western slope league championship review

Summit won it's first ever league championship, with the distance squad contributing immensely to the victory. Definitely rivaling the significance of the girls team victory were the two new school records set by Josh Shriver in the 1600 and 3200. Those races were thrilling, as he raced the highly ranked duo from Battle Mountain of Will Brunner (2023 3200 and XC State Champion) and Porter Middaugh (sixth at Nike Cross Nationals) along with a very deep Eagle Valley team.

The 1600 started fast with Josh splitting a 64 second first lap right behind Will and Porter. To the surprise and cheers of the stadium, Josh surged into the lead on the third lap. He closed in a 61-second final lap to place third and set the new SHS 1600 school record of 4:15.66, edging by .22 seconds the school record of 4:15.88 set by 2014 State Champion Liam Meirow. (Liam called within 10 minutes to congratulate Josh. That's a class act and shows the respect in the brotherhood and sisterhood of distance runners.) Last year, Dominykas Remeikis missed setting the new school record by just .13 seconds. One year later and Josh earns it.

That was Friday. Saturday morning was the 3200 and another thrilling race. Josh trailed Will Brunner until 600 meters to go, the pair quickly distancing themselves from three Eagle Valley racers. Years of consistent hard training paid off with a second school record in two days! Josh's 9:26.73 dropped seven seconds from the school record set just last year by Dominykas, which itself took seven seconds off the nine year old record set by Liam.

Somewhat overshadowed but still fantastic performances were the 3-second PR by Carter in the 1600 and big PRs by Cain and Owen in the 3200. Cain ran a 19-second PR to move up to 6th on the All Time SHS Performance List. Owen ran a massive 25-second PR that moves him up to 11th SHS All Time and 4th Freshman.

The individual distance events wrapped with the 800, which was another thrilling race. Josh again made a move towards the front to challenge for the lead. He fought through the fatigue from 12 previous laps and two school records to place a close 4th, just a tenth of a second from his personal record. Jay battled through growing pains to set a new PR and Carter got his second PR of the meet. Jay and Carter are ranked sixth and seventh on the SHS All Time performance list.

800 times this year are on record pace. Josh's time would have qualified for State by 1.5 seconds last year. This year it may not make the cut, even with another week of races to go. Josh will focus on the 1600 and 3200 at State, opting out of the 800 (don't tell our competitors) so likely will rest up next weekend instead of racing another open 800.

Turning now to the girls, the distance squad contributed immensely to the girls League Championship, scoring 54 points plus another 16 in the relays.

Ella and Lindsey placed first and second in the 1600 on Friday. Avery ran a huge 9-second PR that jumps her up to 8th on the SHS All Time list. Saturday morning Ella and Avery returned in the 3200, joined by Lily. Ella ran a big in-state season best of 10:39 for first, with Avery "exceeding her seed" to place 3rd. Lily improved her 3200 best by a huge 22 seconds to move up to 8th on the All Time list. She, like so many on the team, is really "learning how to race" and using all the training and fitness to push through the momentary discomfort one must endure to improve.

A couple of hours later, Lindsey, Ella and Ashley stepped onto the track for the 800. Lindsey and Ella quickly put distance on the league competition, with Lindsey winning in a new season's best. Ashley ran fantastically in the second heat, pulling away from her closest competitor on the final stretch for the win in a huge for the 800 6-second PR that jumps her up 5 spots to tenth on SHS All Time list and fifth freshman. Her big PR was faster than several girls in the first heat, placing her fifth overall!

Not to be overlooked were the relay performances. Cece, Darby, Claire and Adaline placed third in the 4x800, earning six valuable team points. Cain, Owen, Malachi, and Lukas placed fifth in the 4x800 to earn two team points. Faith, Ella, Teegan and Lindsey ran a State Qualifying time of 4:06.96 to win the 4x400. Lindsey anchored in a blistering 59 seconds in her final race for Summit. The League Championship wrapped up with the boys 4x400, where Josh ran the fastest split - after 14 previous laps of racing - to contribute to a 5th place finish with Jackson, Tyler and Quinn. 

