Eagle Valley hurdlers earn all-state honors on final day of state track and field meet

Zakia Shreeve and Kevin Hasley aren’t accustomed to running in lane one. But they made the most of the traditionally undesirable draw on the final day of the Colorado state high school track meet, earning all-state honors in personal best times.

“It was almost an advantage today,” said Hasley, who capitalized on the prolonged distance with wind at his back down the first 100-meter straightaway — cruising to a sixth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 39.66 seconds.

“I saw the wind from the flag going this way and I was like, I kind of got to take advantage because I almost have a full 100-meters at least just to rip with that tailwind.”

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Shreeve didn’t let her pre-race hesitation over hooking hurdles prevent a second-straight personal best time. The junior ran a 15.53, placing eighth as the top four — led by Pueblo East freshman Reagan Falletta (14.42) — went under 15 seconds.

“I was really looking forward,” she answered when asked about competing in the fastest field of the year. “I didn’t really care about the place, I just wanted to PR, really. But, I mean, I did, and I’m happy for it.”

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At the league meet two weeks ago, Shreeve posted a then-personal best of 16.00. She ran 15.61 in Thursday’s prelims before lowering the mark further Saturday. A better burst out of the blocks was key, she said.

“I felt like that was my go-to thing,” Shreeve said. “My first couple hurdles were pretty good and then I think there was maybe one in the middle where I could have pushed myself a little more. I leaned more than I ever have at the end. So, I feel like it was a pretty good race.”

Hasley said Jeffco Stadium’s tight corners had him “almost crooked” soaring over the hurdles along the turn. Down the homestretch, eventual race winner Teagan Malcom (38.38), running alongside him in lane two, appeared to clip Hasley’s hurdle. The Devil said he noticed the bump and was even asked by other podium finishers — presumably hoping for Malcom to be disqualified — if the infraction disrupted his race.

“I was like, ‘nah it didn’t even matter’ because I like the kid (Malcom), too. Because it really didn’t affect my race at all,” he said. “I’m happy with the finish honestly.”

Hasley’s career has been a story of patience progression. He didn’t break his freshmen best of 46.33 until the last race of his sophomore season, when he posted a 45.53 at the 2022 St. Vrain Invitational. Last year, he just missed the 18-athlete state field, but even his vastly-improved 41.93 junior mark is a far cry from where he ended his track career on Saturday. In fact, the performance jump was enough to have him consider continuing the sport at McPherson College in Kansas, where he plans to play football next fall.

“I didn’t know I was going to get this fast,” he said. “I think I’ll probably give (track) a shot.”

Shreeve hopes to challenge the sub-15 threshold in her final campaign next year.

“I just need to work on that middle hurdle,” she said, adding that she hopes to contest an indoor meet or two next winter “so that when it comes to track season, I can be there.”

Originally drawn to the 300 hurdles because “of the excitement,” Shreeve has finally bought into her coach’s belief in her talent as a 100-meter hurdler, too.

“He was like, ‘believe in yourself. I know you can do it,'” Shreeve said of head coach Jeff Shroll, who has mentored a couple of decent hurdlers during his tenure. In fact, the 20-year old 4A state meet 110-meter hurdle record set by Eagle Valley alumni Brad Gamble was finally broken on Saturday — by one-hundredth of a second.

“He pushed me,” Shreeve continued. “I PR’d in Grand Junction with my 16.00 and ever since that I’ve been on top of it and started to believe in myself and I think he’s a big part of that.”