LAKEWOOD – In Class 4A track and field, it is the Niwot girls team that gets a lot of attention.
The Cougars’ boys are pretty darn good, too.
On Saturday at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium, Niwot cruised to its first team title since 2021. The Cougars finished with 98 points to roll past second-place Roosevelt (56).
It is the third overall title the Niwot boys, all of them since 2019.
“I think (the key was) supporting each other as more than teammates,” junior Rocco Culpepper said. “Knowing that we’re coming out here as a family not just as some guys that I hang out with. We are close, we are strong, we are competitive and it’s like a family.”
Niwot won five events overall, including two on Saturday.
Culpepper cruised to victory in the 1,600 meters, using a strong kick in the last 200 to post a time of 4 minutes, 12.33 seconds. Thompson Valley’s Curtis Smela was second, in 4:13.55. Five other runners, including Niwot’s Hunter Robbie (sixth) and Ryder Keeton (seventh), were within .66 of Smela.
“I was just waiting for 200 meters to go, and then just knew I could rip that last (stretch) – build 50 and sprint the last 150,” said Culpepper, who won the 800 on Friday. “It felt good. I never look at any times for these kinds of meets. Just go try to win, and the times will come.”
Niwot capped the meet with a victory in the 1,600-meter relay, posting a time of 3:21.70. Thompson Valley was second, in 3:23.09.
Longmont senior Teagan Malcom had some mixed emotions after winning the state title in the 300-meter hurdles for the second year in a row. He finished in 36.94 seconds, but was upset he didn’t break the 4A state meet record of 36.81. Malcom’s seed team coming in matched that 36.81.
“It's a lot bittersweet,” he said. “I really wanted to get the state record in my last race. ... I’m definitely super excited. It’s great to be able to come out here and win back-to-back and I had a great season. It’s just kind of not the way I wanted to end it.”
Malcom, who is heading to the University of Colorado, was also second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 400 meters on Saturday.
“I’m really happy with my season,” he said. “It was a great way to end my high school career.”
Canon City junior Gavin Reddick won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.66 seconds. Reddick, who came up just short of the finals a year ago, topped second-place Julian Brantley of Cheyenne Mountain (10.90) for the title. Six others were within .15 of Brantley.
In the 200 meters, Pueblo East sophomore Jor-den Cunningham was a surprise champion. He came into state seeded 17th, but wound up atop the podium with a personal-best time of 21.77 seconds. Mullen’s Joshua Gross was second, at 22.08.
Carter Sola of Lutheran won the 400 meters, posting a time of 48.12 seconds, setting a new PR. Gross was second in that event, as well, at 48.73.
In the 110 hurdles, Grand Junction senior Mason Znamenacek won his first state title, posting a time of 13.93 seconds that was a PR by .01 of a second. He beat Malcom by .15 of a second.
Lewis-Palmer went 1-2 in the triple jump on Saturday. Senior Joseph Kitonsa, who was 15th a year ago, came in as the top seed and was even better in posting a PR of 48-feet to win. His teammate and fellow senior Bryant Wainright was second, at 45-1.75.
Mullen placed first in the 400-meter relay, one day after breaking a seven-year title drought in relays by taking the 800 relay. In the 400, the Mustangs’ foursome of Gross, Sonny Donati, Kevin Lewis and Amare Kyle – the same group that won on Friday – posted a winning time of 41.85 seconds. Palmer Ridge was second, in 42.22.