Thanks to strong regular-season performances from its top athletes, the Dove Creek School boys’ and girls’ track teams will be well represented at the Colorado High School State Track and Field Championships in Lakewood, May 17-19.

Dennison hoping to bring home state titleLeading the way for the Bulldogs, who will compete in Colorado’s 1A classification will be junior thrower JD Dennison, whose ability to mix raw power with solid throwing technique has placed him among the state’s best.

Dennison will open his two-event slate when he competes in the shot put on May 17. Currently the top-ranked Class 1A shot put thrower in the state with a mark of 44 feet, 11 inches, Dennison will face stiff competition from South Baca High School’s Thomas Manuel (44 feet, 9¼ inches) and Otis High School’s Keylan Dracon (43 feet, 10½ inches).

Dennison will also compete in the discus on May 18 and will try to chase down Hanover High School’s Isaia Jarvis, whose throw of 141 feet, 10 inches, was the best regular-season throw by a Class 1A competitor this year. Dennison is currently ranked 4th overall with a season-best mark of 130 feet, 10 inches.

Beanland excited for first state meetRanked as one of the top freshmen in Colorado’s 1A classification, Dove Creek newcomer Kobie Beanland enters this year’s state meet hoping to cap off what has already been an impressive season.

The freshman will run for the first time in a state meet on May 18 when she competes in the 800-meter run. Beanland’s entry time of 2:32.59 was the fifth-best time overall for a Class 1A runner this season and the second-best time put up by a freshman.

Beanland will run in the 400-meter dash on May 19 and will do her best to run down Briggsdale High School senior Skyla Miller, whose time of 1:00.53 was the best in the 1A classification this season. Beanland’s entry time of 1:04.06 ranks her sixth among those competing in this year’s Class 1A meet.

Hurdlers hope to shineKnown as a program that regularly produces elite hurdlers, Dove Creek enters this year’s meet with three state qualifiers in hurdling events.

Chief among them is senior Larissa Randolph, who will enter the state meet ranked fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (50.52) and seventh in the 100-meter hurdles (17.52). Beanland will compete in the 300-meter hurdles, where she is ranked fourth overall (50.41), and junior Madilyn Hankins will also compete in the 300-meter hurdles, where she is ranked 9th overall (51.49).

To bring home a state title, one of Dove Creek’s hurdlers will have to run down DeBeque High School junior Faith Novess, who is ranked No. 1 in both hurdling events and has a chance to break Class 1A state records.

In addition to its individual qualifiers, Dove Creek will also hit the track for the girls’ 4x400-meter relay and girls’ 4x800-meter relay. The Bulldogs will enter the state meet ranked fourth in both events.