Holyoke track and field state qualifiers and alternates are pictured from left, front row, Elly Brown, Tamara Penzing, Audrey Talavera, Tayla Martin and Elyce Talavera; second row, Alec Sprague, Cash Weber, Emali Torres, Correy Koellner, Brendan Nelson, Lauren Herman, Carlos Legarreta and Gage Sprague; and back row, Bryson Dirks, Aidyn Shafer, Ethan Johnson, Wyatt Sprague, Max Kleve, Miles Sprague and Kaison Kinnie. Not pictured is Aaron Sierra. Action begins Thursday, June 24, and continues through Saturday, June 26, at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
17 to compete at state
It’s been a long time coming, and Holyoke High School track and field athletes are excited to compete at the Colorado 2A state track and field meet Thursday-Saturday, June 24-26, at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.
The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, and the 2021 season was pushed back about a month, so competitors are more than ready to compete for a spot on the state podium this week.
Holyoke is sending 17 qualifiers in 11 individual events and seven relays.
“It’s nice to have a lot of athletes get to go experience state,” said coach Corey Koberstein, who competed at the state meet when he was a Dragon.
The state compiled times and distances throughout the season, and the top 18 qualified for the state meet. Holyoke got a welcome surprise when some athletes were bumped up after others dropped out due to event restrictions or injuries.
Competitors for the Holyoke boys team include Max Kleve in the 100 and 200 meter sprints, Aaron Sierra in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, Wyatt Sprague in the 300 meter hurdles, Miles Sprague in the triple jump, Aidyn Shafer in the shot put and Bryson Dirks in the long jump.
The boys also qualified in three relay races — the 4x100 meter with Alec Sprague, Kleve, Miles Sprague and Carlos Legarreta; the 4x200 meter with Cash Weber, Legarreta, Miles Sprague and Wyatt Sprague; and the 4x400 meter with Kleve, Miles Sprague, Sierra and Wyatt Sprague.
Relay alternates are Kaison Kinnie, Gage Sprague and Brendan Nelson.
Ethan Johnson also qualified in multiple events but will not be able to compete due to an injury.
State qualifiers for the Lady Dragons include Correy Koellner in the long jump, discus and shot put; Lauren Herman in the discus and shot put; Emali Torres in the discus and shot put; and Tayla Martin in the 400 meter race.
Entering the state meet in the No. 1 spot in their events are Koellner in the shot put and Herman in the discus.
The girls will be competing in four relays — the 4x100 meter with Audrey Talavera, Martin, Elly Brown and Tamara Penzing; the 4x200 meter with Audrey Talavera, Brown, Martin and Koellner; the 4x400 meter with Martin, Penzing, Elyce Talavera and Audrey Talavera; and the sprint medley with Penzing, Brown, Audrey Talavera and Elyce Talavera.
Koberstein was pleased to announce that Brown was nominated and selected to kick off the state meet by singing the national anthem Thursday morning.