LAKEWOOD – A year ago, Heritage Christian’s Jack Nauman had the state title in the Class 1A boys 1,600-meter run in his sights. Then, he got beat.
 
On Sunday, Nauman wasn’t going to be denied.
 
The junior started strong and finished strong in claiming the 1,600-meter crown at Jeffco Stadium and completing a 3-for-3 weekend for himself, while leading the Eagles to yet another team title.
 
Nauman won the 3,200 on Thursday and helped the Eagles to a win in the 3,200 relay on Saturday. 
 
“The 1600, though, that was the one that I really wanted and I was super happy that I got it,” he said.
 
Last year, Nauman won the 3,200 and 3,200 relay and had the lead with a lap to go in the 1,600. 
 
“Then Trevor (Lewis of DeBeque) destroyed me in the last 100,” Nauman said. “(This year), I just knew that Trevor especially has a really nasty kick in the mile so I made sure that I had some gap on him before the last lap because last year he smoked me in the last 400.”
 
Nauman finished in 4 minutes, 34.14 seconds to beat second-place Josh Snyder of Cheraw by 4.69 seconds. Lewis was fourth.
 
Now a five-time state champion in his career, Nauman has been a part of two team titles. Heritage Christian finished with 128 points, rolling past Cheraw and Sanford, who tied for second with 69 points.
 
 The Eagles, who are moving up to Class 2A next year, have won six consecutive boys team championships. Overall, they’ve won eight of the last nine 1A titles.
 
“It’s awesome,” Nauman said. “I think it’s a huge testament to the culture that our coaching staff has built, being able to make it fun. We have a lot of kids doing it who wouldn’t otherwise do it and then they come out and they’re way better than we would have expected.”
 
HC girls also repeat
 
Not to be outdone by the boys, the Heritage Christian girls also dominated the team standings to win another title.
 
The Eagles finished with 124 points, while Merino was second with 77. This is the second consecutive title for Heritage Christian, which has won four since 2015.
 
On Sunday, Heritage Christian didn’t win any events, but had several athletes place well. On Thursday, the Eagles got wins from Ainsley Stanton in the 3,200 meters and the 800 medley relay team.
 
Kirkwood a three-time champ
 
Fleming junior Kally Kirkwood had a great day Sunday to complete a perfect weekend.
 
Individually, Kirkwood won the 200 meters and 400 meters on Sunday. She also helped the Wildcats win the 400-meter relay, a day after helping them win the 800-meter relay.
 
In the 200, Kirkwood posted a time of 26.96 seconds to defeat second-place Krista Weiser, a freshman from Idalia (27.63). In the 400, she upset defending champion Taysa Conger of Merino, finishing in a personal-best time 59.24 seconds. Conger was second in 1:01.02.
 
After those wins, Kirkwood teamed with seniors Whitney Chintala and Zoey Vandenbark and junior Lexi Schaefer to win the 400 relay in 52.53 seconds. Springfield was nearly a second behind (53.50).
 
In the 100 meters, Wieser won a sensational race, crossing the line in 13.47 seconds. Conger (13.49), Fleming’s Zoey Vandenbark (13.50) and Heritage Christian’s Kayla Cuckler (13.53) were all within 0.06 of a second of the lead.
 
Other individual winners Sunday included Nucla’s Lisa Sutherland in the 100 hurdles (16.24) and Hi-Plains’ Emily Mason in the long jump (15-11.5). Lone Star’s Alivia Weathers was second in both events. Weathers won four events in 2021 and two this year to go with her two runner-up finishes. 
 
Shaylee Scheler of Cheyenne Wells won the 300 hurdles (47.32) over Sutherland (47.94), while Kiowa’s Paola Vidales won the 1,600 meters (5:38.97). 
 
In the shot put, Elbert sophomore Zadie MacKey completed a sweep of the throwing events. She had a winning throw of 35 feet, 8.5 inches, finishing 21 inches ahead of Cheraw’s Abby Provost (33-11.5). MacKey also won the discus on Thursday.
 
Sanford capped the day by winning the 1,600-meter relay. Seniors Asia Caldon, Riley Canty and Haley Faucette teamed with freshman Erica Miller to post a time of 4:20.23 and edge defending champion Merino (4:20.57). 
 
Jefferson doubles up
 
Jacob Jefferson of Arickaree/Woodlin added some hardware to his impressive career.
 
Just a junior, Jefferson already has four individual state titles to his credit, including two on Sunday.
 
Jefferson won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.46 seconds, edging Samuel Lundy of Heritage Christian by .17. Then, he cruised in the 400 meters with a time of 51.58 seconds, with Stratton’s Cyler Notter second at 52.91.
 
Jefferson was the defending champion in both events. Later in the day, Jefferson was third in the 300-meter hurdles. 
 
In the boys pole vault, Akron teammates Ryan McCaffrey and Ivan Losa went 1-2. Both cleared 12 feet, 9 inches, but McCaffrey won the title view fewer misses on the day.
 
Another set of teammates went 1-2 in the boys 100. Sanford’s Gauge Lewis finished in 11.58 seconds to edge his teammate, Kelton Gartrell, who clocked in at 11.60.
 
Then, in the 200 meters, the Sanford teammates switched spots. Gartrell won that race with a time of 23.38, edging Lewis, who was second in 23.51.
 
Later in the day, Gartrell and Lewis teamed with sophomores Cash Caldon and Lincoln Reynolds to lead the Indians to a victory in the 400-meter relay with a time of 44.78 seconds.
 
DeBeque’s Scottie Vines won the high jump with a leap of 6-2, while Cheraw’s Braeden Harris won the 300 hurdles in 40.57 seconds.
                                                                                 
In the final event, Cheyenne Wells cruised to the win in the 1,600-meter relay. Seniors Evan Worley and Cade Mitchek teamed with sophomores Carson Noe and Perry Chadwick to post a time of 3:33.27. Cheraw was second (3:40.34).