LAKEWOOD - Bobby Kiesewetter was looking for redemption Thursday.
During his senior season, the Golden View Classical runner was favored to win the state championship in cross country. Unfortunately, a case of bronchitis held him back as he finished 8th.
Despite being a touch sick again this week, and dealing with a breathing disorder, nothing was going to stop him in the 3200 meters. He shattered the 2A state meet record, held by legendary Lyons runner Paul Roberts, in 9:25.63 seconds. Roberts' 9:26.17 was the previous all-time best set in 2016.
“I saw the time and I didn’t know if it was going to happen,” Kiesewetter said of the record.” My breathing was a little rough and the wind was kind of kicking me.”
So, how was he able to overcome the breathing disorder?
“One of my biggest role models, Benji Anderson (Mountain Vista) in 5A, directed me to a doctor to go to and gave me some tips on how to deal with it,” the senior said of Anderson, who deals with the same problem.
“It was great to conquer it.”
Kiesewetter’s gameplan was to attack from the beginning.
“We’re going gun to tape,” he said. “It was full send or no send. I was either going to die or hold on. It worked out.”
The Fort Lewis University recruit is also the No. 1 seed in the 800 and 1600 meters for Friday and Saturday.
He won the 3200m by 19 seconds over Max Miller (Vanguard School).
In other 2A action, North Fork claimed the 4x800 relay crown in 8:15.54. Peyton was a close second in 8:16.92.
Isaiah Guzman of Rye earned the triple jump gold medal, leaping 45 feet, 2.5 inches, and Jaxon Wood of Lake County won the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 2 inches.
Holyoke shattered the 2A state meet record in the 4x200 relay prelims, with the team of Trey Oakley, Tyler Bergstrom, Luke Roberts and Reid Sprague combining for a time of 1:29.95. Wray had previously held the state meet record by running a time of 1:30.11 in 2010.
It’s still early, but Sedgwick County leads the team race with 22 points, while Rye is in second place with 15 points.