3A track and field: Dramatic field event titles headline opening day of 3A state meet

LAKEWOOD – Johnny Whyrick saved the best for last in the boys shot put competition Thursday on the opening day of the Class 3A state track meet at Jefferson County Stadium.

The University junior had the eyes on him for his final attempt and the top seed coming into state didn’t disappoint with a throw of 52 feet, 10 1/2 inches, that vaulted him to the top of the medal podium in the equivalent of a walk-off win.

“Winning felt great,” Whyrick said. “It was the last throw of the whole meet, and it felt like I just needed to go get it. Glory to God. I felt like He was there, and I performed well because of Him. It felt good to win.

“I thought I was going to win, but the last throw of the last meet. …It was kindof a surreal moment when I heard everyone clapping.”

Whyrick surpassed Rifle’s Troy Mataia, who finished second with a throw of 48 feet, 6 1/4 inch, and Blake VanTongeren of The Classical Academy (48-5 1/2). He also put himself in position to sweep the throwing events as he is the top seed going into the discus Friday morning.

With just three events scored on the opening day, Whyrick’s efforts helped University to a total of 13 points, which puts it behind leader Classical Academy, which earned 21. Jefferson Academy sits third with 12 points, followed by Harrison and Estes Park with 10 apiece.

Harrison’s points came from senior Jamison Taylor, who won the state championship in a very tight competition.

Four jumpers went over the 22 foot mark and finished within four inches of each other, but it was Taylor who came away with the victory by a mere inch as his 22-6 1/2 bettered the 22-5 1/2 of Delta’s Esai Carrillo. Right behind were Jefferson Academy’s Chrisly Kelly-Canon (22-3) and Classical Academy’s Jordan Wenger (22-2 1/2).

Taylor has more business to attend as he is seeded third going into Saturday’s high jump, though Wenger is the top seed with a season-best of 6 feet, 9 inches.
The first state championship in a relay came in the 4×800 meter event and that honor belonged to Estes Park, which clocked a time of 8:05.14 to finish well in front of Classical Academy (8:10.50) and Resurrection Christian (8:11.14).

On the girls side, just two championship finals were scored and Pagosa Springs finished with the 3A team lead after those events with 13.5 points, followed by Alamosa and Brush with 10 apiece, the Classical Academy with eight and Bayfield with 7.5.

Alamosa picked up its 10 points courtesy of the state championship from its 4×800 meter relay team, which won the race handily. The Mean Moose crossed the finish line with a time of 9:46.61 — 10 seconds faster than their previous best, which had them seeded fourth — followed by the Classical Academy (9:55.97) and Kent Denver (10:12.24). Top-seeded Liberty Common finished 12th.

Addison Alexander picked up the other event championship of the day, as the Brush senior set a PR and won a title at the same time.

Alexander’s previous best jump as 5-2, but she cleared 5-3 to finish in front of Pagosa Springs’ Chantelle Caldwell and Nykole Meshaw of Bayfield, who tied for second at 5-1.