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Cardinal freshman medals in state debut

Staff Report
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

PUEBLO, Colorado ” Brandi Krieg picked the right time to hit her best time. In her first Class 2A State Track and Field meet, the Grand Valley freshman snuck under the 5-minute, 23-second mark to place fifth in the finals of the 1,600-meter run.

The medal-worthy finish was fitting for the distance star who burst on the scene to win meets and break school records this year. On Friday, she made her coach Sean Rice very proud.

“She ran really well,” he said. “It was the fastest time she’s ever done. To be the fifth best in the state, I can’t ask for more than that.”



Krieg, the only Cardinal runner in a final event on Friday, will be back in action today in the 3,200. Rice is hoping she can top her fifth-place performance in the 3,200.

“I know the one-mile is her favorite, but I think she has an even better shot in the two-mile,” Rice said.



In prelims on Friday, Kendall Babler advanced to the finals in the girls 100 hurdles and Colton Cowan did the same in the boys 110 hurdles. The Cardinal girls 4×100 relay team also made it out of prelims and will be competing in the finals today.

“I am really looking forward to the girls 4×100 tomorrow,” Rice said on Friday.

Cowan also competed in the 100 dash and 300 hurdles, but just missed finishing in the top nine to advance to the finals. The same was true for Jared Tonder in the 300 hurdles, Babler in the 100, Erin Vanderpool in the 100 hurdles and the boys 4×100 relay team.

“I was really proud of all our runners,” Rice said. “Everybody ran really well, Jared and Erin and Colton, it just wasn’t good enough.”

The Grand Valley finalists will begin the second day of competition today at 10 a.m.

PUEBLO, Colorado ” With a roster of only four athletes, the Roaring Fork track and field team still managed to collect two medals on the opening day of competition in the Class 3A State Track and Field meet in Pueblo.

Tyler Thompson leaped 44 feet, 7 inches, in the triple jump to finish as the runner-up in state and Jon Araujo placed third in the shot put with a toss of 47-9.75. The best part for the Rams’ squad is the junior field duo still has more events today.

Thompson will not only be competing in the long jump ” where he is one of the top seeds ” and the high jump. Araujo will be throwing again today, this time in the discus.

One Coal Ridge Titan qualified for today’s final in the 3A meet in Cheyln McCain. The sophomore advanced with a top-nine finish in the 300 hurdles.

The Titans had five relays competing on Friday and while none advanced to today’s finals, Coal Ridge head coach Meggie Kirk was proud of her squad.

“Most of the relays ran their best times,” Kirk said. “They did awesome overall. We are really pleased.”


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