Girls Track & Field: Eaglecrest Star Zenobia Witt Takes Aim at Third Straight Long Jump State Title

AURORA – Zenobia Witt doesn’t know her limits.

That happens to be a really good thing for Colorado prep track & field fans.

Though currently on the way back from injury and trying to build back into form ahead of the grand spectacle that is next month’s Class 5A girls state track meet, the Eaglecrest junior star — already a five-time state champion — is setting her sights incredibly high.

A 20-foot long jump indoors at last month’s New Balance Indoor Nationals — achieved while suffering the effects of an injury — put Witt in the mindset to go even bigger in the closing weeks of the season.

“That was definitely a mental boost and now I believe I can do even more when I’m healthy, so I’m looking to jump 21 feet,” Witt said of her performance at the national meet in which she achieved All-American status. “I have very, very big aspirations. The injury was a slight setback, but I don’t doubt that I’ll be able to do it.”

The five class boys and girls state track & field championships are May 14 through 16 at Jeffco Stadium.

Witt has good reason to be confident in the long jump, her definite bread and butter despite the athleticism and talent to do just about anything in the sport.

She won the 5A state championship in the event as a freshman in 2024 and defended it last season when her final jump lifted her over club teammate and former Cherokee Trail star Kaeli Powe to the top of the medal podium.

Both of her state-winning jumps were less than 20 feet — she went 19-9 1/2 inches as a freshman and 18-7 1/2 as a sophomore — but she believes she’s ready to go well past those marks. At the New Balance meet in March in Boston, Witt jumped 20-1 1/2 on her last attempt of the finals to go into first before she ultimately ended up third.

For reference, the 5A state meet and Colorado all-classification records in girls long jump are the same in the mark of 21-3/4 from Montbello’s Chelsea Taylor in 2005.

Like many around Colorado, new Eaglecrest head coach Chazz Burney is looking forward to what Witt can accomplish the rest of season when healthy.

“She’s one of the few women’s jumpers in the nation who can jump 20 feet and that’s pretty significant,” Burney said. “She’s consistently hitting her marks, so it will be exciting to see what she does.”

Because of her injury, which she said happened the month before the New Balance meet, Witt has competed in just one meet so far this season. She took part in the Grandview Invitational March 28 at Stutler Bowl and in her only event, she jumped 19-11 1/2 in the long jump for a mark that still stands as Colorado’s top mark regardless of classification this season.

Witt returned to practice last week, but wasn’t yet ready to compete with her team at the Stutler Twilight meet April 24. She plans to take part in the Centennial League Championships May 7-9 and ideally at least one other meet before state to get herself in the proper place for the state meet.

“I’m doing my PT and just focused on what I’m doing and not what anybody else is doing,” she said. “I think I will be able to compete to the best of my ability … I’m always going to show up and show out at state. I’m excited to get back, especially in that (long jump) pit.”

Burney has been impressed with how Witt has attacked her recovery and managed to set an example for the rest of the team.

“She’s driven and a very hard worker,” he said. “Even dealing with injuries, she hasn’t let that deter her from her work ethic. The team sees that and they respect her as a leader.”

Assuming a full return to health, Witt has already put into place a plan for the rest of the season, assuming she is able to qualify in all events. She plans to skip the triple jump this season, an event she finished second as a freshman and third as a sophomore, in favor of the 300-meter hurdles.

Witt already expects to contend in the 100 hurdles (in which she placed third last season) and believes she can run in the mid-13-second range when healthy, which would put her atop the state if she is able to do so. Northfield’s Amber Calender has run the state’s fastest time in the event so far with a 13.76 achieved last weekend.

Rounding out Witt’s events will be either the 4×100 or 4×200 meter relay, whichever will be one most likely to be winnable for Eaglecrest. If program history holds, that would be the 4×200, in which the Raptors have won four straight state titles, including the last two with Witt.

Witt, combined with other talents such as senior Tatum Gratrix (a multiple-time state champion on relays), sophomores Rhyan Gadlin and Evangeline Ansah and an improved distance group headed by junior Jenna Winn, gives Eaglecrest a chance to make a run at a podium spot as a team at the state meet. The Raptors finished third — 3.5 points out of second — behind Cherry Creek and winner Fossil Ridge last season.

“Honestly, I think we can do some really big things,” Witt said.

Whatever Witt achieves will only continue to build a resumé that will impress college coaches, which have now been able to be in contact with her now that she is a junior.

She said she had informed many interested programs of her injury at the New Balance meet and felt good that none had wavered in their interest, especially given she is on the path to recovery and has her senior year ahead as well.