Titans track opens season in Delta with strong results

New track, full coaching staff shows in Delta

By Than Acuff

Veteran Crested Butte Titans track and field coach Shari Sullivan-Marshall has much to be excited about this season. Not only does she have assistant coach Sophie Klein back for a fifth year, but Colin Borner joined the coaching staff this year bringing much-needed full-time commitment and knowledge in a key area for the team.

“To have someone with expertise in the field events is so nice,” says Sullivan-Marshall.

In addition, they have an outdoor track to train on as the district installed a brand-new track in Gunnison behind the middle school that the Titans use two days a week for workouts. Gone are the days of running on streets, in the gym and sharing the Western fieldhouse for all of their training.

“It’s a game changer,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “It’s so nice to be able to train on an outdoor track.”

Ultimately though, it comes down to the athletes themselves, and Sullivan-Marshall has 23 out for the team this year including 10 seniors, eight of whom are four-year track and field athletes.

“It’s nice to have that senior leadership and they know how to push themselves and how to compete,” says Sullivan-Marshall.

Take all of that and get what happened for the Titans at their season-opening meet in Delta on Saturday, March 7 as the 16 athletes made the trip and combined for 19 personal records, oftentimes matching or improving on their efforts from the end of last season.

Cody Pleak had a great start to his senior year as he matched his best height in the high jump from last year clearing 5’11” to place fourth.

“That was the same height that got him into state at the end of last year,” says Sullivan-Marshall.

He also cracked the five-minute mark in the 1600 meters to place sixth working with teammate Flint Hoyt the entire way and Hoyt taking seventh place.

“Cody and Flint were pulling each other,” says Sullivan-Marshall.

Pleak then ran to a third-place finish in the 800 meters as well with teammate Max Sullivan not far behind in fifth place running nearly as fast as he did at the state meet last season.

Sullivan and Hoyt joined forces with freshmen Eero Stai and Noah Lockman in the 4×400-meter relay to place sixth thanks in part to Hoyt’s effort on the final leg to get the team into sixth by the finish line.

“I’ve never seen him run so fast in his life,” says Sullivan-Marshall.

Cole Wimett wasn’t even able to run hurdles until late March last year but with the new track, he’s been able to train properly and opened the season with a fifth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles in Delta.

The girls’ team was a bit depleted for the meet with some still finishing up their winter sports seasons. Nevertheless, three made the trip, freshmen Dari Spedden and Tilly Rinderle and senior Eva Loflin. Spedden cracked top 10 in two events and Loflin in one as she looks to pick up where she left off last year.

“Eva is setting herself up for a great senior season,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “Her times were super close to her best-efforts last spring.”

The Titans take this weekend off from racing and will then head to Hotchkiss for the North Fork Invitational on Saturday, March 21.

“I’m so encouraged by the first meet,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “We’re now going to put in a good two-week training block.”