Title watch: The top Fort Collins-area athletes chasing gold at high school state meet

The Colorado high school state track and field championships are back this weekend at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.

This year is shaping up to be a fairly strong one for the Fort Collins area, with only a couple former champions but several rising stars poised for a breakout performance on the state stage.

As usual, Northern Colorado runners should shine in the distance running events, but there is potential for state titles across nearly every classification and type of event.

Here is a look at the area's most likely state champions for the Colorado state meet, which runs Thursday through Saturday:

Isabel Allori, Liberty Common

Fresh off a state-record time in the 2-mile , Allori enters state as a prohibitive favorite as the top-seeded Class 3A girls runner in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

She's already a four-time state champion (two track, two cross-country) and one of Fort Collins' great all-time runners. Can she close her storied Liberty Common career with another special performance?

Mikey Munn, Windsor

Munn has zoomed onto the scene this spring, going from mostly a JV performer and relayer last year to Colorado's dominant sprinting star in 2024.

The Wizards' senior holds the top time (among all classifications) in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash events, so it would likely take a stunner to deny him multiple 4A gold medals.

Tatum Berg, Fossil Ridge

The SaberCats' junior has proven herself as a distance dynamo in track and cross-country, capable of beating the best.

She'll have two prime opportunities for state titles this weekend, as Berg has the top qualifying time in the 5A girls 2-mile run while holding the third spot (less than two seconds back) in the 1-mile.

Natalie Washburn, Timnath

The Cubs' junior is one of the few returning local state champions and she'll again be a tough one to outrun.

Washburn is the top seed by nearly six seconds in the 2A 800-meter run, just seconds back at third in the 2A 400-meter dash and will feature prominently on Timnath's top distance relay teams.

Kiana Cumings, Windsor

Cumings is the other half of Windsor's dynamic sprints duo alongside Munn, as both chase historic sprint sweeps.

The Wizards' sophomore is the top seed in the 100 and second in the 200 and 400 races, less than a half second back of the leader in both events. Plus, she'll be a key part of Windsor's stout relay units.

Cameron Glasgow, Timnath

The girls got the Cubs on the state-title board last season. Can Glasgow get the Timnath boys some gold this spring?

The sophomore is the top 2A boys pole vaulter entering state, but he's only one inch above a crowded top flight of vaulters.

Mia Williams, Fossil Ridge

Williams took down a school record last month in the 800-meter run, earning her the top seed among 5A girls in the mid-distance event.

The SaberCats' junior is also in the top 10 (six seconds back) in the mile run and could also be a key runner for Fossil's contending relay teams.

Izzy Schimmelpfennig, Timnath

The Cubs' freshman had a phenomenal fall in cross-country, finishing fifth among 3A girls at the state championships.

Schimmelpfennig will be a Class 2A favorite on the track, entering with the top time in the 2-mile run and sitting third (within 10 seconds of the top seed) in the 1-mile event.

Cadel Ruthven, Fort Collins

Ruthven has a chance to be one of the Lambkins' next great distance runners, already winning two city titles last month and staying with the state's best all spring.

The Fort Collins sophomore owns the second-fastest qualifying mark in the 5A boys 800 run and is within 11 seconds in the 1-mile race.

Luke Garvin, Fossil Ridge

Garvin is the jack of all jumping trades, leaping to elite levels this spring as a junior.

The SaberCats' standout enters the 5A state meet second in the triple jump, third in the high jump and less than a foot off the top long jump mark. At minimum, expect plenty of podium finishes for Garvin.

Addison Geraets, Timnath

The Cubs' sophomore is a pure hurdler and will be instrumental as Timnath aims for the school's first-ever team title in the 2A girls standings.

Geraets leads the field by nearly three seconds in the 300 hurdles and is in the top-five and within striking distance in both the 110 hurdles and 400 dash.

5A contenders that could step up

There's plenty more top-end Class 5A talent among Fort Collins city teams. Here are several more athletes who could outperform their qualifying seeding with a state title:

• Marcus Mozer, Fossil Ridge: Second in long jump, within a second each in 100- and 200-meter dash.
• Boys high jump: Finn Conway-Reiser, Joe Cottingham (Fort Collins) and Charlie Sparks (Rocky) are all within inches of top mark.
• Girls high jump: Nevaeh Rura (Rocky), Addison Hayes (Fossil), Addi Forrest (Poudre) within a half-foot of leader.
• DJ Ruff, Fort Collins: Top-five seed, less than a half-second back in both 100- and 200-meter dash.
• Erin Herrman, Fossil Ridge: No. 2 seed in girls shot put and among top-10 discus qualifiers.
• Tyson Bhalla, Rocky Mountain: Within 10 seconds of top time in one- and two-mile runs.
• Girls triple jump: Maggie Hoyer, Frankie McCoy (Fossil) and Khloe Scharf (Rocky) all among top-five marks.

Relays ready to rock

Relays were the strength of the Fort Collins-area presence last year, winning three state titles with 17 top-five finishes across four classifications.

Here are this year's top local relay squads:

• Class 5A: Fossil girls 4x800 (third), Fossil boys 4x800 (sixth), Fort Collins boys 4x200 (eighth), Fort Collins boys 4x800 (10th).
• Class 4A: Windsor girls 4x200 (first), Windsor girls 800 sprint medley (first), Windsor girls 4x100 (second), Windsor girls 4x400 (third).
• Class 3A: Liberty Common boys 4x400 (first), Liberty Common boys 4x800 (second).
• Class 2A: Timnath girls 4x100/200/400/800 (first in all), Timnath girls 800 sprint medley (second), Heritage Christian boys 4x800 (second), Timnath boys 4x400 (second), Timnath boys 4x100 (eighth).

Other top contenders (2A-4A)

• Emili Voelker, Timnath: Top seed in 2A girls 100 dash, 4th in 200 dash.
• Jack Friesen, Liberty Common: Second in 3A boys 400 dash.
• Justin Bate, Liberty Common: Second in 3A boys pole vault.
• Lilly Lukens, Heritage Christian: Second in 2A girls 1,600, 3,200 runs.
• Windsor pole vaulters: Danner Bakula (boys) and Finley Bach (girls) both third in Class 4A.

Follow state track coverage

The Coloradoan will be live on scene from Jeffco Stadium all three days of the state meet. Check coloradoan.com/sports for live updates and coverage throughout the state meet.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Title watch: The top Fort Collins-area athletes chasing gold at high school state meet