4A Girls Track and Field: Niwot Runs Away with Sixth-Straight State Title

LAKEWOOD – There was never really any doubt about which team would take home the title in Class 4A girls track and field. The only question was how many points the Niwot Cougars could accumulate.

On Saturday, Niwot wrapped up another sensational performance at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium. The Cougars racked up 148 points to roll past the field, including Windsor, which finished second with 79.5 points.

It is the sixth-consecutive team title for the Cougars, who have won nine of the last 12 Class 4A championships. Niwot’s nine overall titles rank as the fourth-most in Colorado history.

“They’re so exciting,” Niwot standout Addy Ritzenhein said of the Cougars’ multiple championships. “I mean, every time we do this, it’s an opportunity to be so grateful for. It’s something so special to be able to be on a team, and all of our teammates contribute so much, even the ones who don’t score points. It really shows about our team culture and how strong we are and work together. It’s just an incredible moment.”

Niwot concluded the three-day meet by claiming championships in nine of the 18 events, including four on Saturday.

It was another exceptional day for Ritzenhein, who won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 47.05 seconds. A trio of Air Academy runners finished just behind her, led by Tessa Walter in second (4:50.02).

Ritzenhein, who won the 3,200 on Thursday, now has six state titles in track and field, along with a pair of cross country titles.

“It was such an amazing feeling,” she said of her victory in the 1,600. “It’s such a great way to end the meet and having our teammates all around and amazing competitors. The energy is so high, the stands are packed. So it’s just such an incredible moment. I’m so grateful I’m able to be out here and it’s a great moment all around.”

Senior teammate Reese Kasper concluded her career on top, winning the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. Kasper won the 300 hurdles in 2024, as well, while finishing second in the 100 hurdles.

In Saturday’s 100 hurdles, Kasper had a time of 14.22 seconds. She had a personal-best time of 41.35 in the 300 hurdles for the Cougars.

Pueblo East’s Reagan Falletta was runner-up in both hurdles, posting times of 14.47 seconds in the 100 hurdles and 42.57 in the 300 hurdles. She was the 2024 champ in the 100 hurdles.

In the shot put, Niwot senior Jade West won her third consecutive title. She had a winning throw of 42 feet, 7.75 inches. The Cougars also had the runner-up, as Mahlya Blanks had a personal-best throw of 37-2.

While Niwot dominated, it was an exceptional meet for Windsor and junior Kiana Cumings. After finishing second in the 200 and 400 meters a year ago, Cumings won both events on Saturday and did so while pulling away at the finish line in both.

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “It’s just so fun to put in so much hard work and then come out here and for it to pay off.”

Cumings posted a time of 23.96 seconds in the 200, while Holy Family’s Claire Tannehill was second (24.37). In the 400, she posted a 54.92 to ease past second-place Rylee Klatt of Mead (56.38).

“Last weekend I came off a really good week, and I ran a (53.89), so it just gave me a bunch of confidence going into this weekend and racing people who I all know,” Cumings said. “So I had some confidence going in but still you never know.”

Cumings capped the meet by leading the Wizards to an upset of Niwot in the last event of the day, the 1,600-meter relay. Niwot had won the 1,600 relay six years in a row and led going into the final 100 meters before Cumings’ final kick – which looked much like her final surge in the open 400.

Windsor – which also featured Madelyn Von Tersch, Reyleigh Hess and Maya Brasch – finished the 1,600 relay with a 4A state meet record time of 3:48.21. Niwot’s time of 3:48.93 also broke the previous state meet record of 3:50.73 (Thompson Valley in 2015).

Tannehill, a junior, surged to the title in the 100 meters, posting a time of 11.75 seconds to beat Windsor’s Maya Brasch (11.83) and Klatt (11.88). A year ago, Tannehill was runner-up in Class 3A.

Lily Nibert of Pueblo County won the triple jump, posting the two best jumps of the day, at 36 feet, 11.25 inches, as well as a leap of 36-11. The sophomore came in as the second seed after placing 11th a year ago. Niwot’s Eliana Henriques, who won the long jump on Thursday, finished second, with a leap of 35-10.25.

Mesa Ridge won the title in the 400-meter relay. The group of Makiya Clark, Malaya Thomas, Desiray Rosario and Olivia Clay posted a time of 47.52 seconds as Mesa Ridge won that relay for the third time in the last four years. Mullen was second with a time of 47.90.