2A Girls Track and Field: Cook Wins 800m, Schmidt Doubles With Shot Put Title

LAKEWOOD – Although Austin Cook was seeded 10th in the Class 2A 800 meters Friday, she could envision winning the state title.

“I feel like I’ve been manifesting it,” the Telluride junior said after running a time of 2 minutes, 19.39 seconds. “My mind’s been stuck on it. I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but my legs just kept going faster at the end.”

Shaving a full six seconds off her seed mark of 2:25.68, Cook dipped under 2 minutes, 20 seconds for the first time.

“It still feels pretty surreal,” Cook said of winning state. “I’m kind of at a loss for words.”

Her previous career best was a 4×800 relay split of 2:23 last year.

Through the first lap on Friday, Heritage Christian’s Mikaela Kendall led as Cook was in fifth place. Then, Cedaredge’s Jessica Black surged into first with 200 meters left and gapped the field. But, the Telluride junior responded with a move of her own.

In the final 50 meters, as the crowd applauded loudly, Cook hit the gas pedal and caught the No. 1 seed to win by 0.23 seconds.

Asked what led to her upset victory, she responded excitedly.

“I’ve been working with a new coach and he’s given me a breakout year,” Cook said.

“My lungs feel better down here,” she added of being at lower altitude than Telluride (8,754 feet). “It’s magic.”

In other action, Brooke Schmidt of Wiggins, the 2A discus state meet record holder, earned her second state title of this year’s meet by winning the shot put. She hit a mark of 36 feet, 11.75 inches.

The Limon Badgers earned gold in the 4×200 relay (1:45.89).

The Wiggins Tigers (38 points) hold a slight edge over Heritage Christian (35) and Wray (28).