2A Boys Track and Field: Peyton Defends Team State Championship
LAKEWOOD – The Peyton boys track team has gone back to back.
On Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium, the Panthers amassed 89 team points to close out the Class 2A team title for the second year in a row.
“It’s hard to put into words right now, kind of surreal,” Peyton coach Richard Deems said. “We didn’t expect it last year, we didn’t expect it this year. We’ve got a really great group of kids and they just outperform expectations. I knew we had a good group going into the season. We had some guys really step up and outperform what we thought they were going to be at their ceiling this year and some young guys making some big strides.”
Peyton senior Landon Hadley’s winning time of 10.96 seconds in the 100-meter dash tied the 2A state meet record.
“It means a ton,” Hadley said. “All this year and throughout indoor, my coaches have been talking to me about how I can beat the record. Honestly, I knew I could get it but it’s just tough. Throughout the season, my times have been up and down and I’m super competitive, so I get in my head. But with the help from my coaches, teammates, family and God, I just came through and didn’t let it get to my head.”
Banning Lewis was second in the team competition with 67.25 points and Platte Canyon was third with 56 points.
There were a number of other exceptional individual performances on Saturday as well.
In the 2A boys 110 hurdles, West Grand’s Joe Probst took first with a time of 14.58 seconds.
Rocky Ford’s Alex Marchand won the 2A 400-meter run with a time of 49.53 seconds. He also won the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.18 seconds.
Platte Valley’s Greg Oramas crossed the finish line in 22.58 seconds to win the 2A boys 200-meter dash.
In the 1,600, Rangely’s James Talbot won the gold with a time of 4:30.64.
Strasburg’s Ayden Dodge won the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 3 inches.
Platte Canyon – Trevor Kirklin, Leo Batzer, Tate Heineman and Greg Oramas – crossed the finish line in 43.91 seconds to win gold.
Byers – Quincy Eacret, Cameron Eastwood, Jake Anderson and Ben McPherson – won the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:30.60.
