4A Boys Track & Field: 4×800 State, Shot Put Meet Records Fall on Day 1

LAKEWOOD – Right away, Niwot’s Quinn Sullivan knew the Class 4A boys 4×800 meter relay was going at a blistering pace.

“It felt pretty fast, especially that first leg was pretty brutal,” the Niwot junior said.

It never let up, as the Cougars posted a Colorado prep record time of 7 minutes, 37.24 seconds on Thursday morning at Jefferson County Stadium to win the state title in the event for the fourth year in a row.

Niwot crushed the old state record (7:42.58 by Mountain Vista in 2023) by more than five seconds, but had company. Thompson Valley was second place in 7:38.90.

“I knew I had to take it out hard,” said Sullivan, who ran the first leg for Niwot. “And then as the race continually progressed, it was, like, there was never a spot where we were, I would say, safe from other people. And that’s insane because we were on state record pace by a lot, so having everyone else there made it even harder.”

Sullivan teamed with Ryder Keeton, Corven Peterson and Rocco Culpepper for the win and said he was grateful it wasn’t an easy race.

“It was definitely something that I think we’re grateful for, for them pushing us that way,” he said. “I think the gift of the sport isn’t your own ability in it, but the competition you get from it, and I think that’s what we’re grateful for.”

While Niwot is aiming for a second-straight team title, Palmer Ridge was in the lead after the first four events, with 23 points. Coronado (20), Roosevelt (16) and Niwot (14.5) aren’t far behind.

Palmer Ridge had two state champs on Thursday, led by Owen Twesme winning his second-straight title in the shot put. He posted a 4A state meet record throw of 60 feet, 11 inches on his final throw, topping the previous record of 60-4.75 set 29 years ago, in 1997, by Mullen’s Carlos Tarin.

“I had wanted to get the state record,” the senior said. “That was my goal for today and I pulled it off.”

Twesme’s first throw of the day – 59 feet, 10.25 inches – would have been good enough to win, but his meet record capped the day. Isaac Baca of Grand Junction was second, at 59-1.75.

“It’s awesome,” Twesme said of being a back-to-back champion. “It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to. Last year was just kind of out of the blue, like exciting, but now that like I have back-to-back, had some good (competition) this year, I’m really excited that I pulled it off.”

His teammate, Nathan Moller, wasn’t the favorite going into the high jump competition, but he soared past the competition to win the title with a leap of 6 feet, 10 inches.

“I definitely thought it was possible,” said Moller, a senior who was sixth at state a year ago. “I knew it was going to be very good competition. So, coming into this, I just had to prepare myself for that and just really work with my coaches to refine my form and everything.”

Six jumpers tied at 6-5, with Green Mountain’s Jake Swanson and Mesa Ridge’s Josiah Garcia tying for second place because of a tie-breaker based on misses. Moller was the only jumper to clear 6-7 before then hitting his 6-10 leap.

“My first two (attempts at 6-10) didn’t go so well, and I was just sitting there and I was trying to picture my jump in my head,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t know what compelled me to, but I just thought I should start a clap, get everyone in on it, and just thought I would have fun. That really just lifted me over the bar.”

A year ago, Widefield’s Emerson Johnson failed to reach the finals in the triple jump. On Thursday, he won the state title in the event.

The senior posted a personal-best leap of 45 feet, 10.5 inches to cap his prep career as a champ.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “Last year I didn’t even make finals, so to win it feels amazing.”

Johnson was 15th out of 17 competitors in 2025 and didn’t think a state title was possible until the season opener this year when he jumped 45-5.5.

“That really opened up that I can win this thing,” he said. “I did club over the summer, I did some indoor with my club team, and really was just getting after it on the runway.”

Skyline’s Miley Davis was a close second, at 45-9.25, while Coronado’s Lyrik Smith was third at 45-4.5. None of the top three made the final last year.