LAKEWOOD - The dejected looks from Fountain-Fort Carson’s 4 x 200-meter relay team on the podium stand said so much.
The Trojans wanted no part of a sixth-place finish and saw no reason to hide it.
“It’s just weird that we’re not on top like we need to be,” senior Gregory Horton said. “At Fountain-Fort Carson we have higher goals for ourselves. For us not to place as high as we want, it’s kind of disappointing.”
PHOTOS: 2019 state track & field championships day 2
TCA’s Kristina Willis competes in the 3A pole vault on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountian atheltes celebrate after a relay finish on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Day 2 of the state track & field championships featured an hour-long weather delay.
Athletes sit in the hallway of a nearby school during a weather delay on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA grad Erika Willis (kneeling) works with her sister Kristina during a weather delay on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA grad Erika Willis (left) ‘fights’ with her sister Kristina during a weather delay on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA’s Kristina Willis competes in the 3A pole vault on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Woodland Park’s Emily Arseneau competes in the 3A shot put on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain and Harrison athletes cross the finish line on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Pine Creek relay team compeltes a handoff on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Sierra relay team poses for a photo on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Harrison’s Devon Washington competes in a 300-meter hurdle re-race on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Canon City’s Brendan Young competes in the high jump on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Canon City’s Brendan Young competes in the high jump on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA’s Kristina Willis stands on the podium after winning the 3A pole vault on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The Classical Academy’s Kristina Willis stands on the podium Friday after winning the Class 3A pole vault at the Colorado state track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium.
Woodland Park’s Emily Arseneau reveives a second-place medal for the 3A shot put on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The Classical Academy relay racers hand off the baton Friday, on the second day of the Colorado state track and field championships Jeffco Stadium.
The Classical Academy athletes compete Friday on the second day of the Colorado track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium.
Athletes compete on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Lutheran athlete celebrates a win Friday on the second day of the Colorado state track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium.
A Coronado athlete comes out of the blocks on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
An Air Academy athlete competes on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The TCA medley relay team stands on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The Elizabeth 800 medley relay team stands on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Skyline atheltes celebrate their podium finish on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Coronado, Sierra and Air Academy relay teams stand on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Fountain-Fort Carson relay athelte jumps out of the blocks on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
An Ellicott athelte stands on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The Fountain-Fort Carson 800 medley relay team stands on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
The Doherty 800 medley relay team stands on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Atheltes compete on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Taylor James crosses the finish line in the 4A girls’ 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Athletes compete in the 4A boys’ 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Cheyenne Mountain athelte competes in the boys 4A 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Palmer Ridge athelte competes in the 4A boys 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Atheltes race to the finish line in the boys 4A 800 meter race on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Niwot’s Cruz Culpepper (left) celebrates winning the 4A boys 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Atheltes lay on the ground after collapsing over the finish line Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA atheltes run the 800 on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Canon City athelte stands on the podium Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Sierra’s Gya’ni Sami stands on the podium Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Air Academy’s Cal Banta (left) stands next to Palmer Ridge runner Andrew Bluemel on the podium on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountain’s Jacob Allen stands on the podium Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
TCA athletes hand off the baton on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A TCA athlete runs in a relay race on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
Cheyenne Mountian relay runners hand the baton Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A Palmer Ridge athelte competes in a relay prelim on Day 2 of the Colorado state track & field championships on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Jeffco Stadium. (Lindsey Smith, The Gazette)
A TCA runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
Action on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Fountain-Fort Carson runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
Action on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
TCA competes in a relay on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A TCA runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Sierra runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
TCA's Kristina Willis prepares to pole vault on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
TCA's Kristina Willis clears the pole on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. Willis won the 3A pole vault title. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Cheyenne Mountain runner waits at the blocks on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Sierra runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Peyton runner waits out a burst of chilly wind before her event on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A St. Mary's runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Fountain-Fort Carson runner prepares for her relay on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Fountain-Fort Carson runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Pine Creek runner competes on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
Harrison's DeVon Washington's re-race put him alone on the track for the 300-meter hurdles, quite literally racing against the clock on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
Harrison's DeVon Washington completes a re-race in the 300 hurdles on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
An Evangelical Christian Academy runner competes in the 4 x 800 relay on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
An Evangelical Christian Academy runner recovers from competition on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
An Evangelical Christian Academy relay team gathers after competing on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
A Pikes Peak Christian runner competes in the 4 x 800 relay on Friday at the Colorado track & field championships at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. (BRENT BRIGGEMAN, THE GAZETTE)
The background here is key. Fountain-Fort Carson’s 19 state titles rank second in Colorado only to Fort Collins’ 20. In this decade alone, coach Ben Montoya’s team has won the crown in 5A, the state’s highest classification, six times — missing only in 2016, ’13 and ’12.
A dip was perhaps finally inevitable following the graduation of Jalen Lyon, who won the 400 and 200 last year, and Deondre Ritter, whose 10.69 was the fastest 100 in 5A in 2018.
This year the Trojans won’t have a sprinter running in a final of the 100, 200 or 400 on Saturday at Jeffco Stadium.
“We’re so young,” junior Ja’Warren Smith said, who ran on the 4x200 and 4x400 relays Friday. “Last year’s program, they were seniors. The year before that, they had seniors. So I think we’re still doing really great times, we’re just at a young age.
“We run the same things that they ran in the past (in practice). The standards stay the same because we work so hard.”
Added Horton: “It’s not a good taste in your mouth when you’re not winning races. I’m sure my boys that are younger are going to get it together and they’re going to be back next year. They’re going to dominate, just like we always have.”
But they don’t have to wait until next year, entirely.
The Trojans will still run the 4x100 (seeded third behind Valor Christian and Doherty), and this program can envision no better way to show they’ll speed back from this rare lull with the same sort of speed that has long been its hallmark than by closing the season with something special in the relay.
“New day, new start,” Horton said. “It’s going to happen. Speak success into existence.”
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