23rd Mullen Invitational
2019's first big meet.
Photos by John Leyba, Mullen Sports Photographer
New Mustangs leadership, better weather make for '19's 1st big meet
At this time of the spring season, most competitors and coaches connected with track and field turn into meteorologists.
They really don’t have a lot of choice.
Usually, track meets in early April deal with wind, cold, wind, rain, wind, snow, wind, darkness, wind freezing rain, wind … and that’s if the meet actually occurs.
So when the 23rd Mullen Invitational happened on Saturday, there was little complaining about the mini-temperature swings, cloud cover, off-and-on breezes, and minimal sunshine.
“This is our first meet with the good weather,” first-year Mustangs coach Caitlin Able said. “And I’m pleased.”
The meet, which is recognized as the first must stop on the annual circuit, again featured gobs of talent. More than 1,300 competitors and 70 schools were represented, and there are no team scores recorded. It’s all about featuring the individuals and there were many of them on hand, including from all five classifications.
Monarch’s Max and Mia Manson, for example, won their specialties, the pole vault, and it wasn’t difficult to believe as their father is Pat Manson, who set the state standard more than three decades ago.
Ralston Valley’s Maya Provencal was a double winner, taking the 100 and 200 meters. So was Fairview’s Marlena Preigh in the 800 and 1,600. Elizabeth’s Mason Anthony uniquely won the 300 hurdles and long jump in boys. And Denver West’s Yason Sado won the 800 and 1,600 in boys.
For the Mustangs, senior Matt Veen had the best finish in boys, taking fifth in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 1 inch. Junior Damien Cearns led a bunch of others getting work in sprints and relays. Plus, Mullen introduced a number of underclassmen to competition, including sprinter Kyle Krebs, a freshman.
“It was good,” Krebs said. “I could have had my handoff go a little better, I kind of messed it up, but it worked. I’m pleased.”
Boys head coach Thal Woods, like Able a Mustangs alumnus, said he is laying the groundwork to up the number of boys participants and figures to be patient.
“I think we’re creating some enthusiasm and the guys were working well,” Woods said. “We’re trying to get some more football players out and just get more kids involved in track.”
In girls, the Mustangs’ Lauren Cox, Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff and freshman Kilah Freelon led the way. Cox and Mitchell-Ruff had impact in the sprints and relays, and Freelon impressed with a second and third in the hurdles. Their 800 sprinter medley relay group of Cox, Mitchell-Ruff, Kate Rowland and Colleen Hart, also qualified for the state meet.
“They did an awesome job,” Able said.
Said Cox, a senior: “This was our first time in good weather and we’re just trying to get our timing down.”
Hart, another senior, said “overall, we’re pleased, but there’s a lot of room for improvement.”
Woods and Able were in their first foray of running the meet and both said they gained valuable experience, with Able saying perhaps “we can make it more of our meet next year.”
Below are the winners of each event, followed by Mullen finishers.
For full results, use the following link:http://files.milesplit.us/live_results/327361/index.html
RESULTS
BOYS
100 – 1. Jackson Connelly, Regis Jesuit, 10.85. Mullen – 21. Damien Cearns, 11.54; 24. Kyle Krebs, 11.57; 31. Jonah Villaneuva, 11.78.
200 – 1. Elijah Williams, Gateway, 21.90. Mullen – 22. Damien Cearns, 23.73; 31. Kyle Krebs, 24.43; Tommy McCarthy, 25.20.
400 – 1. Nicholas Nuhfer, Arvada West, 39.46
100 Hurdles – 1. Zion Gordon, Regis Jesuit, 14.21. Mullen -- 34 Rocco DePizzol, 18.64; 39. Jake Jolstade, 20.96; 40. Diego Taboada-Cross, 21.75.
300 Hurdles – 1. Mason Anthony, Elizabeth, 37.92. Mullen – 34. Rocco DePizzol, 47.37.
800 – 1. Yason Sado, Denver West, 1:56.48.
1,600 – 1. 1. Yasin Sado, Denver West, 4:16.24
3,200 – 1. Seth Bruxvoort, Heritage Christian, 9:41.69. Mullen – 17. Michael Dudzic, 10:46.09.
