Photo by Rebecca Holt

Senior Jared Lewis has always been a dominant force in the realm of athletics here at TJ, though when it comes to track and field Jared is quite reminiscent of a true Spartan warrior.

The lofty goals he has set for himself are certainly those of an experience-laden leader who is looking to capture first in all four of his events: the 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 100-Meter, and the 200-Meter events. Being that two of his events are team ones, Jared looks to assist in every way possible to achieve the talented team’s goals. “I really enjoy how much talent we have; it seems as if this is the first time we have such an exceptional pool of talent within reach on the team,” said Lewis. As is TJ tradition, both teams of men and women are reaching high and planning to sit among the stars. “I think we have a great chance of the guys winning 4A State this year.  On top of that I see both the men and women each achieving the city championship this season,” Jared said.

Being a track runner has certainly made Jared an individual, to which both his team-mate and best friend Senior Matt Averyhart can attest. “Jared is truly an inspirational leader on the team.  He has really become an image of how to lead by example. He hates to lose, just like everyone else does, right?  But he actually works doubly hard so he never has to lose. In this, Jared has become one of the top runners in state, and I have hardly any doubts that he could also take the State Track Championship in the process, as well.”

Lewis is starting off the season thus far with an 11.48 time in the 100-Meter dash.  To put that in perspective, the world-record in the event, posted by Usain Bolt, is set at a 9.76 second time, only a two second differential. Jared is only looking to improve. “I am gonna be honest with you. That is embarrassing; yes, I won the event but that time is slow as sin.  It will be improved upon before the end of the season,” he said.

Jared is not only looking to dominate at state, improve his times, and help his team, but to sprint head-first on into the future, as he is hoping to attend the prestigious Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on a potential track scholarship. Not a man to base things off of luck, Lewis will continue his season in a dominating manner to achieve his hopes and dreams.

Photo by Rebecca Holt

TJ track sprinted with confidence straight into the books to start their Spring 2010 season. Placing 3rd out of 14 teams, TJ is certainly not a team to be over-looked this season, as they plan on hitting the track hard at every meet. “We have obviously already started off our season well with our boys’ team potentially qualifying for state in three events, with large increases in everyone’s times,” senior Paige Wilson said.

And the increases really are fairly significant.  Senior Jared Lewis bettered his winning time from last year by 0.35 seconds to win the 100 Meter again, and potentially qualify for the state tourney already. The 4 x 100 mens’ team ran a 43.67, a faster time than they ran in the State Tournament last year, which is the second event Jared Lewis may have qualified for state, already.

“Our girls team is certainly going to continue to build in confidence with more practice, for our young team. With the addition of Senior Monique Kuykendoll, we have not only added a new leader but a strong competitor in all arenas,” said Wilson.

Though the tale is usually of the top contenders at each event,  the story of this past week’s tournament read a bit differently. The 4 x 800 Meter Relay Team consisting of Raycell Rush, Ben Makovsky, Rovel Berhe and Jordan Shelton placed 2nd at the meet. Though finishing only fourth for the 100 Meter Dash, Senior Matt Averyhart improved on his time from last year by almost thirty seconds to 11.42 seconds, certainly working towards contention for the state tournament in the event.

Though they placed only 11th out of 14 teams, the womens’ team ran their best, and hope to move up from here. Head Coach Dave Cohen said: “We have a lot of newcomers, some trying out events for the first time, and I was very impressed with how the women stepped up and pushed themselves out of their comfort zones.” Freshman Solanna Johnson was one who tested her limits at the event. Volunteering to run a distance event and placing fourth not only surprised her, but her coach as well. “Sometimes it is nice to discover that you have an ability or a talent to do something that you never realized you had before, just because you gave it a shot,” Coach Cohen said.

Senior Leader Jared Lewis said, “We are a team in transition; a lot of us are heading on to start bigger and better things. Before we leave, we look to impart as much knowledge to the next generation as we can and, for me personally, win as much as I can before the final cleat leaves the track.” Starting off at this speed, the Spartans will only continue to hit the ground running on their way to another victorious season.

photo by Kevin Fleming

The Spartans attack was lead by Junior Jared Lewis and Senior Efrem Woldu. Lewis finished 3rd in the 100 meter dash, and Woldu finished in fifth place in both the long jump and the 400 meter dash. “We had a good day, and I am proud of both Efrem and my accomplishments,” said Lewis.

The Spartans will lose many senior boys next year, including Torian Chavis, David Crammer, Vincent Crespin, Jalil Debose, Brandon Lowe, Joseph Madlock, Jordan Pruitt, Jiron McMillon, and Efrem Woldu. The Spartans will also be losing four girls off of the team in Karina Desroses, Sabrina Harris, Andrea Qualls, and Krystal Kelly. Yet, even with the loss of 12 seniors in total, the Spartans remain very optimistic about next year’s opportunities. “It was a great experience this year. I really enjoyed being around all of my teammates. Now I know what I have to do to win next year,” stated Lewis.

The team will look to defend their city championship in the 2010 season.

Senior Efrem Woldu leads the TJ Track & Field to its second consecutive City Title. photo by Kevin Fleming

The track and field season for the Thomas Jefferson Spartans is still in full swing, even as the school year winds down. The most recent challenge for the team was the Montbello Invitational on Saturday, May 2nd. This large event, hosting 31 different teams, was the perfect place to get some last minute practice during the latter half of the season. The Spartans performed considerably well, finishing in 11th place, and beating all other Denver Public School’s teams.

Both boys and girls performed well, with some individuals stepping up big when it was really needed. The relay teams for the boys continue to rank high in events, and that’s a critical point for the team’s success. Coach Woody Bonner knows how important the relay events are for the Spartans. “We have always performed well as a team, and the relay events exemplify this. We need to continue to thrive in our relays, heading into the state meet,” Bonner said.

