2A track and field: New and repeat champions highlight day two

LAKEWOOD – After an impressive state meet in 2022, Jackson Neppl is aiming for even more this year.

On Friday at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium, the St. Mary’s senior got off to a good start.

Neppl repeated as champion in the Class 2A boys 800-meters with a season-best time of 1 minute, 56.4 seconds, narrowly edging Lake County’s Jace Peters (1:56.9) at the finish.

“Honestly, it was just kind of a quick prayer to God at the 200,” he said of what got him through to the finish. “I said, ‘Lord, give me this one,’ and I kind of went and just hoped that I could maintain my kick.”

A year ago, Neppl won the 800 and 1,600, as well as finishing fourth in the 3,200. On Saturday, he will aim to repeat in the 1,600 while going after state titles in the 400 and the 1,600 relay.

“It’s such a blessing, such an experience to be able to come out here and run,” he said after winning the 800. “I’m just ecstatic. This is top of the world for me.”

In the girls 800, sophomore Natalie Washburn became the first individual champion at Timnath, which opened last fall. The Cubs won the school’s first event state title on Thursday in the girls 3,200-meter relay, with Washburn anchoring the race. 

“It’s really exciting and nice to set a record for my school since we’re brand new this year,” said Washburn, who attended Fossil Ridge at a freshman.

Washburn finished the 800 in 2:19.04 to cruise to the title. Alexia Gonzales of Banning Lewis Academy was second, at 2:23.25.

“I just tried to stay back and just kind of make sure the first lap was more relaxed so I had enough energy for my kick at the end,” Washburn said.

Lyons junior Gemma Powell repeated as champion in the girls discus, but it wasn’t easy. She shook off some struggles, fixed part of her technique and busted out a personal-best throw of 131 feet, 4 inches on her final attempt.

“It’s very exciting,” said Powell, whose previous best was 127-5. “I was struggling today a little bit, so I was not expecting it. I’m still a little shocked. It felt crazy, because I did the one thing that I needed to do to get that extra feet that I hadn’t been doing in my other throws. I was so happy I finally did it and it paid off. I knew I had it in me, so I was really happy.”

Cedaredge teammates Elizabeth Brooks (129-7) and Carley Malinowski (122-3) finished second and third, respectively. 

In the girls pole vault, Buena Vista’s Taiya Carl was somewhat of a surprise winner. The sophomore came in seeded fifth, but posted a personal-best leap of 9 feet, 7 inches to win her first state title. A group of five competitors finished at 9-1. 

Wiggins won the girls 800-meter relay with a time of 1:46.95. The Tigers edged Cedaredge, which finished in 1:47.51. In the girls 800 medley relay, Strasburg came in first, with a time of 1 minute, 51.19 seconds, while Wiggins was second (1:52.75).

Grand Valley’s Jacob Doyle ended his career in style in the boys shot put. He had a personal-best throw of 50 feet to win the state title. His previous best was 48-9.5. Laith Ibrahim was second at 49-3.25.

Limon took home the title in the boys 800 relay, with a time of 1:30.40. The Badgers out-paced second-place Yuma (1:31.16) by just .76 of a second.