The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We’re really excited for Saturday”
By Than Acuff
With the Nordic skiers now joining the fold, nearly the entire Crested Butte Titans track and field team was in action at the Cedaredge Invitational on Saturday, March 28 and laid down several team-scoring top eight results in a variety of events against schools closer to their size.
“When you’re competing for second or third place, there’s something different,” says coach Shari Sullivan-Marshall. “You find a little more.”
The meet provided the Titans an opportunity to debut their 4×800-meter relay team and they started off with a bang as Flint Hoyt, Micah Hansen, Max Sullivan and Cody Pleak ran to a second-place finish as Pleak moved up three spots on the final leg.
“They ran almost the same time as a year ago,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “They all ran what they’re supposed to in their splits.”
Pleak continued to bring the heat taking second place in the 800-meter race as well with a new personal record (PR).
The girls 4×200-meter relay team of two seniors and two freshmen matched the boys’ effort as Eva Loflin, Barbara Siqueira, Haley Erickson and Ilo Hawley ran to a second-place finish as well.
“Because we have an outdoor track now to practice on, we were able to work on handoffs and that makes all the difference in the sprint relays,” says Sullivan-Marshall.
Hawley set a new personal record (PR) in the 400-meter race to place second and Pleak continues to bring the heat in several events as he set a PR in the 800-meters to place second.
Dari Spedden set a PR in the 800 meters with one last burst of speed on the final lap to finish in third place and ran with Ali Johnson, Hawley and Sophia Bender to take fifth in the 4×400-meter relay.
“She’s one of those distance runners that’s quick and strong,” says Sullivan-Marshall.
The team scoring continued for the Titans as Hoyt placed fifth in the 1600 meters, Bender fifth in the 400 meters and Sullivan fifth in the 800 meters.
Then there’s the field events in which the Titans scored points thanks to Pleak in the high jump, Colby Smith in the triple jump and Eva Loflin in the long jump and Max Bostick and Jack Lockman competing in the discus and shot put.
“Five years ago, when I returned to coaching, we had a handful of jumpers and no one throwing,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “It’s fun to see that aspect of Crested Butte track and field expand.”
The Titans now head to Grand Junction two weeks in a row starting with the Frand Woodburn Invitational on Saturday, April 4.
“That’s a great meet and we should have everyone there,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “We’re going to take advantage of the low altitude. We’re really excited for Saturday.”
