LAKEWOOD - Those who have been following Colorado high school track and field for decades know it.
This year is different.
It’s always a highly competitive state, but there’s even more records being shattered than usual.
And so, the fact the Harrison Panthers were sitting atop the Colorado rankings in the boys 4x200 relay - for all classifications - for multiple weeks was impressive.
“It was number one in the state for a long time,” senior Thiago Roberts said. “Fort Collins just broke it.”
Harrison is a Class 3A school of 1,100 students in Colorado Springs, while Fort Collins is in the biggest classification (5A).
On Friday, at the 2026 State Track and Field Championships, the Panthers shattered their own classification state meet record time in the 4x200 relay with a blistering mark of 1 minute, 26.56 seconds. They blew past their 2025 record by over a second and won the championship again.
And, while they were sitting at 1:25.97 in the relay before the state meet, the Fort Collins Lambkins dropped an all-classification Colorado record of 1:24.57 two races prior to Harrison's.
Nonetheless, what Harrison has done in the sprinting events is astonishing.
“The biggest highlight of the season was probably that 1:25,” Roberts, who signed with the University of Colorado, said. “That’s huge coming from a 3A school to lead the state for such a long time. We had 5A schools looking at us. We’re not even supposed to be in competition with them, so it was really cool for sure.”
Roberts ran the leadoff leg, then it was Janoah Brown, followed by Javon Gibbs, and finally Gulong Craft (2025 100-meter state champion) anchored. Craft signed with Adams State University.
Last season, Richard Murphy ran instead of Gibbs. The new speedster stepped in and continued the program’s excellence.
“It’s just constant dedication to our sport and to our craft,” Roberts said of Harrison’s prowess in the 100 and 200 meters. “Our coaches are there pushing us every single day.”
Earlier in the day, the Colorado Springs power also set the 4x100 relay state meet record in 3A with a time of 41.56 with the same four boys. It was also a new school record as they were first in prelims.
On top of that, Harrison had three boys run under 22.00 seconds in the 200-meter prelims on Thursday. That is rare for one team in Colorado at any level. Roberts (21.45), Gibbs (21.93), and Brown (21.99) will look to contend for a state championship, along with Denver West’s Ernest Fields.
The Panthers are seeking a team state championship Saturday and qualified a hurdler for the 300 finals in Rawlston John (fifth in 39.73).
“That’s absolutely something we are shooting for,” Roberts said of a team crown.
They have three boys track and field state championships with their last coming in 2000.
As for other 3A events, the Spartans of Berthoud, one day after a sizzling comeback victory in the 4x800 relay, produced the 800-meter state champion in Aidan Mahlerbe (1:55.66).
After tangling with a huge group of eight boys at 59 seconds through the first lap, Lincoln Fagerlin of Resurrection Christian and Mahlberbe began surging and separating from the pack.
With 250 meters left, the Berthoud senior passed the sophomore.
And yet Fagerlin, who has three brothers who all have run at the NCAA Division I level, didn’t give up. He went past Mahlberbe. Then, they were back-and forth through the final 100 meters.
“I just used that slingshot coming off that curve and tried to get ahead of him,” Mahlerbe said. “In years past, I’ve been a different runner when I can’t finish the last 200 well. During my races this year, I knew my last 200 I had that kick.”
In the end, the Berthoud superstar had just enough juice to hold on for the victory. They both dove at the line.
The Resurrection Christian sophomore, who was the state runner-up to brother Jackson last year (now running for Montana State), was unfortunately disqualified for cutting off Mahlberbe. Fagerlin’s teammate, Trevor Lim, ended up nabbing second in 1:56.36.
Interestingly, all three boys have run together in the offseasons occasionally. Resurrection Christian is in Loveland, just down the road from Berthoud. These athletes are friendly rivals.
“Lincoln is a super great competitor,” the Berthoud senior, a University of Colorado-Colorado Springs recruit, said. “I love the dude. Even if he had won, I would’ve been happy for the kid.”
Mahlberbe, the number one seed in the 1600 Saturday, earned his first individual crown. He has been a state qualifier in the event all four years, but blasted his personal record time this season with a 1:53.88. He credited his coaches, especially distance coach Luke Spitz, for his breakthrough season.
One of the top contenders for the team championship, The Classical Academy, had a senior in Marcus May (38.97) finish first in prelims of the 300 hurdles. Denver West’s Tiden Silver-Colbert (38.98) was just a whisker behind.
Weld Central senior Zach Francis Gould topped all competitors in the Discus (163-10). Jackson Edwards of The Classical Academy was the runner-up.
Denver West ran an electric 4x400 relay time of (3:22.50, first in prelims).
In the final event of the day, Peak to Peak senior Ethan Rathke won the pole vault state championship by clearing 15 feet, 1 inch. He was the runner-up last year.
As for the team race, the last day of competition is when a flurry of points get scored.
Currently, Coal Ridge (36 points) leads the team standings. The Classical Academy (29) Pagosa Springs (27), Berthoud (27), and Frontier Academy (25) are in the mix.