Titan girls take Southern Peaks league title

13 headed to state championships

Not only did the Titan girls’ track team dominate the competition this past weekend at the league championships, but 13 out of 20 Titan tracksters, both boys and girls, are qualified for the state championships at Jeffco Stadium Thursday through Saturday, May 19-21.
After a season of battling larger programs in track meets around the state, the Crested Butte Titans track team got a chance to see how they match up against their Southern Peaks league peers in the league championships on Saturday, May 14 in Center.
Coach Laura Puckett and her girls’ team had their sights set on a league title going in. But they had not seen the competition all season so they had no idea what to expect. In the end, they met their goal and then some.
And based on what Puckett saw out of her team during workouts and the meet, everyone was on the same page.
“They had their heads in the right place,” says Puckett. “I credit our captains for that and the coaching staff. Expectations were set and they went above and beyond that. It was the most team pride I’ve ever seen them have.”
Within the Titans girls’ track team there are two camps, the distance runners and the sprinters. With that in mind, there were two separate strategies for the two camps.
Distance runners sophomore Amber Scott and freshman Shannon Costello hit state qualifying times earlier this season. As a result, Puckett had her distance girls focused more on placing than on their times in Center.
“I told Amber I wanted her to win the two-mile and get points for the team,” explains Puckett. “And I wanted Shannon and Amber to finish one-two in the mile. It was a way for them to be involved with the team.”
They followed their game plan to the letter. The sprint relay crews had a bit more on their plates.
“They were on the cusp of making it to state,” says Puckett. “They were out there to run the very best they had run all season.”
The reason was two-fold. First, to score points for the team to take the league title. Second, to qualify for the state championships.
The sprint relays got a boost from the return of sophomore Abby Whiting. Whiting had missed the past several weeks but was back in action for Center and Puckett threw her right into the mix.
“It was good to have her back,” says Puckett. “She was a bit nervous about how it would go.”
The top 18 times from the season qualifies for the state championships. Heading into Center, the Titans sprint medley relay team was ranked 23rd.
Whiting jumped in with senior Karleigh Dean, junior Toni Brown and freshman Monika Olesen. In addition, Puckett changed the order to put Dean in the opening spot with Brown running second. The addition of Whiting and the new line-up paid off in spades as they finished third in Center, posted a new school record time of 1:58.8 and bumped up nine spots in the state rankings to qualify for the championships.
The girls’ 4×400 relay team was flirting with a trip to states as well. Sitting in 18th place prior to the Center meet, the pressure was on to secure their spot. Again, the addition of Whiting to the team of freshmen Lindsay Kopf and Suzanna Dumas and sophomore Elisabeth Desmarais helped out. All four girls stepped on the throttle to post the ninth-fastest time in the state and punch their ticket to the big show.
“They jumped into the top 10, which makes them very competitive,” says Puckett. “And their two seconds off the school record so they’re very motivated.”
The girls 4×100 relay team of Dean, Brown, Olesen and freshman Rosie Ewert came into the weekend ranked 14th in state and remained 14th with their effort at Center and also set a new school record time of 53.9 seconds.
The distance relay 4×800 relay team of Scott, Costello, Kopf and junior Jessie D’Aquila posted their fastest time of the year as well in Center to come into the state meet ranked eighth overall.
It was a personal record (PR) festival for the boys’ side of the Titans track team.
Senior Tanner Gordon came off of a season-long injury to set a PR in the 200-meter. Freshman Kyle Boyle finished his season posting his fastest time in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. Junior Fritof Carling set a PR in the 100 meters to place fourth in Center and in the 200 meters, where he finished sixth.
Sophomore Jesse Reeves finished his season with a PR in the 400 meters to take fifth.
“Good season-ending performances,” says Puckett. “It’s what we like to see.”
Leading the charge at the state championships will be Scott. She finished the regular season ranked fourth in the two-mile. Scott also qualified in the mile and as part of the 4×800 relay team.
“She wants top-three in the two-mile and I think it’s doable,” says Puckett.
Costello joins Scott in the mile and on the 4×800 relay team.
Freshmen Ian Boucher and Forrest Smith are getting their first glimpse of the big show. Boucher comes into the championships ranked seventh in the two-mile and 11th in the mile and Smith is ranked 16th in the two-mile.
Puckett has set goals for her team as they prepare for the state championships.
“Goals are three-fold,” explains Puckett. “I want the young team to gain some experience and see what is happening in the big leagues. I want the sprint teams to have their peak performance of their season, set personal records and maybe some school records. And third, make it to the finals, place well and even podium.”
Ultimately, Puckett is proud of how many Titans will be at the state championships representing Crested Butte.
“I’m just so proud that we have everything from the 4×100 to the two-mile going to state,” says Puckett. “I think it shows depth. I’m super-proud of them and I want them to be proud.”