Making the leap: 18 Fort Collins-area track and field athletes to watch this spring
Track and field in the Fort Collins area always brings tons of talent to the forefront.
It will be no different this spring, as our local athletes are especially strong in distance events on the track and jumping events in the field.
Teams like Heritage Christian and Liberty Common should be in the mix for championships. Timnath could very well join them in its second season.
Fossil Ridge and Fort Collins are also capable of making noise at the league, regional and state levels.
The season really ramps up this Friday with nearly every local team competing in the Runners Roost Invite at French Field.
Here are 18 local track and field athletes (plus a dozen bonus names) to watch from the Fort Collins area this season:
Who will continue to stand out? Who will emerge to join these athletes as local stars?
Isabel Allori, Liberty Common
Allori has proven herself as one of the state's dominant distance runners, winning consecutive Class 3A cross country state titles.
She'll still have plenty of motivation this spring after missing last year's state meet with late-season injuries, halting a chance to defend her 2022 wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Can the Eagles senior cap off her career with more state hardware?
Marcus Mozer, Fossil Ridge
The SaberCats' two-sport star is great on the gridiron and elite on the track. Mozer was everywhere as a sophomore, finishing fourth in the 5A long jump, qualifying for the 200 meter dash and helping Fossil's 4x100 meter relay squad set a school record at state.
With his jumping ability and long strides, the junior will be a key part of a Fossil team with high hopes this spring.
Joe Cottingham, Fort Collins
Speaking of jumps, few can leap higher than Cottingham in Colorado. The Lambkins senior had another great football season and will now look to improve on his third-place finish in the 5A high jump last May.
Plus, watch out for Cottingham in the sprints, where he's a top-flight performer in the 100-yard dash.
Natalie Washburn, Timnath
Washburn already made history for Timnath last season, earning the new school's first-ever state titles with a championship in the 800-meter run and the 4x800 relay.
She has a patented finishing kick, roaring past other runners in the final 200 meters and getting stronger as the race goes on. The Cubs could be in team title contention this season, and Washburn could be central to it.
Mikaela Kendall, Heritage Christian
The Eagles sophomore stormed onto the scene last spring with a win in the 2A girls 3,200-meter state title before an injury cost her a top-seeded chance in the 1,600.
Kendall followed that up with a runner-up finish at state cross country in the fall and will be among the distance favorites on the track.
Iris Hicks, Poudre
Hicks is a promising sprinter and hurdler for the Impalas, who have eyes on bringing more athletes to state this season.
The Poudre junior already has four top-3 combined early season finishes in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, including a 100 hurdle win at Windsor's Murray Kula this past week. Hicks will be a top hurdler in a deep local field.
Avry MacKenzie, Rocky Mountain
The Lobos senior is a do-it-all type, switching seamlessly between the track and field events. MacKenzie was the only Rocky girl to qualify for multiple state events (300 hurdles, pole vault) last season while also running relays.
She'll be a senior leader for a Lobos squad that has shown steady improvement in early season races.
Erin Herrmann, Fossil Ridge
Herrmann's athleticism and agility are more evident on the volleyball court, but it's her strength that shows out in the spring.
The SaberCats junior is one of the area's top returning field athletes after finishing second in the 5A girls shot put last year, with a remarkable rise from 14th in qualifying. Can she duplicate that great state finish this season?
Danner Bakula, Windsor
The Wizards senior was already one of the state's elite pole vaulters last May, finishing sixth in the state with a mark of 13 feet, four inches.
Still, he was a bit overshadowed by teammate Cam Thomas, who won the 4A title. Now, it's Bakula's turn and he's off to a strong start, topping 13 feet, six inches in Windsor's Murray Kula meet.
Vince Hochhalter, Timnath
Hochhalter is another three-sport standout, moving from football to the wrestling mat and now the track. He was already a 2A contender last season, posting top-10 finishes in the 110 (third) and 300 hurdles (ninth).
He's the No. 3 returnee in both events this season and will be key as Timnath's boys squad looks to join the girls among the top 2A teams.
Kristin Osborne, Heritage Christian
Osborne is another local who has no problem toggling between track and field events. She was a freshman sensation at state last year, finishing fifth in the 2A 100 dash and posting runner-up finishes in both the long jump and triple jump.
The sophomore's high-end versatility should help Heritage Christian be right in the mix again for a 2A team title.
Justin Bate, Liberty Common
Bate is the other elite area pole vaulter and he has little to prove after winning a 3A state title in his sophomore year and finishing runner-up last spring.
The senior is also a strong long jumper and has already eclipsed his state pole vault mark of 13-6 with a leap of 14 feet in the Murray Kula this past week.
Cadel Ruthven, Fort Collins
The Lambkins have several very good distance runners on the boys side, and Ruthven is arguably chief among them.
He's already won 800 and 1600-meter titles in Fort Collins' first two events, building on his top-10 5A finish at state cross country in the fall. Expect Ruthven, Leo Cole and DJ Ruff to have the Lambkins in the running come May.
Gery Lockman, Poudre
Lockman is another Impala who looks to have made big strides since last season and has come out hot this spring.
The junior has already won a pair of 400-meter dash events this season, also posting second- and ninth-place finishes in the 200 dash.
Emili Voelker, Timnath
Voelker is part of Timnath's top-notch distance squad but can also compete at the shorter distances. She took third in the 2A 100 dash and is the top returner in PSD and 2A in that event this spring.
The junior will join forces with strong distance runners like Washburn, Addison Geraets, Izzy Schimmelpfennig and more as Timnath aims for a state title.
Maya Brasch, Windsor
The Wizards sophomore has missed some time to start the season, but she was phenomenal as a freshman at full strength last season.
Brasch finished second in the NCAC league meet in both the 100- and 200-meter dash events and also helped the Windsor girls post four top 2 Class 4A finishes at the state meet.
Addison Hayes, Fossil Ridge
Hayes is one of Fossil's most impressive returning athletes, showing elite ability in three different jumping events.
She had top-3 finishes in the Front Range League in the high jump (first), triple jump (second) and long jump (third) before carrying that over to state, where she finished sixth in the 5A triple jump and 12th in the 5A high jump.
Nevaeah Rura, Rocky Mountain
Rura is the lone freshman on this list but with good reason. She already won the girls long jump and triple jump events at Berthoud's Max Marr Invitational to start the season, also finishing runner-up in the high jump.
In a spring season full of great jumpers, Rura is one to watch in her debut high school year.
Bonus names to know:
DJ Ruff, Fort Collins
Anthony Gonzalez, Wellington
Mikey Munn, Windsor
Shirley Weaver, Poudre
Addison Geraets, Timnath
Kayla Cuckler, Heritage Christian
Harley Schmidt, Fossil Ridge
Jack Friesen, Liberty Common
Kaiden Major, Rocky Mountain
Finley Bach, Windsor
Jaque Forrest, Poudre
Zoe O'Hara, Fort Collins
Mia Williams, Fossil Ridge
Addyson Lotz, Rocky Mountain
Cam Glasgow, Timnath
Luke Lundy, Heritage Christian
Leo Cole, Fort Collins
Kylie Becker, Windsor
Kayla Schroder, Liberty Common
Daelan Gonzales, Rocky Mountain
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado track and field: 18 Fort Collins athletes to watch in spring
