Dylan Day

A big part of the Mountain Vista leadership this season falls to senior Tyler Matzke. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.

The eventual top teams were nicely represented the 5A boys 100 meter final, but it was Trey Smith of Douglas County in lane one who took the event title. Photo by Alan Versaw.

At the beginning of the year, few would have suspected Fountain-Fort Carson would own the #2 4x800 seed, but Dylan Day and his teammates are there. Colorado Track XC file photo.

If you like showdowns, and especially relay showdowns, you should be liking the possibilities for 5A boys track and field coming up in less than two weeks.

In theory, 5A boys is as good as boys track and field gets in Colorado. And, there’s nothing wrong with the theory this year.   

Luke Duggan raced very well at state last year and returns as 1A's #2 ranked 1600 this spring. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

If you guessed this young man as the 5A returning runner with the best 3200 time, you are an astute student of Colorado distance. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Thursday action at Simplot is limited to 3200 and 1600 prelims, plus the weight throw, but it's been a successful evening for Colorado nevertheless.

Drue Harris adds relay punch to his 400 meter contributions for Fountain-Fort Carson. Photo by Paul Jaeger.

Aaron Rickey could be the go-to guy for a very solid Palmer team next fall. Photo by Alan Versaw.

The ebbs and flows of emotions shifted several times in the final stages of the race as Ariana Toland and Casey Griggs battled for the lead and the win. Photo by Alan Versaw.

We'll keep updating this as the JO Nationals meet marches through the week.

It was a busy weekend for the age groupers trying to find their way to the next round in Arizona.

Tevin Donnell and his Fountain-Fort Carson teammates saw a potential state title elude them this year. Most of the team will be back next year. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Gabby Pajak and Toni Stoll, Pagosa's dynamic duo--between them, they accounted for 72 points at Saturday's Intermountain League meet. Photo by Aaron Lorenzen.