Girls' track preview: CSCS hurdlers push each other to new heights

Colorado Springs Christian School has the best girls’ 100-meter hurdler in Class 3A. And it has the second best. The only problem is nobody is really sure which one is one is which.

Senior Becca Bultje is the defending state champion. Junior Tiffany Kenney, who finished second by 0.03 of a second, holds the Lions’ school record.

Lions’ coach Mike Caton described Bultje as a natural hurdler who loves the 100 hurdles. He says Kenney, a developing heptathlete, who won gold in the long jump as a freshman, is the best athlete he’s ever worked with.

They’ve been racing each other daily in practice since midway through Bultje’s sophomore year and both say they’re about even in wins and losses. Both say that’s the secret to their success.

“We were a little hesitant at first, but after a while we got used to it and we got excited to see who could do it today,” Bultje said. “It’s definitely been good for us … because we’re so competitive that we just push each other. We know we’re getting better by racing each other.”

For Bultje, as a sophomore the budding rivalry had special significance. She tore a quadriceps at the league championship meet as a freshman and thought about giving up track. She admits she still thinks about the injury and has the “memorabilia” of a lump in her thigh from scar tissue.

“It made me work harder, and I remembered how much I loved doing it,” Bultje said.

As the competition has grown it’s drawn them closer off the track.

“We help each other out as much as we can,” Kenney said. “We’re always encouraging each other. … We realize that’s what we’re there for. I don’t think we’ve ever been closer than we are now.”

“She’s like a sister to me,” Bultje said.

The pair carried the Lions to a seventh-place finish at state last year and could take them further this year. They may be working together in a relay or Bultje may be cheering Kenney on in the long jump. But if all goes according to plan, for 15 seconds they’ll put all of that aside.

“We’re going to do everything we can to beat each other,” Kenney said.

TEAM CAPSULES

5A
Air Academy
Coach: Blue Anderson
Returning letter-winners: 11
Returning state qualifiers: none
Other key athletes: Seniors Rebecca Berad (distance), Carly Olsen (sprints), Liz Jones (sprints) and Erin Renfrew (sprints)

Coronado
Coach: Doug Hugill
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Maia Trujillo (relays) and sophomore Liya Scott (relays)
Other key athletes: Senior Kara Brewer (jumps) and junior Bailey Gearhart  (distance)

Doherty
Coach: Rob Duensing
Returning letter-winners: nine
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Alex Wendt (relays), juniors Jordan Rand (jumps, relays), Alexis Cooks (throws), Makal Woods (relays)
Other key athletes: Senior Jordan Bloesser (distance) and junior Aubrey Hilt (distance)

Fountain-Fort Carson
Coach: Ben Montoya
Returning letter-winners: approximately 15
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Yahna Harris (high jump, hurdles), sophomores Whitney Maurer (distance), Jasmine Jones (sprints) GinAsia Hamilton (sprints — transferred from Widefield) and Chelsea Horton (sprints — transferred from Widefield)
Other key athletes: Freshman Olivia Willoughby (distance)

Liberty
Coach: Dick Geddes
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Kendra Smith (jumps)
Other key athletes: Senior Ayana Moore (hurdles, sprints), junior Melanie Brown (hurdles, sprints) and sophomore Hannah Everson (distance)

Palmer
Coach: Gerald Freeman
Returning letter-winners: eight
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Samantha Strempke (sprints, hurdles), Annie Whitford (distance), Meg Rudy (relays) and junior Emily Smith (relays, sprints)
Other key athletes: Sophomore Asca Rose (hurdles)

Pine Creek
Coach: Max Oliver
Returning letter-winners: 12
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Libby Westfall (pole vault, hurdles), Ava Hildenbrandt (pole vault), Rianna Valentine (long jump), Jenny Good (relays), Ruth Anne Hadjis (sprints), junior Beth McCarthy (throws), sophomores Laura Yarrow (hurdles) and Paige Garlik (replays)
Other key athletes: Lauren Dickenson (high jump) and freshmen Heather Bates (distance) and Chandler Kolb (high jump, sprints)

Rampart
Coach: Randy Barringer
Returning letter-winners: 12
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Sara Benson (springs, hurdles), junior Kirsten Farquhar (hurdles)
Other key athletes: Juniors Megan Workman (relays) and Courtney Burch (jumps)

Sand Creek
(No report – name from 2009 state results)
Returning state qualifier: Senior Montoya Walker (throws)

