2A Boys Track & Field: Vanguard’s Max Miller Shatters 3200m Record

LAKEWOOD – Vanguard junior Max Miller knew winning a state title on Friday wouldn’t be easy.

Not with Cooper Osmus of Dayspring Christian on the track.

Miller was able to outlast Osmus, though, in a sizzling race in the Class 2A boys 3,200 meters at the state track and field championships at Jefferson County Stadium.

Miller and Osmus both shattered the previous state meet record, with Miller crossing the finish line in 9 minutes, 17.67 seconds and Osmus not far behind at 9:18.54. The previous record was 9:25.63.

“It was so much fun,” said Miller, who was runner-up in the 3,200 last year. “We took the pace out really strong, and he took me through at under the state record pace. And then that final lap, we were able to kick it home and break the record. So it was a really fun, strong race today.”

Miller had a strong kick at the end. It was a kick he tried a couple of times earlier in the race, but Osmus went with him both times. With about 200 meters to go, however, Miller surged past the senior.

“I just had to give everything I had left at the 200,” he said. “It feels great. I had a pretty strong race last year; I didn’t quite run a PR here at state, but to run a PR here in even a little bit hotter of a day, it feels really great.”

Through Friday, eight of 18 events have been completed, and Sedgwick County is atop the team standings. Going for its second straight title, Sedgwick County has 38 points, while Forge Christian (28) and Dayspring Christian (22) are second and third, respectively.

Cedaredge senior Kolter Mann repeated as champion, winning the shot put for the second year in a row.

“It’s awesome,” he said, matter-of-factly. “I just went out there and threw. It was awesome, felt really good, and just very fluid.”

Mann had a winning throw of 51 feet, 4 inches on his sixth and final attempt. He was the only competitor to hit the 50-foot mark and did so four times. In fact, he hit the 51-foot mark four times.

Mark Walker of Wiggins was second, with a throw of 49-10. He was third a year ago.

In the long jump, Custer County senior Grant Rusk won his first state title, with a leap of 21 feet, 10.25 inches. Dayspring Christian’s Hawkins Flanagan was second, at 21-7.75, while 2025 champion Brady Mollendor of Sedgwick County was third at 21-5.75.

“I don’t know how to feel about it. It’s amazing,” Rusk said. “I’ve struggled through knee problems all this year – jumper’s knee. Couldn’t find a fix, but just pushing through that pain and, I don’t know, it just means a lot to me at this point.”

Rusk actually scratched on his first two jumps and barely made it into the finals on his third jump. But, he said he felt good on his jumps and carried that with him in the finals.

“Oh, it’s, I just, I can’t put it into words. It’s crazy,” he said.

Del Norte senior Damon Ledford-Vigil was also a first-time champion. He came into the meet as the top seed and fought through the pressure to get a win.

“Oh, it’s crazy,” he said. “(On Thursday), I no-heighted in high jump, so I was nervous for this, but you know, getting first, it’s like a crazy feeling. … Having all these people behind me is great.”

Earlier this season, Ledford-Vigil, who was fifth at state last year, set a 2A record with a vault of 15 feet, 3 inches. That made him an easy top seed coming in. He didn’t hit that mark Friday, but his vault of 13-6 got the job done. Lucas Harris of Sedgwick County was second at 13-3.

“Oh yeah,” Ledford-Vigil said of feeling pressure, “and especially being above so much, it’s just like if you mess up, it’s like everyone’s right there. So, it was definitely a lot of pressure, but it was cool. I think it pushed me to try harder, and it worked out.”

In the 800 meters, SkyView Academy junior Rylan Griffith capped a trying season by claiming the state title.

The runner-up last year, Griffth posted a time of 1:54.96 to place first this time. Jack Thompson of Forge Christian was second, in 1:56.69.

“I’m so happy with it,” Griffith said. “It was a really frustrating start to the season, but I just didn’t give up, and I kept improving, and I’m just so happy I could pull it out today.”

Griffith said he struggled early in the season to run the times he wanted, but stayed focused on his end goal. He came in as the top seed and set a personal record.

“I just wanted to win, so I didn’t want to lead and go out that fast,” he said. “And then just sat and kicked until 250 left. I was confident I could take it by that point, so I just gave it all I had at the end.”

After finishing as runner-up last year, North Fork won the state title in the 800-meter relay on Friday.

The foursome of Alex Csere-Bitonio, Braeden Flores, Iain Straub and Gunnar Lee posted a time of 1:30.46. Crowley County was a close second, finishing in 1:30.82.