This week marked the end of the season for the Berthoud track team, with the Colorado State Track meet in Lakewood. The athletes ended with a bang, placing on the podium in most events and the BHS girls placed third in the team competition.

Surveyor File Photo – The Berthoud High girls 4×800 relay team (left to right, Jaycee Williams, Paige Farnam, Ally Padilla and Olivia Krueger) won the state championship last weekend at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. The girls shattered the school record they set previously by nearly 9 seconds, finishing the race in just 9:26.23.

The girls’ 4×800 meter was a cutthroat battle to the end between Berthoud and D’Evelyn. It was clear that these girls gave it their all, using their strategy, hard work and determination to not only win the race but also set a new school record. Olivia Krueger (2:21) started the relay handing off the baton in second place. Two teams passed Ally Padilla (2:28) but Ally maintained contact. Jaycee Williams (2:17) caught all of the competitors on her first lap moving into first place. The runner from D’Evelyn was able to stay close for most of the two laps but Williams accelerated around the final curve, giving Berthoud a 30-meter lead. Williams handed off to Paige Farnam (2:19) who started lapping other teams. After her first lap, the D’Evelyn runner caught up and passed Farnam. However, the BHS freshman found another gear and sprinted to victory winning the state championship.

This wasn’t the only great relay performance of the meet, with the girls’ 4×400 meters team of Faith Frisby, Williams, Krueger, and Farnam placed second. The 4×100 meter team of Bre Fowler, Maddie Kenner, Anndee Davidson and Addie Kirkpatrick placed eighth. The Spartan girls’ 4×200 meter team (Kirkpatrick, Davidson, Fowler, Davidson) and 800-meter sprint medley team (Sierra Pirkey, Kenner, Fowler, Frisby) did not qualify for finals.

BHS qualified the boys’ 4×800 meter team of Afton Cooper, Nick Williams, Derek Rennaker and Evan Torres to state. They finished in 17th place.

When it came to the individual events, the Berthoud team did not disappoint. Freshmen Darin Davidson competed in the boy’s triple jump, scoring as one of the few freshmen in the event. Although he didn’t podium this year, he gained valuable experience for the future.

On the girls’ side, there were some great performances. Paige Farnham placed second in the long jump (17’3.5”) and fourth in the 400-meter dash (57.70). Jaycee Williams was just edged out for the victory in the 800-meter run (2:15) with her teammate Olivia Krueger placing fifth (2:18). This duo also ran well in the 1,600 meter, Jaycee placed fourth (5:07), followed quickly by Olivia Krueger in fifth (5:08). Last week, Krueger broke Kiah Leonard’s seven-year-old school record in the 1600. She held it for a week as Williams broke Krueger’s record at state.

In the jumps, Addie Kirkpatrick scored fifth (16’10”) setting a new personal record, also competing well in the triple jump (32’11.25”) placing 15th. Her fellow teammate Anndee Davidson placed 14th in the long jump (15’2”) and 11th in the triple jump (33’2”).

Photo by Angie Purdy The BHS girls 4×100 spring relay team of (left to right) Bre Fowler, Anndee Davidson, Maddie Kenner and Addy Kirkpatrick turned in a strong showing with an 8th place finish at the state meet.

Altogether, the state meet proved to be a great way to end the season. Berthoud only loses one state competitor, senior Nick Williams. We cannot wait to see what these athletes do in the coming years.