4A
Cañon City
Coach: Bill Saint
Returning letter-winners: eight
Returning state qualifiers: Sophomore Andrea Tuck (jumps)
Other key athletes: Junior Karri Cote-Hooke (hurdles)

Cheyenne Mountain
(No report – names are from 2009 state results)
Coach: Stan Lambros
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Kita Alvares (hurdles), Samantha Chamberlain (hurdles); Junior Danielle Grossman (distance)

Falcon
Coach: Maryann Wilson
Returning letter-winners: approximately 15
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Sa’De Lewis (hurdles, jumps), Tenesha DuBose (relays), Stephanie Daniels (relays), Sadie Bryceland (replays) and junior Kiah Hicks (throws)
Other key athletes: Junior Nikki Lowry (thrower) and sophomores Kylie Pfeil (pole vault, high jump), Deja Matlock (sprints) and Joy Thomas (sprints).

Harrison
Coach: Robert Guthrie
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Alyssa Mlodzik (throws) and sophomore Charron Johnson (sprints)
Other key athletes: Seniors Samantha Crawford, Julie Ramirez, Danielle Tova, Joanna Arellano and Karen Hirose

Lewis-Palmer
Coach: Suzanne Kuehl
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Morgan Griffin (sprints, pole vault); Junior Maddie Kruger (distance); sophomore Chandlar Marshall (pole vault)
Other key athletes: Sophomores Rachel Bachler (sprints), Jenna Press (distance) and Hannah Southerland (sprints)

Mesa Ridge
Coach: James Huerena
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Kadashia Rose (sprints)
Other key athletes: Rachel Jackson (sprints, jumps) and Cali Antolin (distance)

Mitchell
Coach: Archie Malloy
Returning letter-winners: unknown
Returning state qualifier: Senior Gelisa Thornton (high jump, relays)

Palmer Ridge
Coach: Josh Trahan
Returning letter-winners: approximately 18
Returning state qualifiers: Sophomore Ellen Jackson (distance)
Other key athletes: Juniors Kayla Clowes (relays), Katie Tillotson (relays) and Mackenzie Phillips (relay)

Sierra
Coach: Elise Estes
Returning letter-winners: 15
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Lina Robertson (throws), Brittany Smith (relays, jumps); Juniors Faleesa Jeffrey (sprints, relays), Losi Togia (throws), Tiana Reed (relays), Tenisha McMillan (relays), Chantal Cross (relays), Shakira Smith (hurdles); sophomore Mariah Zarback (jumps)
Other key athletes: Senior Tina Moi Moi (throws), juniors Reine Logo (sprints, relays) and Naomi Verdugo (sprints, relays).

Vista Ridge
Coach: Scott Winter
Returning state qualifiers: Juniors Beth Luckel (sprints, relays), Rachel Mozzetta (hurdles, relays) and Siedah Littlejohn (sprints, relays) and sophomores Bekah Rogerson (sprints, relays) and Sierra Davis (sprints, relays)
Other key athletes: Kirsten Martin (throws), Amanda McCann (distance), Jessica McCann (middle distance), Melanie Settle (sprints), Racquel Valadez (distance), Denise Walker (middle distance), Selena Wright (sprints)

Wasson
Coach: Arthur Griffin
Returning letter-winners: six
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Kayla Esquibel (relays), Marissa Hooks (relays): Juniors Patrice Harris (sprints, relays) and Tyeshia Poloa (relays)
Other key athletes: Junior sprinter Porche Parnell returns from a knee injury

Widefield
Coach: Fred Marjerrison
Returning letter-winners: seven
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Vessie Umu (throws), SinaLu Good (hurdles), Shanti Bridgewater (sprints, relays) and Daniesha Watson (relays)
Other key athletes: Sophomore Audra Bergman (distance)

Woodland Park
Coach: Ron Payton
Returning letter-winners: 10
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Laura Daily (throws)
Other key athletes: Senior Kaitlyn Wilson (triple jump) and sophomores Meghan Armstrong (pole vault, jumps) and Ana Huber (pole vault, jumps)

3A
CSCS
Coach: Mike Caton
Returning letter-winners: 11
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Becca Bultje (hurdles); juniors Tiffany Kenney (hurdles, jumps) and Sarah Tegtmeier (relays, 400) and sophomore Tory Cox (relays, hurdles)
Other key athletes: Senior Liz Swanson (discus), juniors Maddie Schneider (distance) and Sarah Guhl (800) and freshman Briley Caton (800)

Discovery Canyon
(No report – names are from 2009 state results)
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Janae Johnson (distance); Sophomores Alexandra Morgan (distance), Sami Conway (hurdles)

Ellicott
Coach: Jim Van Hoesen
Returning letter-winners: five
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Cynthia Brandon (long jump)
Other key athletes: Seniors Isabel Kirk (sprints, jumps), Jessica Shaw (sprints), Brittany Pennington (throws) and junior Rebeccah Hass (sprints, relays).

