LAKEWOOD — Longmont senior Connor McCormick didn’t look at the clock a single time during the Class 4A boys 3,200-meter state championship final on Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium.
No wonder he had no clue that he broke the 4A state meet record. McCormick’s time of 9 minutes, 3.83 seconds was nearly 3 full 3 seconds better than the previous record of 9:06.27, set by D’Evelyn’s Kevin Williams in 2008.
“It was all about placement,” said McCormick, whose previous-best time in the 3,200 was 9:24. “I definitely felt better than expected. I knew I would make a move at 300 (meters) left if continued to have enough for a kick and I did.”
McCormick out-kicked Cheyenne Mountain seniors Tyler Nord (9:05.42) and Erik Le Roux (9:05.65), who finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, while also breaking the previous record. Niwot’s Zane Bergen, the 2021 champ, was fourth, in 9:08.60 – more than 10 seconds faster than his winning time last year and more than 15 seconds better than his previous best this spring.
“Every one of these guys out here are incredible, especially in this event. It’s super deep,” McCormick said. “I was comfortable running toward the middle of the top pack for most of the race because I knew there wasn’t going to be much difference from first to tenth.”
McCormick ran the 3,200 only twice this season before state. It was only the fifth time he had ever run the event. He also felt like the snowstorm that postponed Day 2 of the state meet from Friday to Saturday helped.
“The day break was good because I ran the 4x800 (relay) on Thursday,” said McCormick, who admitted he didn’t think Day 2 of the state meet would be run until Sunday due to the storm that dumped 8 inches of snow at Jeffco Stadium in 24 hours. “I had an extra day to get my legs under me.”
Later on Saturday, McCormick was second in the 800 meters (1:54.45), as Bergen repeated as champion. Bergen had a winning time of 1:52.07.
McCormick is slated to compete in the 1,600 meters on Sunday.
“It’s incredible. I’ve never been a state champion,” McCormick said of his emotions. “I’m not done.”
His teammate Caleb Johnson wasn’t done either. After winning the triple jump on Thursday, Johnson, a senior, won the long jump on Saturday. He had a winning leap of 22 feet, 0.5 inches, defeating Mitchell’s Nathan Mercer (21-11.5) by just an inch.
Led by Johnson and McCormick, Longmont could win a team title, as well. Through eight of 18 events, the Trojans have the lead, 54-45, over second-place Cheyenne Mountain. Niwot and Durango are tied for third with 21 points.
Cougars cruising
Niwot senior Eva Klingbeil started out the running events Saturday by cruising to the 4A girls 3,200-meter title with a time of 10:29.62.
“I guess that’s pretty good,” Klingbeil said of her time that was nearly 6 seconds faster than second-place Bethany Michalak of Air Academy (10:35.54), but 14 seconds slower than her previous best this season. “I think if we wouldn’t have taken it out so hard we would have had a better shot at the record. It’s OK. It was a fun race.”
Klingbeil and the Cougars are well on their way to a third consecutive 4A girls team title, leading second-place Mullen 86-37 through nine of 19 events.
The Cougars got 19 team points in 3,200, with Klingbeil’s teammates Sarah Perkins (fifth) and Olivia Alessandrini (sixth) joining her on the podium.
That wasn’t even the most impressive showing of the day for Niwot, which collected 34 points in the 800 meters, claiming the top four spots. Madison Shults repeated as champion, with a time of 2:08.33. Teammates Stella Vieth (2:11.40), Bella Nelson (2:13.53) and Klingbeil (2:15.09) rounded out the top four.
Perhaps the only disappointment of the day for Niwot was seeing its goal of sweeping the five relays again come to a close. The Cougars won the 800-meter sprint medley in 1:48.80, but placed second in the 800-meter relay later in the day. Niwot swept all five relays en route to the team title in 2021.
In the 800 relay, Mullen took the title with a time of 1:42.75, while Niwot was second, at 1:44.46.
Mullen senior Agur Dwol, who was part of the victorious relay team, easily repeated as champion in the long jump. Dwol had a winning jump of 20 feet, 1.75 inches, while Pueblo West’s Bradie Menegatti was second (18-0.5). Dwol won her third consecutive triple jump title on Thursday.
Tigers repeat
Wrapping up the day in Class 4A boys, Erie had an impressive showing in the 800-meter relay, winning its second consecutive title in the event with a time of 1:28.45.
Most impressive is that the Tigers did it with a completely new group of runners. Last year, it was three seniors leading the way to the title. This time, it was juniors Caden Lettis and Ashton Whisler and sophomores Blake Barnett and Marco Martinez who took Erie to the win.
Northfield wasn’t far behind, finishing second in 1:28.92.