3A Girls Track and Field: Rathke, Willis, Allori Break Meet Records

LAKEWOOD – Kourtney Rathke and Anna Willis have been such intense competitors for four years that it was fitting they’ll leave high school with a joint record.

On Friday, the second day of the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium, Rathke, a senior at Peak to Peak, edged Willis, a senior at Classical Academy for the state title in the Class 3A girls pole vault.

Both girls cleared 13 feet, 10 inches to set a new Class 3A state meet record, but Rathke claimed the state title the third year in a row on a tie-breaker.

“Oh my gosh, so exciting,” Rathke said. “I mean not even the record, just a (personal record) for me was huge. I’ve been waiting for that for like over a year and a half, so I was so excited. That’s all I came out here to do. Obviously this win is super cool. Anna is an amazing jumper, so it’s always gonna be competitive between us.”

Also on Friday, Liberty Common senior Isabel Allori added to her remarkable career by pulling away to win the 800 meters in record fashion. The Classical Academy 800-meter relay team also set a new meet record, Woodland Park’s Jaedyn Kohn defended her title in the discus and Brush won the 800-meter sprint medley.

When Willis won as a freshman in 2021, she became the fourth Willis sister to win the pole vault. The four sisters combined for every 3A girls pole vault title from 2014-21.

Rathke was second in 2021, but has taken the crown the last three years, with Willis second each time.

“I definitely think there’s a lot of mutual respect,” Willis said. “We’re so happy for each other and I’m glad that we get to hold the 3A state record together. It’s amazing.”

For both, much of the focus was individual. Rathke, who is headed to Michigan, hit a PR of 13-9.25 during an indoor meet about a year and a half ago. Her previous best in a CHSAA event was 13-4.

“Unreal,” she said of clearing 13-10. “I’ve just been working so hard for that and to have it happen here of all places is just so rewarding and really just makes all the struggles feel better.”

Rathke cleared 13-10 on her first attempt, while Willis got it on her second, and that was the tie-breaker that gave Rathke the title. But, Willis was all smiles afterward. Not only was it a PR, but it topped her sister, Erika, who held the 3A state meet record at 12-9 before Rathke broke it in 2022 (12-11) and again in 2023 (13-0).

“I think my sisters are all really happy for me regardless,” said Willis, whose previous PR was 13-6. “And I think it was an amazing way to go out to (top) my sister’s previous state record. And so I think that was really cool and I just give it all to God.”

The South Dakota-bound Willis was also thrilled to be healthy throughout the competition. She was banged up on her first attempt in 2022 and was just coming off a concussion when she vaulted at the 2023 state meet.

“My goal isn’t to come in to state and win,” she said. “My goal is to score points for my team and obviously jump as high as I can and just be a light for others at the meet. Obviously there’s that, but also it’s just, like, amazing to be here, no matter the outcome.”

The outcome was one final classic battle between two of the best vaulters the state has ever seen.

“They’re a dynasty,” Rathke said of the Willis family. “It’s been awesome (competing with Willis). I think we push each other to jump even higher. Today, I don’t think either of us would have gone as high without each other.

“It’s just really cool to be out here at such a high level. To have 3A girls pole vault in Colorado be that competitive and be jumping like top 10 national heights, it’s just like so cool. I’m honestly so glad that we’ve gotten to vault together. It’s amazing.”

Allori finished the 800-meter run in 2:09.16, breaking the previous 3A meet record of 2:09.19 set in 2017. Allori knocked off defending champion Jaycee Williams of Berthoud, who placed second in 2:11.71.

This weekend, Allori has also won the 3,200 and been a part of Liberty Common’s title in the 3,200-meter relay. She missed the 2023 state meet with an injury, but won the 1,600 and 3,200 as a sophomore in 2022.

Kohn had a personal-best throw of 129 feet, 7 inches to win the discus championship for the second consecutive season. Second place Abigail Nehring of Pagosa Springs had a throw of 121-11, which was her best of the year.

In the 800-meter relay, Classical Academy had a blistering finish and posted a time of 1:42.00 to break the previous 3A state meet record of 1:42.61 by Montezuma-Cortez in 2019. Lillian Grothe, Skyla Delaney, Reese Blackwood and Heidi Nielsen were a part of the record-setting effort for the Titans.

Perhaps the most thrilling finish of the day came in the 800 sprint medley relay. Brush finished in 1 minute, 49.30 seconds to edge Elizabeth by just .06 of second. James Irwin (1:49.86) and Berthoud (1:49.87) were also within six tenths of a second.

Autumn Varelman, Savanah Mertens, Sarah Becker and Michelle Headley teamed up for the victory for Brush.

Heading into Saturday, Classical Academy is leading the team standings, with 49 points through nine of 19 events. Liberty Common is second with 31 and Peak to Peak third with 28.