3A Boys Track and Field: Classical Academy Wins Second-Straight State Title

LAKEWOOD – There are certain schools around the state that are just synonymous with success in track and cross country.

And on the Class 3A level, no team strikes fear into their opponents more than The Classical Academy. The Titans just have a way, but what is the secret?

“I think, like anything else, it’s hard work, it’s community. It’s not just the kids, but it’s the families, my amazing coaching staff,” said longtime TCA coach Tim Daggett, whose boys rolled to the title with 118 points to University’s 75.5. “It’s those extra workouts in January when we are out there shoveling the track to get in some extra work and then creating a community that cares about each other and runs hard.”

The Titans showed off their incredible depth and didn’t just do it with the distance runners that the school has become famous for over the last decade. TCA was on the podium in 17 of the 18 boys events, with senior Matthew Evans claiming his second straight gold in the 3,200.

The reigning high jump and triple jump champion Jordan Wenger brought home gold in the long jump with a distance of 22-feet-9 inches and his teammate Noah Osterloh earned the gold in the triple jump by five inches over him.

In all the Titans were on the awards podium 15 times on the boys side and all four of their relays were as well.

“We are a K-12 school and in a lot of ways it is the culmination for that senior class, it was my son’s senior class, so I knew these boys’ needs when they were in kindergarten,” Daggett said. “We have a waiting list and we never get a transfer, so it’s just the kids in our building.

“And for every point we scored, there is a story behind it.”

Repeat champions were hard to come by over the three days at Jefferson County Stadium. The only other 3A boy to defend their crown, other than Edwards, was University thrower Johnny Wyrick. The Bulldogs senior defended his discus crown on Thursday with a throw of 159-feet, 5 inches and on Friday won the shot put with a hefty toss of 54-9.5.

Maybe the race of the day in 3A was the 4×100 relay. University senior Dylan Sup, who finished second to Holy Family’s Griffin Eastman in the 100 meters, was brilliant down the stretch and edged Eastman at the line to win it for the Bulldogs in 42.99 to Holy Family’s 43.04.

Elizabeth won the 4×2, Liberty Common won the 4×4 and Berthoud took home gold in the 4×8 on Thursday afternoon.