It was so fitting and wonderful that Lindsey's high school running career culminates with victory in her last individual event and victory in her last relay. Lindsey's contributions to SHS in just one year were immense - not just in terms of times in races, but in her lasting impact on the team. Lindsey trains and races with joy and gratitude and is so embracing of others – cheerful and friendly. She is a great inspiration, role model and mentor to her younger teammates. We just wish Lindsey could have been here longer and we wish her the very best in her racing career as a Florida Gator. 

Summit Daily Article: Summit girls track and field team clinches first league title in program history

Dillon uploaded a bunch of great photos here.

Event Splits

These are my hand times. They aren't exact - especially the 200m splits. The final times are usually about a half second less than the official times, due to reaction time to the gun firing. Sometimes more if I was surprised by the gun. Most of the discrepancy in time from the official results should normally be added to the first split.

Spend a little time reviewing them and thinking about your race. Was your start too slow or too fast, did you slow down too much after the half, did you have too much left and finish too strong - with speed that could have been divvied up over previous laps?

2024 League championship

WHERE:  Shocker Stadium, Grand Junction

TRANSPORTATION: The bus departs SHS at 5:00 Friday morning!

DISTANCE ENTRIES: Express your desired events here.

SCHEDULE: This is really four separate meets being held concurrently, with the other meet events interspersed. 

SCORING: CHSAA scoring for a 6 team meet is 6 deep for individual events (10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) and 5 deep for relays (10, 8, 6, 4, 2)

Projected Scores

WSL Standings as of 2024/4/19

2023 League Championship

WHERE:  Shocker Stadium, Grand Junction

TRANSPORTATION: Mini busses depart SHS at 4:30 Friday morning!

DISTANCE ENTRIES: Express your desired events here.

SCHEDULE: This is really four separate meets being held concurrently, with the other meet events interspersed. I estimated the 4A event times as closely as possible.

SCORING: CHSAA scoring for a 6 team meet is 6 deep for individual events (10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) and 5 deep for relays (10, 8, 6, 4, 2)

2023 WSL 4A Championship Results

Another fantastic weekend! We've talked about developing a championship mindset and the distance runners have definitely embraced the ethos. A two-day championship meet presents new opportunities for testing race choice strategies and physical and mental recovery for multiple performances. The distance runners excelled and the coaching staff is excited to see the desire to perform spreading to the rest of the team, inspired by the distance performances. 

Amazingly, after setting 18 new distance PRs last week in Steamboat, the distance runners set 15 new PRs out of 18 races! 33 PRs in two meets. Incredible.

Other highlights - 2 new school records, 2 (possibly 3!) individual State Championship qualifying times, solidifying one relay State qualifying time and setting another! 

Dom had a huge weekend. He started Friday morning by running a new SCHOOL RECORD in the 3200 and securing a State Championship appearance. He followed Friday afternoon with a second place finish in the 800. Saturday started just as hot with a huge 6 second PR in the 1600 that secured a position in the State Championship 1600.  

Our goals all season long have been in getting as many runners as possible a chance to compete at State by qualifying multiple relays. Dom and Will ran two legs of the 4x400 for a time that should earn a trip to State. 

Athletes can compete in "only" 4 events at the State Championship (or any other track meet.) With both the 4x400 and 4x800 likely qualified for State, and being qualified in the 800, 1600 and 3200, Dom is in the very rare situation of having to decide which 4 of the 5 events he wants to do!

Lauren ran a big PR in the 3200 that is currently in the top 18 times and depending on movement next weekend, may get her a trip to State.

Josh's big PR in the 3200 puts him just outside the top 18. He will get a final chance Saturday at St. Vrain.

Ella lowered her in-state school record to 10:44, 6 seconds faster than she ran at State last year. That currently places her second in the State. (Some ranking systems only count in-state times.)

Cece, Faith, Lauren and Ella ran two seconds faster in the 4x800 than they did 3 weeks ago at Glenwood. While it didn't gain them any spots in the rankings, those two seconds could be crucial in securing a top 18 spot when all qualifying races have concluded Saturday.

