1A Girls Track and Field: Idalia, McClave Named Co-State Champions

LAKEWOOD – Coming into the state track and field championships this weekend as a six-time champion, it would be understandable of Roxy Unruh felt some pressure.

The Cheyenne Wells junior said she didn’t feel the pressure, though, and instead just did her thing. For the second year in a row, Unruh swept the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter titles at the Class 1A girls meet on Saturday at Jefferson County Stadium.

“This is fun. This is what my whole year leads up to,” she said. “It’s my favorite sport. It’s a great time. There’s great girls that I get to run with. I love my little group. We’ve been running together since freshman year. I love state track.”

Unruh has dominated the state meet since her freshman year at Prairie, when she won the 100 and 200, as well as the 400-meter relay. Last year at Cheyenne Wells, she won all sprints, setting state meet records in the process.

On Saturday, she set new 1A state meet records in the 200 (25.58 seconds) and the 400 (56.45). Her 100-meter time of 12.29 was just shy of the record she set last year (12.21).

“A little bummed by my 100 but it happens; everyone has off days,” she said. “I was going for records. I’m trying to PR every chance I get. I’m really proud of my 400; that was super great.”

Cotopaxi junior Hayden Eggleston was second in all three races, posting 12.76 seconds in the 100, 26.37 in the 200 and 57.61 in the 400.

In the last event of the day, Unruh helped Cheyenne Wells finish second in the 1,600-meter relay.

Unruh, who has 12 top-three medals in her career, is eager for next year when her sisters, Rachel (a current freshman who is coming off injury) and Roary (now in eighth grade) will run with her.

“They’re super fast,” she said. “I’m so excited to run with them. I can’t wait.”

McClave and Idalia tied for the team title, with 70 points each. Merino (65) and Cheyenne Wells (62) weren’t far behind.

It’s the first-ever state title for both Idalia and McClave, and the crown came down to the final event.

Idalia had a two-point lead going into the 1,600-meter relay, but didn’t have a team in that race. McClave could have won the title outright by placing seventh or higher, but finished eighth to score two points and tie the Wolves.

Merino won the 1,600-meter relay in 4:15.32, just ahead of Cheyenne Wells (4:16.84). The Rams’ Aislyn Samber, Lauren Lorenzo, Hailey Foos and Brooklyn Sutter teamed up for the win.

McClave rallied to tie for the team crown with a strong finish in the 400-meter relay. Addison Vallejos, Ashlynn Steinbrunn, Abrielle Gomez and Kristen Marks teamed up to lead McClave to victory in the 400  relay, in 51.84 seconds, just ahead of Hi-Plains, which was second in 52.13.

Cheraw senior Delaney Bond had an exceptional day on Saturday to close her career, winning titles in a unique set of events, the 1,600 meters and 300-meter hurdles. Bond also won the 800 on Friday and finished fourth in the 100 hurdles on Saturday.

“You know, the grace of God,” she said when asked how she was able to win the 1,600 and 300 hurdles in a span of about two hours. “I mean, truly, I serve a great God. I guess my coaches prepared me really well. I’m super blessed with a great coaching staff and  team.”

Bond posted a time of 5 minutes, 35.71 seconds in the 1,600 to outlast Merino’s Brooklyn Sutter (5:36.91). In the 300 hurdles, she topped Ashlynn Steinbrunn of McClave (46.76).

Bond, who also won the 800 in 2024, closed her career with 14 state medals, including 10 top-five finishes.

“I’ve been extremely blessed with Cheraw,” she said. “Our coaching staff has prepared us so well, truly blessed with them. Then, like I said, I do serve a great God, and he’s just blessed me with not the opportunity, but also just the desire to run track. … (Track) is where my identity is, but it’s something that I truly do love.”

Springfield’s Brody Rosengrants won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.44 second, while Haxtun’s Jayleigh Bullard was second (16.90) and Bond was fourth (16.93). Rosengrants improved on a fifth-place finish from a year ago.

Evangelical Christian sophomore Lis Arrington won the title in the high jump with a personal-best jump of 5-4. She knocked off defending champion Hannah Kugler of Prairie, who was one of four competitors at 5-2. Kugler earned second place on a tie-breaker because of fewest missed attempts.

La Veta senior Grace D’Esposito won her first state title in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 9 feet, 9 inches. The favorite coming in, she was unable to get a PR, but cruised to the title after placing sixth last year. Three others cleared 9-3, with Lone Star sophomore Peytyn Kuntz securing second with fewer misses.