Florence
Coach: Tom Torres
Returning letter-winners: 12
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Kaitlyn Boldt (relays), junior Reichert (sprints), sophomores Cortlyne Huppe (jumps), Danielle Brehm (relays) and Casey Chaney (relays)
Other key athletes: Senior TJ Thomas (relays)

James Irwin
(No report – name from 2009 state results)
Coach: Terreiha Horton
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Kasey Jones (hurdles)  

Manitou Springs
Coach: Phil Rich
Returning letter-winners: 11
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Jessica Placzek (sprints, relays) and juniors Bina Benight (throws), Lisa Wood (hurdles), Ashley Gieck (relays) and Tess Keller (relays)
Other key athletes: Ann Wilson (throws), Lexi Schlenback (throws, high jump)

Peyton
Coach: Gary Vandemark
Returning letter-winners: seven
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Michela Stapp (relays, jumps, sprints) and juniors Julie Hothan (relays, sprints) and Mindy Madigan (hurdles, relays)
Other key athletes: Juniors Amoria Brown (discus, sprints), Kaeleigh Little (sprints, hurdles) and Lindsey Davis (jumps).

St. Mary’s
Coach: Ed Latimer
Returning letter-winners: Five
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Kara Slavoski (distance), Kelsey McCarty (sprints) and Shannon Erenberger (relays) and junior Sydney Harris (distance)

TCA
Coach: Timothy Daggett
Returning letter-winners: 18
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Kaitlin Hanenburg (distance), Emily LaValley (relays, hurdles, distance), Shannon Harrell (sprints, relays), Samantha Reid (sprints, relays), Alyssa Northam (triple jump), Elaina Turley (distance); juniors Meredith Sloan (distance, relay), Noelle Brown (high jump), Lauren Miller (relays), Savannah Miller (relays), Tita Garcia (shot put), Elena Roy (hurdles, relays); sophomores Shelby Stableford (distance) and Allison Kropkowski (relays).
Other key athletes: Sophomore Taylor Harris (sprints, jumps) and freshmen Britttany Droogsma (distance) and Alexa Chacon (sprints, hurdles).

2A
Calhan
Coach: Lori McCoin
Returning letter-winners:17
Returning state qualifiers: Sophomores Sabrina Notz (relays, hurdles), Kelly Fowler (relays, sprints) and Rachel Asmarzadeh (relays)
Other key athletes: Junior high jumper Jessi Tubbs.

Cripple Creek-Victor
(No report – name from 2009 state results)
Coach: Jason Willems
Returning state qualifiers: Sophomore Sydni Riley (sprints)

Elbert
Coach: Carlos Washington
Returning letter-winners: eight  
Returning state qualifiers: Seniors Katrin Kitzman (relays) and Jamie Stewart (relays, hurdles), sophomores Mikayla Franek (relays, sprints) and Mariah Brown (relays, sprints)
Other key athletes: Senior Ashley Miller (throws), juniors Shelby Loflin (throws) and Kristina Boswell (sprints, relays) and freshmen Logan Franek (sprints, relays), Aisha Poe (sprints, distance, hurdles) and Kaylee Heizenrader (jumps, hurdles)

Kiowa
(No report – name from 2009 state results)
Coach: Jill Miller
Returning state qualifiers: Junior Kira Wendrych (hurdles)

Miami-Yoder
Coach: Luke Billington
Returning letter-winners: five  
Returning state qualifiers: none
Other key athletes: Seniors Kim Hazelton (jumps, relays) and Kierra Perez (throws) and juniors Andi Munson (relays, hurdles) and Vanessa Burney (throws)

Pikes Peak Christian
Coach: Lisa Ratterree
Returning letter-winners: four
Returning state qualifiers: Senior Bri Euken (sprints)
Other key athletes: Senior Emily Crews  
No report: Evangelical Christian, Fountain Valley, Hilltop Baptist