LAKEWOOD – The Colorado High School Activities Association opened the 2025 state track and field meet Thursday at Jefferson County Stadium.

The highlight for the San Luis Valley athletes competing was Centauri High School’s Troy Sowards, who had a successful defense of the Class 3A high jump championship.

“My steps were good and my push-off felt good,” Sowards said.

There was a bit of a breeze during the first day of the tournament. Sowards, however, said that it didn’t affect him.

“It was not bad,” Sowards said. “I’m from the San Luis Valley, so I’m used to the wind.”

Sowards won with a height of 6-9, which was two inches short of his personal best.

He actually said that his goal all season was to clear the bar at 7-feet high.

“That’s all right,” Sowards said. “I fell a little short, but that’s okay.”

Sowards also had an outstanding career in basketball at Centauri. However, he said that continuing his career in college will have to wait.

“I’m going to go on a mission for my church first,” Sowards said. “I’m going to take two years and then after that I’ll try to go do track in college. I’m thinking maybe BYU, but I’m not sure yet.”

Centauri is currently second in the Class 3A boys team standings with 10 points.

For the Lady Falcons, the team of Macey McCarroll, Bailey Graber, Kourtney Heikes and McKenzie Torres were seventh in the 4x800 relay in 10:06.68.

Centauri is 15^th in the girls team scoring with three points.

Alamosa

The Mean Moose are 14^th in the Class 3A boys standings with two points. Their only points came in the 4x800-meter relay as the team of Cody Williams, Ethan Merrick, Tyler Dokson and Jeremiah DeLaCerda was eighth in 8:17.04.

Also for the Alamosa boys, Brayden Mollerqualifed for the finals in two sprints. He wasfifth overall in the 200-meter dash in 22.419 seconds, and seventh in the 100 in 10.92.

For the Lady Mean Moose, the team of Elizabeth McQuitty, Victoria Gifford, Abby Adams and Olivia Formisano were 11^th in the 4x800 relay in 10:18.61.

Also for the Alamosa girls, Kaylee Gonzales-Moore was 10^th in the 100 in 12.66 – just missing the finals. She was also 17^th in the 400 in 1:03.01. Kailynn King was 13^th in the 400 in 1:01.89, and Alicia Gonzalez was 17^th in the long jump at 13-5.

Matthew Hollingsworth won the mixed Class 3A/2A/1A 100 in 14.78.

Class 2A

Center

The Center girls are 25^th in the Class 2A girls standings. The Lady Vikings’ only scoring came from Presley Wilson who was eighth in the discus at 111-0.

Also for the Center girls, Giselle Meraz was 11^th in the discus at 102-2.

Del Norte

Del Norte is 15^th in the Class 2A boys standings. Their points came from the team of Cruz Mata, Mads Kreutzer, Jaxtin Lester and Caleb Cowett, who were fifth in the 4x800 relay in 8:29.13.

For the Lady Tigers, Baylie Laymon was 14^th in the pole vault at 7-10.

Sanford

The Sanford girls were led by Erica Miller who was seventh in the 400 in 59.87.

Also for the Lady Mustangs, the team of Kasey Gylling, Pepper Larson, Bella Peterson and Miller were 11^th in the 4x200 in 1:50.99.

Class 1A

None of the local Class 1A athletes competed on Thursday. However, former Alamosa student-athlete Emily Melgoza was fifth in the shot put with a toss of 33-1.