4A Boys Track & Field: Summit’s Jay McDonald Breaks State Record in Star-Studded 800m
By Brian Howell
Photo: Wallace Photography
LAKEWOOD – A year ago, Jay McDonald came to the state track and field championships to watch.
An injury derailed McDonald’s sophomore season, leading him to standing along the fence at Jefferson County Stadium as a spectator.
“It’s been a huge motivation this year,” the Summit junior said.
On Friday, he was on the other side of the fence, winning the Class 4A state title in the 800 meters.
“I’ve seen this moment in my head so many times,” he said of crossing the finish line first. “It’s just nice to finally cross the line and have it happen in reality. I’ve been waiting pretty much all year for the opportunity to run here, and just grateful for my teammates. They’ve been here every step of the way.”
McDonald finished the star-studded 800 in 1 minute, 48.64 seconds, setting a new 4A state meet record. The old mark was 1:50.74, by Cheyenne Mountain’s William Mayhew in 2015.
Mayhew’s mark hadn’t been topped in more than a decade, but four runners beat it Friday: McDonald, Niwot’s Quinn Sullivan (1:49.08) and Rocco Culpepper (1:50.27), and Air Academy’s Nolan Thackwell (1:50.55).
McDonald knew it would be a fast race, considering Culpepper was the two-time defending champion and Sullivan came in as the top seed. Sullivan, a junior, finished top three for the third year in a row.
“We’ve been going back and forth since freshman year,” McDonald said of Sullivan. “He’s one of the guys that, you know, that’s why you show up to practice every day to compete with athletes like him. It’s just so fun to be in the state of Colorado and 4A where it’s so competitive in this meet. To win this one means a lot.”
McDonald had a strong kick towards the end of the race to edge Sullivan for the title.
“I had a really good 800 about a month ago and I’ve just been getting better since then, day by day,” he said. “So, I was really prepared for this and I knew if I could hang with (Sullivan) for 600 that I trusted that I wanted it more with 200 to go, and it worked.
“A year ago, I wasn’t even at the state meet, so I think a 1:48 and a win is more than I could ever hope for.”
Through eight of 18 events, defending champion Niwot leads the team standings, with 50.5 points. Palmer Ridge is second with 38 points, while Coronado 35 points.
In addition to picking up 15 points in the 800 meters, Niwot earned 10 points by winning the 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1:26.10. Palmer Ridge was second, in 1:26.96. Jaydan Martinez, Jackson Bates, Townes Bernstein and Joshua Archuleta teamed up for Niwot to win the 800 relay.
Severance junior Jonah Beck claimed his first-ever state title in the long jump. The junior had a winning leap of 23 feet, 10 inches. Caden Vinson-Cline of Cheyenne Mountain was second, with a jump of 22-8.5.
“Super excited,” Beck said. “I’ve been building towards this for years now. I’m a junior right now and I’ve wanted this since freshman year. Seeing all these other guys, like Jayden Nohr last year from Roosevelt (the 2025 champ, who graduated). I looked up to him because I wanted exactly what he had, and now I’ve got it. And now the state record’s next.”
Beck qualified for state last year, but didn’t place. He wound up 10th, one spot from standing on the podium and earning a medal.
“It’s fueled me a lot, just the winter workouts, putting in the extra work,” he said. “I mean, I’m not perfect yet, I still got ways to go, but it feels great to know that I actually got better this year.”
Beck has a busy Saturday ahead, as he hunts for more state medals. He will compete in the finals for the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter relay.
Coronado’s Oliver Horton kicked off the action on Friday with a victory in the 3,200-meter run.
A junior, Horton posted a time of 9:12.18 to edge Niwot’s Ryder Keeton (9:12.52) for the title. It was Horton’s third time medaling in the event, as he was fourth last year and ninth in 2024.
“That (3,200) has been haunting me for a year,” he said. “I’m glad I have this win under me because I’ve been wanting it for so long.”
Horton wasn’t celebrating too much, though. He will run the 1,600 on Saturday and comes in as one of the top seeds. He was third last year.
“Getting ready for the mile and then I can celebrate after that,” he said.
