3A Girls Track and Field: First-Time Champions Prevail on Day 2 of State Championships
By Brad Cochi
Photo: Wallace Photography
LAKEWOOD – Coal Ridge sophomore Effie Fletcher began this spring season with modest goals. But as the season progressed and the track times got faster, those goals began to change.
“At first, I was like, ‘Qualify for state,’” Fletcher said. “Then I was like, ‘Place at state?’ And then I was like, ‘Win state.’”
At the Colorado track and field state championships on Friday at Jefferson County Stadium, Fletcher did just that, claiming her first-ever gold in the 3A girls 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 16.73 seconds.
“Honestly, I just stepped out there and I was like, ‘God, I know you have a plan for me.’” Fletcher said. “I’ve got these scriptures written on my legs to motivate me and I just wanted to get out there and point it back up to heaven. This season has been such a blessing. My teammates and my coaches, they’ve just been there to support me all the way through and it’s been better than I could have ever asked.”
In the 3A girls pole vault finals, Resurrection Christian senior Addison Barker won her first championship by clearing 11 feet, 8 inches.
“It feels amazing. I’ve been working really hard in the offseason and with my coaches and everything, so it just feels really good to see that hard work pay off,” Barker said. “The two girls seeded behind me were close. They were fierce. The both PR’d. So, it was a good day for everyone, I guess. It was a little scary but I knew if I just did what I’ve practiced, it would be fine.”
In the 3A girls discus, Pagosa Springs’ Abigail Nehring won gold with a mark of 141 feet, 3 inches.
The 3200m state title went to Alamosa’s Elizabeth McQuitty following a race that featured five disqualifications.
In the 3A girls 4x200m relay finals, The Classical Academy – Lillian Grothe, Skyla Delaney, Reese Blackwood, Heidi Nielsen – won the title with a time of 1:42.43.
