LAKEWOOD – Winning a state title in the shot put is something Meeker’s Judd Harvey has been working towards for a long time.

And without a throwing coach at Meeker this year, Harvey had to put in a lot of that work entirely on his own and find creative ways to push himself to a state title. On Thursday at Jefferson County Stadium, the self-study threw 50 feet, 0.75 inches to claim the Class 2A shot put state championship.

“I’ve been doing track since I was a freshman and I’ve always loved throwing,” Harvey said. “Unfortunately, this year we didn’t have a throwing coach. So a lot of it was just me looking at Facebook reels and watching Ryan Crouser and these guys. So, it was kind of just learning from the phone.”

Learning paid off for the senior.

In the 2A long jump, Yuma’s Christian Duarte won the gold. The senior jumped 21 feet, 10.75 inches to edge top-seeded Elton Chavez of Walsenburg.

In the boys 3,200-meter relay, Peyton – Gabe Gatti, Hunter Trim, Ayden Breese and Matthew Peery – defended the Panthers’ title from last season. This year’s group ran a time of 8:08.42 to take home the gold.

The track and field state championships will continue on Friday starting at 9 a.m.