1A Boys Track & Field: Repeat Champions Among Day 2 Highlights

LAKEWOOD – On his second attempt on the triple jump Friday morning, Javin Summers of Swink set the Class 1A state meet record, with a leap of 45 feet, 1 inch.

The junior wasn’t done, though. On his fourth and final attempt, he broke the record again, at 45 feet, 3.75 inches, and claimed his second-consecutive title in the event at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium.

“It was very nice,” he said of the record. “It’s kind of a weird feeling, I guess. Last year I almost had it and it just wasn’t wind-qualifying. It was like a 45-even, so it’s kind of nice to come back and actually get it. The weather was more on my side this year, so that’s definitely nice.”

After breaking the record the first time, Summers said he felt there was more in him.

“I figured if I tried hard enough I probably could, so I figured I’d give it a shot,” he said. “It was not quite a PR, but it was close enough; it was like an inch off, so I’m happy with it.”

Summers is now a four-time state champion, having successfully defended his title in the long jump on Thursday. Matthew Crocfer of Pikes Peak Christian was second, with a leap of 42-7.25.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Summers said. “It’s a nice way to start the weekend out, so it’s definitely a good feeling.”

Through eight of 18 events, McClave leads the team standings, with 53 points. Springfield is second with 41, while Akron is third with 24 points.

Springfield’s Parker Arbuthnot continued his pursuit of another trifecta by winning the 800 meters.

The junior won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 last year and has now taken two of the three this weekend. He won the 3,200 on Thursday and then outlasted the field in the 800, posting a time of 1 minute, 57.71 seconds. McClave’s Hudson Goble was second (1:58.98), while Plateau Valley’s Gabriel Gutierrez-Gleason was third (2:00.62).

“Going into it, this is the race I was most worried about,” Arbuthnot said. “I try to be as confident as possible, but this was the one – Triple G, Gabriel Gutierrez-Gleason, he came in with the second-best time (just .23 behind Arbuthnot) … so, I was like, ‘Oh boy.’

“And yesterday in the two mile, he went out like a bat out of Hades, so I thought, I’m gonna have to go out quick.”

He was quick enough once again and now will go for the sweep again Saturday in the 1,600.

“Gotta clear it and move on to tomorrow,” he said. “Gotta get that mile tomorrow.”

In the discus, Austin Wright of Arickaree-Woodlin put a cap on his stellar throwing career, winning the title for the second time in three years.

The senior had a throw of 164 feet, 8 inches to easily take the top spot. Carl Hughett of Elbert was second, at 149-6, placing in the top four for the third straight year.

“It feels great,” said Wright, who won the title in 2024 and was second last year. “Really glad to be here. I mean, all glory to God, always. … It was a really good memories from sophomore year and I was glad to kind of relive those and kind of go out with a bang on my senior year.”

During practice this week, Wright was throwing around 167, he said, so he had the state meet record of 170-7 in his mind.

“That’s what I was trying to chase today,” he said. “I might not have come up with it, but I still feel like I threw pretty well.”

In fact, his winning throw was a personal record by more than two feet.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I made a lot of progress over just the last year, and I’m really proud of that, and I’m really proud of all the people around me getting me here. I think I owe a lot of that to them too. I feel it’s a great feeling.”

There were two relay finals on Friday.

Haxtun won the 4×200 meter relay in 1:32.64, edging McClave, who posted a time of 1:32.97. Carter Imhof, Chase Goddard, Greyson Biesemeier and Zach Statz teamed up for the win for the Bulldogs.

Akron claimed the title in the 4×800 meter relay, posting a time of 8:42.83. The Rams cruised past the field, with Fleming coming in second, at 8:58.96.

The foursome of Eli Hart, Kolton Strand, Oscar Hottinger and Kolton Randel led Akron to the win.