THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Grand Junction High School Athletics

After qualifying in the high jump for the Class 5A state track and field meet the past two years, Grand Junction's Colin Morrison is already in good shape early for another trip to Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood. It might not be the only event he participates in there, either. The senior won the high jump, and the 110- and 300-meter hurdles Saturday at the Central Warrior Invitational at Stocker Stadium. He cleared 6 feet, 3 inches in the high jump, a mark that could qualify him again for the state meet. "I feel fairly confident," Morrison said. "Six-two is usually the mark to get to go to state. I'd like to place again. I placed my sophomore year but not my junior year, so I hope to get back on the podium this year." Although he qualified in the high jump last year, Morrison came up short in the two hurdle events. After an offseason to dwell on that fact and a surprising temporary addition to the Tigers' coaching staff, he's hurdling better than ever. He won the 110 hurdles in 15.36 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 40.14, beating Central's Max Marsh (43.16) to the finish line in the latter. "Every meet we've had so far, I've set a new personal record in the hurdles," Morrison said. "Hopefully that keeps improving, especially with my great coach, Coach G (Dustin Giesenhagen). He's been a great help on the hurdles and his dad came down from Wyoming to help with hurdling, too, while he's on break." One of Morrison's Grand Junction teammates, Kade Christensen, also had two of wins, the 100- and 200-meter dashes with times of 11.30 and 22.75, respectively, topping Fruita Monument's Ezekial Nunn (11.61 and 23.53) in both. Christensen dominated the sprint races, but the mid-range races belonged to Central's David Cardenas. Cardenas won the 800 and 1,600, winning with times of 2:00.38 and 4:31, respectively. He finished ahead of Fruita Monument runners in both, edging MacGinley Zastrow in the 1,600 and Bryce Boggs in the 800. Last year, Cardenas placed fifth in the 800 at the state meet. Warriors senior Tyman Smart won the 3,200 with a time of 10:02.85, beating Boggs and Zastrow, who finished second and third, respectively. Fruita Monument's Cason Gisner won the long jump with a distance of 19-6.5. With speed on display on the track at Stocker Stadium, Palisade's Carl Cox and Central's Corben Miller showcased the power just outside the stadium. Cox won the discus with a huge throw of 151-8, a personal record. The junior took his victory as a good sign for the season. "Since it's so early in the year and I hit my personal record, it gives me a little momentum to keep going, like I'm not finished yet," Cox said. Miller finished second in the discus (140-1) before winning the shot put with a distance of 43-2.5. His teammate, Dymilo Miller, was second in the shot put with a toss of 42-6, and Palisade senior Ricardo Valenzuela was third at 41-7.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Grand Junction High School Athletics

THREE TIMES THE FUN

NATHAN DEAL

The Daily Sentinel | 3/24/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Chancey Bush