LAKEWOOD - Aiden Huey knew it would take a tremendous leap to win the Class 3A triple jump championship at the 2026 CHSAA Track and Field State Championships. 

After all, he was aware of the top competition. He faces them every day in practice in New Castle. 

The Coal Ridge Titan senior launched a mark of 45 feet, 7.5 inches to be crowned as the winner. 

His teammate, Marcus Munoz, went 45 feet, 3.25 inches and finished with silver. He was the defending champion. 

If that wasn’t enough, sophomore Clayton Terrell leapt 44-6.25 to earn the bronze medal. 

“It was 1, 2, 3 all Coal Ridge boys,” Huey said proudly. “I’ve been racing and jumping against these boys all year.”

They showed out in their final triple jump competition of 2026 and performed like mighty Titans.

“The work ethic we put in is amazing and there’s also our coach,” Huey said, who complemented his instructor’s knowledge of proper technique. “He’s a great coach.”

He’s so great that he took his Coal Ridge boys all the way to the top of the 3A mountain. 

Even though they battle each other every day in practice, as well as their meets on the Western Slope, the trio gets along tremendously well. 

“I came in prepared and if I got second I was going to be happy for him,” Huey said of Munoz. “We go back-and-forth a lot.” 

Munoz often finishes first, as he was the state champion in 2025 already as a sophomore, but Huey was the league champion this year. He had momentum. 

But, the senior needed to pop a big jump to pass Munoz as he was trailing him by nearly six inches halfway through the competition. 

Head coach Ben Kirk, who is also the Coal Ridge Athletic Director, said the two combined to break the school record four or five times on Thursday. 

It was an epic way to wrap up Huey’s triple jump career in high school. Munoz is only a junior, so he can battle Terrell for the crown next season. 

“I think staying active all year was really helpful,” Huey said of the way he’s continued to progress. “I did cheer and helped us get to state. I did wrestling and football. I stayed with my workout routine, bouncy, and stayed jumpy. I’ve been working with my coach in the offseason a lot. I think having my teammates push me is huge.”

All of it meshed together to create a champion. The Adams State signee is proud to represent his town and area. 

“We stay on the Western Slope (for other track and field meets) and then show up and try to surprise everyone,” he said of popping big marks at the state meet.

Coach Kirk, who has been with the program for 20 years, is also proud of his community and how they support their Titans. 

“It’s a long ways to get here, but we have a ton of parents who show up,” he said. “I think that shows the dedication to their kids, to the program, and the expectation. There’s a lot of investment put in.”

Huey already had many accolades as he was fourth in triple jump last year, third in 110 hurdles, and ninth in long jump. He shattered the school record in hurdles during prelims on Thursday (third place, 14.65), only finishing behind Denver West’s Tiden-Silver Colbert (14.43) and Kent Denver’s Solomon Morrell (14.54). 

The three triple jump stars will look to earn more state medals in the final two days of competition. 

It was a sterling start for Coal Ridge, but other 3A boys teams also shined. 

Berthoud had a sensational comeback victory in the 4x800 relay. After starting out around eighth place through 1,200 meters, they closed with a 1:59 split by Benjamin Clopper and a 1:57 by Aidan Mahlberbe to hawk down a youthful Frontier Academy team on the last lap. 

The Spartans ran 8:08.83, while Frontier Academy (8:11.27) and Strasburg (8:11.91) trailed just behind. Eric Mellott and Jacob Perry also ran legs for the Berthoud Spartans. 

Coming up, Mahlberbe is the number one seed in both the 800 Friday and the 1600 Saturday.

Pagosa Springs senior Colton Lucero finished first in the 100 prelims in 10.88. 

The Harrison Panthers and Denver West Cowboys continued their prominence on the track as West’s Ernest Fields (21.42) and Harrison’s Thiago Roberts (21.45) were the top finishers in the 200 prelims. Javon Gibbs and Janoah Brown also dipped under 22 for Harrison. 

Fields is a strong contender in the 100 (third in prelims) and the 400 (first in prelims, 48.78), as well. Roberts (48.88) will give him a run for his money though. 

Harrison (1:27.45) also set a new 4x200 relay state meet record in 3A. They were first in prelims by over one second as Strasburg (1:28.46) was the runner-up. 

Montezuma-Cortez junior Trey Hall won high jump by clearing six feet, seven inches. Bayfield’s Tanner Vyborny also went 6’7, but was second based on attempts. 

The Classical Academy has been a distance running powerhouse for decades. Well, they added to that legacy as sophomore Barrett Paas (9:40) flew to a 62-second final lap to catch Engelwood senior Silas Strawbridge (9:41) in the final 50 meters. 

Coal Ridge (28 points) and Pagosa Springs (22) are in first and second place in the standings, but The Classical Academy, Denver West, and Harrison will continue to make noise.