Here are all of the new PRs: 

3200 

Ella - 6 second in state PR, 1st

Lauren - 17 second PR, 4th, moves up from 5th to 3rd on the all-time list

Cece - 41 second PR, 8th, moves from 19th to 15th on all-time list and enters the Sophomore list in 8th!!

Dom - 17 second PR, 3rd, moves from 2nd to 1st on all-time list – NEW SCHOOL RECORD!!!

Josh - 10 second PR, 4th, moves from 2nd to 1st on Sophomore list!!

Cain - 25 second PR, 8th, climbs from 12th to 9th on the all-time list and 3rd to 2nd on the Freshman list!!

1600

Ella - 3 second PR, 1st, resets her own SCHOOL RECORD!!

Avery - 12 second PR, 7th, moves up from 12th to 10th on the all-time list and 6th to 5th on the Sophomore list!!

Dom - 6.4 second PR, 3rd, now 2nd on the all-time list!

Josh - 3 second PR, 5th, now 3rd on the all-time list and 2nd on the Sophomore list!!

Carter - 12 second PR, 8th, moves from 12th to 6th on all-time list and 3rd to 2nd on Freshman list!!

800

Ella - 4 second PR, 2nd, 2nd on the all-time and Sophomore list!!

Avery - 11 second PR, 7th, advances from 14th to 8th on the all-time list and 8th to 5th on the Sophomore list!!

Dom - .24 off PR, 2nd, 2nd on the all-time list!

Will - 3 second PR, 7th, moves from 4th to 3rd on the all-time list and 3rd to 1st on the Sophomore list!!

Carter - 1.3 second PR, 13th, moves up from 14th to 12th on the all-time list and 3rd to 2nd on the Freshman list!!

400

Lauren - .5 second PR, 4th on the all-time list!

Updated record lists are here. There are a lot of 2023 times highlighted in neon green at the top of the lists!

Summit Track in the News:

2023/5/9: Fit for state: Summit track team sets 4 new school records at league meet

2023/5/9: Eagle Valley and Battle Mountain take respective boys and girls team titles at Western Slope League track and field championships

Team Scores

The team placing was a little disappointing. It was a huge improvement on previous years, but not the second place finishes we thought were a remote possibility. 

The distance runners did their part. The boys distance points were nearly a draw with Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley while the girls were close to Battle Mountain and well ahead of the other teams. 

Next year we hope to have throwers, high jumpers and possibly even pole vaulters so we aren't handicapped by not even competing in four of the events.

Click here for full results.

2023 WSL 4A Championship

WHEN:  Friday-Saturday 5-6 May 2023

WHERE:  Shocker Stadium, Grand Junction

TRANSPORTATION: Mini busses depart SHS at 4:30 Friday morning!

SCHEDULE: The 4A event schedule is below, with entries. This is really four separate meets being held concurrently, with the other meet events interspersed. I estimated the 4A event times as closely as possible.

SCORING: CHSAA scoring for a 6 team meet is 6 deep for individual events (10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1) and 5 deep for relays (10, 8, 6, 4, 2)

Last year's scores

Predicted 2023 scores

I went through all of the entries and put them in the Virtual Meet software for these projected scores. We've made big strides this year. Last year we were last and (barely) second from last. This year we are strongly in the hunt for second place in both boys and girls. Exceed our projections a few times (I.e. beat some people who have faster seed times than you) and we could be double league runner ups!

Projected scores by event - Girls

Projected scores by event - Boys

2022 WSL 4A Championship

WHEN:  Friday-Saturday 6-7 May 2022

WHERE:  Rifle High School

TRANSPORTATION: Be at SHS at 5:30 to load the bus. The bus departs at 5:45.

SCHEDULE: The meet begins at 9:00am both Friday and Saturday. See below (in the entries) for the approximate 4A race times on Friday and the scheduled times on Saturday. 1A/2A, 3A and 4A compete separately, each in their own heats. So for each un-laned event there will be six heats - girls then boys in 1A/2A, followed by 3A, then 4A.