400 Relay – 1. Overland, 42.61. Mullen – (Damien Cearns, Jonah Villaneuva, C.J. Smith, Kyle Krebs), 45.32.
800 Relay – 1. Gateway, 1:31.20. Mullen – 10. 1:35.32.
1,600 Relay – 1. Niwot, 3:28.40.
3,200 Relay – 1. Ralston Valley, 8:19.26. Mullen – 17. (Charlie Manta, Jonathan Egan, Eric Rapp, Jack Tolbert), 0:36.33.
Discus – 1. Max Christenberry, Battle Mountain, 164-4. Mullen – 33. Luke Malone, 76-4; 34. Aiden Keanaaina, 51-3.
Shot put – 1. Tyler Nelson, Douglas County, 49-5. Mullen – 12. Luke Malone, 42-7.
High jump – 1. D’Angello Wright, Mountain Range, 6-6. Mullen – 5. Matt Veen, 6-1
Long jump – 1. Mason Anthony, Elizabeth, 22-10.5. Mullen – 27. C.J. Snith, 17-9.
Triple jump – Adam McQuire, Castle View, 53-3.
Pole Vault – 1. Max Manson, Monarch, 17-0. Mullen – 20. Clancy Meade, 10-0.
GIRLS
100 – 1. Maya Provencal, Ralton Valley, 11.96. Mullen – 4. Lauren Cox, 12.40; 6. Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff, 12.63; 42. Kate Rowland, 14.14.
200 – 1. Maya Provencal, Ralston Valley, 25.16. Mullen – 26. Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff; 28. Elizabeth Bixenman, 27.63;
400 – 1. Abby Glynn, Mead, 57.17. Mullen – 27. Colleen Hart, 1:06.47.
100 Hurdles – 1. Zion Smith, Northfield, 14.94. Mullen – 2. Kilah Freelon, 15.68; 37; Alina Ventura, 18.83; 42. Rebecca Brazelton, 20.00.
300 Hurdles – 1. Abby Glynn, Mead, 45.06. Mullen - 3. Kilah Freelon, 46.23.
800 – 1. Marlena Preigh, Fairview, 2:14.07. Mullen – 44. Anika Rosengarten, 2:41.40; 46. Sara Victoria Alvarez, 2:49.38; 48. Mia Mowers, 2:50.68.
1,600 – 1. Marlena Preigh, Fairview, 5:00.43. Mullen -- 45. Emily McIntire, 6:00.61; 46. Madison Wainscoat, 6:24.14; 47. Alicia Muller, 6:34.18; 48. Morgan Atwell, 6:40.04.
3,200 – 1. Lanie Szuch, Ralston Valley, Evergreen, 11:08.67
400 Relay – 1. Ralston Valley, 49.17. Mullen – 4. (Lauren Cox, Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff, Elizabeth Bixenman, Kate Rowland), 50.17.
800 Relay – 1. Niwot 1:.44.83
1,600 Relay – 1. The Classical Academy, 4:09.39. 13. Mullen, 4:26.70
3,200 Relay – 1. Denver East, 10:06.18. Mullen -- 13. (Kaitlin Stanford, Madison Wainscoat, Alicia Muller, Emily McInire), 11:11.99.
800 Sprint Medley Relay – 1. Mead, 1:51.20. Mullen – 11. (Lauren Cox, Kate Rowland, Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff, Colleen Hart), 1:56.50.
Discus – 1. Gya’ni Sami, Sierra, 136-2. Mullen – 11. Cassandra Pine, 100-5; 23. Morgan Wills, 88-3.
Shot Put – 1. Joy Fifita, Bromfield, 38-10. Mullen – 11. Cassandra Pine, 33-8; 27. Dominique DeSeviere, 28-3.
High Jump – 1. Alyssa McConnell, Durango, 5-3. Mullen – 17. Mikaela Henderson and Katherine Hammond, 4-3.
Long Jump – 1. Mia Manson, Monarch, 17-11. Mullen – 21. Mikaela Henderson, 14-3.5; 23. Natalie Paul, 13-9.
Triple Jump – 1. Lily Margolis, Boulder, 36-5. Mullen -- 14. Rebecca Brazelton, 33-3.
Pole Vault – 1. Mia Manson, Monarch, 12-0
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