BROOMFIELD — Longmont’s Braden Hitchcock was so nervous before the 300-meter hurdles finals at Saturday’s Boulder County Invitational, he said he didn’t even feel like running the race. But that wasn’t an option.
Once the starting gun went off, adrenaline kicked in and Hitchcock’s pre-race worries shrunk in the distance as he raced down the track on his way to setting a new meet record.
“With BoCo, the atmosphere is so intense and competitive. I’ve definitely never been so nervous before a race,” said Hitchcock, who finished in 38.49 seconds. “But nerves are nice because they help you get focused. Nobody likes them, but they’re nice to have.”
Hitchcock also took second in the long jump with a personal-best jump of 21 feet, 8 inches. He finished second in the triple-jump, as well, leaping 43-10. Also running the 1,600 relay, the senior’s all-around performance earned him the most valuable athlete award.
Hitchcock led the five-time defending meet champion Trojans, whom Broomfield edged out for the team title this year. He said the meet was a good preview of the steadily-approaching state championships.
“Usually, as a team, we look at BoCo, conference and then state as the three biggest meets of the year,” Hitchcock said. “Since BoCo is always so competitive, it gives us a good idea of what state’s gonna be like.”
Longmont’s Josh Cogdill won the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.21 seconds. Teammate Landon Stetson won the high jump with a 6-3 leap.
Continuing his dominance of the throwing events wherever he goes, Richard “Chico” Feltenberger led the Skyline boys to fifth place with a career day. He threw 58 feet in the shot put and 166-2 in the discus to win both events.
“It’s probably the best day I’ve ever had,” Feltenberger said. “Both of those are huge PRs and I’m re-breaking school records. I love the BoCo experience. Everything, my steps, my glide, they were all perfect.”
Leading the Lyons boys, who won their 12th straight Bob Charles Award for most points scored relative to school size, junior Ryan Boucher won the 400-meter dash.
“I’m excited, it’s what I was hoping for,” Boucher said. “I was just hoping to drop time compared to the same meet last year.”
The Lions’ 800-meter relay team ran a 1:29.19, which is the new all-time 2A state classification record.
On an off day for many of the competitors, Niwot’s Lorne Jenkins won the long jump in what was a rough day for him, as well.
“I could have jumped a lot farther,” Jenkins said. “It was a pretty good field. A couple people didn’t jump as well as they could have. There were scratches and stuff, but sometimes you get lucky. It was kind of an off day.”
For the Mead Mavericks, defending 3A state champion Alex Mead took third in the 100-meter dash with a 10.82-second run and third in the 200 in 21.94.
Mead’s Jared Hernandez, who led off the Mavericks’ third-place 400-meter relay team, jumped 20-6 to place fifth in the long jump, and Austin Hartley took seventh in the high jump.
Ben Wood took sixth in the 100-meter dash and Brian Hardy took seventh to lead the Silver Creek Raptors. Marcus Holliday took seventh in the 400.
Zach Solomon and Sullivan Manion took seventh and eighth in the 200-meter dash for Erie, which took second in the 3,200-meter relay.
The Frederick Warriors took 13th place with 10.5 team points.
Follow Brad on Twitter: @BradCochi