DISTANCE RESULTS: 

The 3200 was the first event of the meet, run in the relatively cool and calm conditions on Friday morning.

• Dom was 5th in 10:14 after leading the pack for the first two laps of the race in a quest for a State Championship qualifying time.

• Josh ran his first 3200 ever in a swift 10:33.39. He set the fastest SHS Freshman 3200 time by 40 seconds! (Dom and Zach didn't get a chance to run the 3200 their Freshman years because of Covid.

• Ella finished first in 11:03.84. It was a 9 second PR and she missed the school record by just .2 seconds.

• Avery Eytel ran her first ever 3200 in 13:44.20 to finish 7th. That earns her the sixth fastest ever SHS Freshman time. 

• Niamh ran a big 13 second PR in 14:23.04 to finish 11th. That moves her into 11th on the SHS Freshman time list.

The 800 was run Saturday morning, again in nice conditions. Five of our six runners ran new PRs!

• Dom made a bold run for a state qualifying time, leading the pack through the first 400 in a sub-59 second split and led the SHS team in 5th. 

• Lucas ran an immense 9 second PR, dropping his best time from 2:20 to 2:11.47 for 12th place. He lead his heat for the majority of the race.

• Josh in just his second weekend of racing this year dropped .5 second PR after his big 3200 the day before.

• Ella ran a .5 second PR of 2:20.46 for second place.

• Adaline ran a huge 5 second PR of 2:47.95 that moves her into 16th on the all-time SHS performance list, right behind Avery Eytel.

• Cece ran an even bigger 7 second PR of 2:48.72 that moves her into 17th on the all-time list.

• I was particularly happy with how Adaline and Cece responded to the advice to start fast in the 800s and fight for position. They competed by far the best they have so far this season. It was really great to see them embracing the challenge.

1600: As opposed to the mornings, the afternoons were very windy both days, significantly slowing the runners and making the pursuits of new PRs very difficult. And despite that, the team ran two new PRs.

• Lucas has really learned how to compete and had an excellent start, getting to the rail and making the competition run wide around the first two curves. His huge effort in the 800 earlier in the day plus the wind made the 1600 a tough race for him, but he gave it his best and still had a strong performance.

• Roan ran very astutely and positioned himself well to take advantage of other runners breaking the wind. Combined with a hard effort, his smart racing resulted in a big 9 second PR.

• Cece ran very aggressively to win her heat by a healthy margin, despite being seeded third. She was just a half second off her PR despite the strong winds and finished 7th.

• Adaline also raced the 1600 after a huge PR earlier in the day in the 800. She also started very well and got into great position at the front of the pack. Like Lucas, her big effort in the 800 clearly made the 1600 a challenge but she persevered well to earn 8th place.

• Paige also ran aggressively for her best performance of the season to set a 4 second PR.

It was a very good meet with more and more of our runners showing they are learning how to compete, not just race. We had an excellent PR rate of about 75% despite tough winds in the 1600. The class of 2025 girls now have 4 of the top 15 SHS freshmen 1600 times and 4 of the top 11 freshmen 3200 times. Adaline has the 7th fastest sophomore 800 and 8th fastest sophomore 1600. Dom, Josh and Lucas have run 3 of the top 10 800 times ever for SHS. Dom leads the Junior boards in the 800, 1600 and 3200. Josh now has the fastest freshman times in both the 800 and 3200 (and hasn’t yet run the 1600.) Roan moved up to 11th fastest sophomore 1600. Lucas moved up to 8th fastest Senior 800 and now is in the all-classes top 20 in the 800, 1600 and 3200.

Updated SHS distance rankings are here.

Summit Daily Article: Summit track team sets its sights on State Championships after strong showing at Multi-League Championships in Rifle on May 6-7

https://www.summitdaily.com/news/summit-track-team-sets-its-sights-on-state-championships-after-strong-showing-at-multi-league-championships-in-rifle-on-may-6-7/

VIRTUAL MEET: Projected results based on prior results and projected team scores.