If they’re not ready by now, it’s probably too late.
The Durango High School track and field team will begin competition at the Colorado High School Activities Association State Championships at 8:40 a.m. Thursday at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood with the girls 800-meter sprint medley relay.
They’ll continue competition through Saturday afternoon with 18 total entries.
DHS freshman Alli Davis is the top overall seed in the Class 4A girls high jump at 5 feet, 8 inches, and she is No. 2 in the girls long jump at 18-02. She’ll also compete in the 800-meter sprint medley relay.
Davis, as far back as Hall of Fame coach Ron Keller can remember, is the Demons’ first No. 1 seed at the state championships since Mark Cutter in the 110 hurdles in 2000. Bayfield High School also has a couple of No. 1 seeds: John Arnold in the boys pole vault and Eva-Lou Edwards in the 3,200-meter run.
BHS will bring 12 competitors to the Class 3A meet, and Ignacio High School will have 10 representatives in the 2A meet.
Durango, led by Davis’ top billing, will have 15 competitors in the 4A meet.
“It’s stressful, but my coaches have been helping me. I’ve been doing a bunch of yoga so I can focus,” said Davis, daughter of Donna and Jim Davis. “My teammates have helped me a lot.”
Teammates such as DHS senior Gabi Razma, who is the No. 4 seed in the triple jump at 36-02 and one-fourth of that 800 sprint medley relay. She also is entered in the second flight of the long jump with Davis.
Razma finished with a third-place medal last season in the triple jump after coming in as the No. 8 seed.
“I’ve been pretty highly seeded all season, so I think that’s helped me know what’s expected of me,” said Razma, daughter of Ed and Kristina Razma. “I’m definitely looking to do just as well as last year.”
Miranda Gallegos will join Davis and Razma in both the long jump and sprint medley relay.
Shannon Maloney anchors that sprint medley relay with a 400-meter dash and also is registered for the girls 800-meter run.
Relays also are a huge part of the Demons’ boys team.
DHS qualified all four boys relay teams: the 4x100-meter, 4x200-meter, 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter.
Shane Bisogno, Devin Lewis, Justin Marcum and David Moening compose the Demons’ roster for all of them except the 4x8.
“We’re together a lot working the same handoffs,” said Marcum, son of Damian and Stephanie Marcum.
Marcum also is entered in the pole vault, where he has a seeded mark of 13-00.
Lewis also will compete in the 100-meter dash.
Trent Andrews, Joe Maloney, Alistair McMillan and Garrett Mulkey make up the boys 4x8, which currently is seeded fifth.
Andrews and Mulkey also will compete in the boys 800-meter run.
Joe Crawford rounds out the Demons’ state roster in the 1,600-meter run.
DHS last competed May 11 at the Southwestern League Championships and had two days of practice before leaving Wednesday for state.
“We’re far enough in that we’re all in good shape; our fitness is good,” said Andrews, son of Alan and Nancy Andrews. “We know how to race; let’s just go do it.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
