Heading to the finish line ...
Mullen has some moments in the Centennial League Championships; Dwol, Mitchell-Ruff and Tolbert shine; 4A state meet is June 24-26.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE – There were personal records, nice improvements, more team bonding and some of the final competition available.
However, there also were scorching temperatures, a lightning delay, an additional day of competition because of the heat and, of course, the lateness of the new Season D because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Still, Mullen is ready for the Colorado Track and Field Championships that will cap the strangest school sports year in a century. The Mustangs had a lot of good happen at the Centennial League Championships, which were completed on Saturday at the Stutler Bowl, and are adamant that it will
carry over to the state meet, to be held June 24-26 at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
They will be competing in Class 4A after another season of facing 5A schools.
Headed by the likes of Agur Dwol, Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff and Jack Tolbert, the Mustangs are upbeat.
Dwol and Mitchell-Ruff were double winners in the long and triple jumps, and 100 and 200 meters, respectively.
”I want a 20 and 42,” Dwol said in referring to her specialties.
She wasn’t far away – she won the long jump in 18 feet, 8 inches, and the triple jump in 41-0. A week ago, Dwol turned in a 41-4 in the triple, the second-best mark in Colorado history and just 3 inches from first.
“I’m just trying to get it together,” she said of fine-tuning her technique. “I want a 42 or 43 … I know it’s out there!”
The junior won the 4A triple jump as a freshman and there was no season in 2020.
As for Mitchell-Ruff, the senior speedster set season PRs in both events, 11.99 in the 100 and 24.58 in the 200.
“I’m pleased,” she said. “I could have went harder in the acceleration phase in the 100 and finishing in my 200 would have been a lot smoother, but they’re PRs and just the beginning of what I’m going to do.”
And as far as looking forward to her final attempts at Colorado championships?
“I feel great and am so ready to go,” Mitchell-Ruff said.
Mullen was fourth among eight league female teams much to the delight of head coach Caitlin Able.
“Oh, yeah, I’m so happy and pleased with the girls,” Able said. “You can tell by all of their hard work and dedication that they’re doing so well.”
Among boys, Tolbert was second in the 1,600 (4:30.52) and sixth in the 800 (2:00.88). Jack Sargent finished sixth in the 300 hurdles (47.75), and Rocco DePizzol also bears watching in the jumps, said boys head coach Thal Woods, as do some relay teams.
“We’re just looking forward to next week,” Woods said.
Mullen boys were seventh.
Final entries for each event by class will be posted by Sunday.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Stutler Bowl, Greenwood Village
BOYS
Team scores – Grandview 187, Cherry Creek 154, Cherokee Trail 122, Eaglecrest 72, Arapahoe 69, Smoky Hill 59, Mullen 19.
Mullen in finals
800 meters – 6. Jack Tolbert, 2 minutes, 0.88 seconds.
1,600 – 2. Jack Tolbert, 4:30.52; 16. Jacob Sushinsky, 4:57.30; 19. Travis Hockin, 5:15.84.
3,200 – 9. Jacob Sushinsky, 10:41.43.
300 hurdles – 6. Jack Sargent, 47.75.
400 relay – 7. Mullen, 46.31.
800 relay – 7. Mullen 1:38.04.
High jump – 8. Rocco DePizzol, 5 feet, 7 inches.
Long jump – 13. Rocco DePizzol, 18-8; 16. Michael Brouillette, 18-0.5.
GIRLS
Team scores – Cherry Creek 180, Grandview 161, Cherokee Trail 96, Mullen 83, Arapahoe 79, Eaglecrest 46, Smoky Hill 45, Overland 27.
Mullen in finals
100 meters – 1. Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff, 11.99; 7. Paige Lousberg, 13.24.
200 – 1. Kaleah Mitchell-Ruff, 24.58; 8. Mikaela Henderson, 27.41.
800 – 12. Amy O’Connell, 2:26.99; 17. Octavia Gomez, 2:37.13; 22. Elizabeth McGarry, 2:44.23.
1,600 – 19. Katie Blaschke, 6:50.90; 20. Emma O’Connell, 6:56.85.
3,200 – 5. Amy O’Connell, 12:54.14.
400 relay – 2. Mullen, 49.97.
800 relay – 2, Mullen, 1:47.01.
800 sprint-medley relay – 3. Mullen, 1:56.20.
1,600 relay – 6. Mullen, 5:24.51.
3,200 relay – 5. Mullen, 10:39.74.
Long jump – 1. Agur Dwol, 18-8; 7. Carmela Carbone, 15-1.25.
Triple jump – 1. Agur Dwol, 41-0; 8. Carmel Carbone, 31-1.50.
Discus – 5. Hanah Pachl, 84-3.
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