; I do feel pressure, but I feel a lot of support, too,” said Borrman, who will compete in the shot put on Friday. “I feel really happy with it. I feel like staying focused throughout the whole thing was the biggest part so I’m really happy with it.”

Cherry Creek senior Riley Stewart got her final state meet off to a great start. A four-time champion last year, she coasted to a victory in the 3,200 meters on Thursday morning, in 10:34.08. Then, she helped the Bruins to a second straight win in the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 9:12.63 – nearly 10 seconds ahead of Denver East (9:22.02).

“It’s pretty amazing, obviously,” she said. “It’s a great day to start off with two state championships, so I could not be happier for how this first day went. I’ve got the hard part done. Now it’s just focus on the 800 (on Friday) and then focus on the 1600 (on Saturday).”

In the girls long jump, Brooke Naughton of Fort Collins knocked off defending champion Fabiola Belibi of Regis. Naughton set a personal record with a leap of 18 feet, 9.75 inches, while Belibi was second at 18-2.25.

“It’s super exciting, especially after long jump at state last year did not go anywhere how I wanted it to,” Naughton said. “It’s a nice redemption and it feels really good.”

On Friday, Naughton will aim to defend her title in the high jump.

To wrap thing up in 5A girls on Thursday, Broomfield sophomore Lilly Nichols successfully defending her 2021 title in the pole vault. She posted a vault of 12 feet, 9 inches on Thursday.

Legend senior Jackson Wray wasn’t defending a championship from last year, but he came into Thursday with the confidence of a champ. Then, he left as a champ, winning the boys pole vault with a leap of 15 feet, 6 inches.

Third a year ago, Wray was pushed by Grandview’s Mateo Munoz, who went 15-3, but said he was never in doubt.

“It was a little disappointing last year, but I knew I was gonna get it this year,” Wray said. “I felt really good. I just felt like I was going to do it. I didn’t have any worries about it. … (Munoz) still PR’d, so it’s a good day.”

In the boys’ 3,200 meters, Valor Christian’s Drew Costelow won his first state title, crossing the line in 9:19.18. His teammate, Dane Eike, was second, in 9:20.98.

Cherokee Trail won the boys 3,200-meter relay, with a time of 7:52.07, nearly three seconds ahead of Mountain Vista (7:54.96).

Rocky Mountain’s Kevin Bruxvoort won his first state title, with a throw of 169 feet in the boy’s discus. Bruxvoort was fourth a year ago and favored to win the shot put on Saturday.

In the boys long jump, Dontay Johnson of Fort Collins won the state title with a leap of 22 feet, 10.5 inches. Seeded fourth coming in, Johnson knocked off defending champion Brandon Hills of Vista Ridge. Hills was second, at 22-6.75.