5A state track: Fort Collins’ Davis, Naughton claim titles and other winners on Day 2

LAKEWOOD – Laura Davis came within a foot of the Class 5A girls shot put state championship at the state meet last season.

Returning as the favorite for her senior season, Davis arrived at Jefferson County Stadium on Saturday determined to make the title hers. She did, but it was extremely close.

In the finals, Davis’ best throw was 39 feet, 3.75 inches. That was just enough to edge Cherry Creek’s Savannah Jorgens by only three quarters of an inch for the coveted gold medal.

“I was so close last year and it was a bummer to just miss it by just a few inches, so it feels great to come back and come strong,” said Davis, who was also runner-up in the discus on Thursday. “Competition is competition and you have good days and bad days, and she had a great day. I may not have had the best day but the farthest throw wins and I had it today.”

At the same time Davis was finishing off her shot put title, senior teammate Brooke Naughton was winning a championship of her own, in the high jump. Only for Naughton, it was her second title in the event and the outcome wasn’t as close as it was for Davis.

To defend her title, Naughton, who also finished third as a freshman in 2019, cleared 5 feet, 6 inches. That was two inches higher than runner-up Dallis Robinson from Grandview.

“I’m very happy because I was little stressed about it,” said Naughton, who also won the long jump on Thursday. “Obviously, I had some expectations coming into this today. It’s a relief that I went out there and did that.”

Christianson upsets Stewart

Cherry Creek star Riley Stewart won’t be a four-time champion again, and it was her teammate and fellow senior who knocked her off.

In the 5A girls 800 meters, Bruins senior Kinsey Christianson posted a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 7.25 seconds to claim her first career individual championship. The Iowa State-bound Christianson came into the meet as the No. 2 seed behind Stewart.

A four-time champ in 2021, Stewart won two titles (3,200 and 3,200 relay) on Thursday. Despite losing in Saturday’s final, she posted her best time of the season, at 2:10.06. She will aim to repeat as 1,600-meter champ on Sunday.

Thanks to the 1-2 finish in the 800, the Bruins are leading the team race through 10 of 19 events, but Fort Collins isn’t far behind. Cherry Creek carries a 60-55 lead over the Lambkins into Sunday, with Cherokee Trail (32.5) in third.

In Saturday’s 5A girls relays, Chatfield and Eaglecrest were victorious.

Chatfield won the 800-meter sprint medley with a time of 1:46.40, with Valor Christian (1:47.69) placing second. In the 800-meter relay, Eaglecrest cruised to the title in 1:40.66, while Cherokee Trail was second (1:42.22).

Costelow wins again

Valor Christian junior Drew Costelow is putting together an impressive meet, and he has the Eagles in position to potentially win the 5A boys team title.

On Saturday, Costelow won the 800-meter state title with a personal-best time of 1:52.11. He was more than two seconds faster than his previous best of 1:54.46. Chatfield’s Camden Law was second (1:52.25).

It was the second championship of the weekend for Costelow, who won the 3,200 meters on Thursday. He also helped the Eagles to a sixth-place finish in the 3,200 relay on Thursday. Costelow will go for another championship Sunday in the 1,600, where he is seeded No. 2.

Valor has a narrow lead in the team race through eight of 18 events, with 37 points. Cherokee Trail (33), Fort Collins (32) and Rocky Mountain (31) are all close behind, with Grandview (26) in fifth.

While Costelow was among the favorites coming into state, Fruita Monument freshman Daniel Thomason was not. Despite being seeded ninth coming in, Thomason came out on top.

Thomason was a surprise winner in the 5A boys high jump with a personal-best leap of 6 feet, 5 inches, Second-place Joe Cottingham of Fort Collins also cleared 6-5, but Thomason had fewer misses during the competition to win the tie-breaker.

Poudre’s Rhys Travis was the defending champion, but didn’t clear the bar on his first three attempts and finished with a no height.

Also in 5A boys, Grandview won the 800-meter relay with a time of 1:26.75. The Wolves cruised to the title ahead of second-place Fountain-Fort Carson (1:28.09).