Carodine sets 4A state record in triple jump, joins Cook as repeat state champ

LAKEWOOD – Widefield’s Tony Carodine can add state record holder to his resume.

The Missouri-bound senior set a Colorado 4A triple jump state record on his final jump of the day, hitting the sand at 49 feet, 8.75 inches to claim his second straight state championship. Carodine’s mark bested the previous record of 49-7.25 set by Chavous Nichols in 1999 and was more than a foot better than second-place Scott Carter of Elizabeth at 48-6.

“I finally got it,” Carodine, who is also a threat in the long and high jumps, said of the state record. “I came out and competed as hard as I could and left it all in the pit. On the last jump, everything just came together.

“I was trying to get in rhythm, and I felt good. This is just a blessing.”

It was clear early on that Carodine was in a groove, as he came within 2 inches of the state record with his jump of 49-5 in the qualifying round.

Carter and Carodine are the only 4A jumpers to clear 49 feet this season, so Carodine knew he would be pushed by the Elizabeth senior.

“Scott Carter is an amazing jumper as well,” Carodine said. “I knew it was going to go back and forth, so I just had to come out and compete hard. I guess I’ll see him in college.”

The victory energized the wide-smiling talent, who plans to go for a trifecta this weekend.

“I’m going to try and get a few more state titles this weekend,” Carodine said. “I’ve got the long jump and high jump, and it should be pretty exciting to take it in those too.”

Carodine wasn’t the only local star to successfully defend a state title Thursday.

Faced with the prospect of the final high jump of his high school career, Rampart’s Ryan Cook bore down and came through in the clutch.

Cook, the defending 5A state champ, cleared his third and final attempt at 6 feet, 4 inches, then rode a wave of adrenaline to his second straight title by clearing 6-7. Eaglecrest’s Avery Roberts and Legacy’s Camren McWee finished second at 6-6.

The third attempt at 6-4 was crucial to Cook’s title dreams.

“When it was at 6-4 and I missed my first two jumps, I was just thinking, ‘This is my last jump in high school. Go big or go home,’” said Cook, who celebrated with a group of more than a dozen family members and friends. “I got it, and it felt good.”

Even switching his plant leg midseason and a pulled right groin couldn’t keep the Drake-bound senior from another state crown.

“This is just unbelievable,” Cook said. “Last year was amazing because I cleared 6-10, but this year feels so good because I switched (plant) legs. I went right last year and left this year, and it feels really good.”

Cook easily cleared 6-6 and 6-7 on his first attempts, putting the pressure on Roberts and McWee. McWee failed on all three of his attempts at 6-7, with Roberts – who was icing his knee between attempts – forgoing the height for 6-8.

Cook came up short on all three of his 6-8 attempts, and when Roberts met the same fate, the championship was Cook’s based on his clearing 6-7.