Efrem Woldu would also do his part for the team in the field events, securing  a 3rd place in the Long Jump event. “It is safe to say that the team is ready,” said Bonner. “We have seen the competition, put in the work, and now we are ready to prove that we are the best DPS team out there in the upcoming League Meet.”

That time would come soon enough, as the Varsity track squad competed for the City Championship in the League Meet this past Friday and Saturday. Nine Denver Public Schools showed up to All City to compete for the title.

The pressure was on the Spartans, as they were the defending City Champions from last year. “We have been doing this all season,” said Bonner. “We need to stay focused, and race how we have been racing. We can’t let the pressure get to us.” Bonner then went on to add that the boys were ready, and the girls need a little help in the distance to be at their full potential.

To get the help needed, some of the Varsity Soccer girls came out to run for the track team. “Those girls are fast, there is no doubt about that. They have been training for soccer, and could be a great last minute addition to the team,” stated Bonner.

When it was all said and done, the Thomas Jefferson Track and Field team had done it again, winning another City Championship title. The results are as follows.

The entire team stepped up, making the victory relatively easy for the well conditioned team. Relays, which have been an unstoppable force for the team all year, were once again the “x” factor for the team. Individual and relay highlights for the Spartans are listed below.

The success didn’t stop there for the Spartans. The field team did their part, as well, to ensure a victory and another City Championship.

In the pole vault, Ben Makovsky, Morgan Bertam, and Dillon Rickard, launched themselves above the competition and secured a 1st, 2nd, and 2nd place respectively. When it came to the long jump, Efrem Woldu came in 2nd place and Will Carter was close behind in 4th place.

If that wasn’t enough, the shotput was another strong area of the Spartans with Kylan Snow coming in 1st, Andrea Qualls in 2nd, and Torian Chavis with 4th place. The last event that in which TJ excelled was the Discus throw. Kylan Snow, Torian Chavis, and Vincent Crespin grabbed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the boys, while Andrea Qualls came in 2nd place for the ladies.

Bonner could not be happier with the team at this point. “This is what we have been working for all season, and it finally pays off. The athletes have proven that they are some of the best in the city, if not in the state.”

Next, the team will head to state this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to take on the best Track and Field teams Colorado has to offer.

Senior Jalil DeBose prepares for physical activity. photo by Kevin Fleming

On April 22nd, the TJ track team competed in their second Denver Public School Invitational.

The team had already competed in a DPS invite earlier in the season, and impressively came in 1st place, giving the squad  confidence heading into this event. “We have seen most of these teams already this year,” said Coach Woody Bonner. “As long as we stay focused, we should perform very well,” he added.

The results are as follows:

Notable  individual performances include:

The relay events for the day proved once again to be a strong-point for the Spartans. The boys’ team managed to come in 1st place in the three of their relays, while the ladies had a respectable 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in their various events.

The field events also scored well for the team, securing a TJ victory late in the day. Ben Makovsky came in 3rd place on the high jump with his jump of 5 feet 3 inches, while Makovsky and Dillon Rickard came in 1st and 2nd for their work in the pole vault event. Kyllan Snow had a first place of his own with his remarkable discus throw.

For the ladies, Jamee Veasley and Andrea Shacklock came in 3rd and 4th respectively for their individual long jumps.

Coach Bonner couldn’t be happier with the team right now. “This is great news for us, and a huge confidence builder. It sent a message out to the other DPS teams, and lets them know that we are the school to beat, and beating us is no easy task,” commented Bonner.

Next on the agenda for the team is the Montbello Invitational on Saturday, May 2nd, at 6 a.m.  The invitational will host teams that TJ has already seen, and will continue to give them good practice in their goal to achieve state qualifying times.

TJ Track continues to perform at an elite level late into the season. photo by Kevin Fleming

On April 11th, the TJ track and field team traveled to the US Air Force Academy Outdoor Track to compete in the Glenn Peterson Invitational. TJ was among 22 of the best schools in the state, all competing for the number one spot, and more importantly, bragging rights. “The Glenn Peterson Invite is a really fun meet,” said Morgan Bertram. “There will be a lot of schools there and the track is a fun blue color,” she added.

“The Glenn Peterson Invite is an excellent training chance for our team to compete with many schools,” said coach Woody Bonner. “There will be lots of chances to look at the other teams, and hopefully improve ourselves.”

TJ performed admirably at the Invite, coming in 12th place with 59.0 total team points.

Notable Performances include:

*Jared Lewis ran his fastest time of the season.

Bonner was very pleased with how the team members conducted themselves. “Our sportsmanship was excellent, and the boys are competing at their highest level all year,” Bonner said. “With a little more time, the girls will also be competing at the state level,” he added.

The TJ Field team also had some highlights in performances, clinching some high ranked positions with Efrem Woldu stealing 1st place in the long jump and Kyllan Snow coming in 2nd place for his impressive discus throw.

Up next for the continuously improving team is another DPS Invitational on Saturday, April 18th (weather permitting),  followed by the Liberty Bell Invitational on April 25th.

TJ Track and Field traveled to Florida to test their skills against national competition.

On March 26, the TJ Track & Field team traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to compete in the Florida Sate University Relays. This event was set up by much hard work from Head Coach Dave Cohen. Assistant Coach Woody Bonner was very grateful for all the work Cohen had done to make this trip possible. “Dave [Cohen] worked tirelessly to set up this event for the kids. Cohen knew one of the coaches at Florida State University from when he used to coach there, and they were gracious enough to let our team come down and compete,” stated Bonner. The FSU relays are an invitational event for both collegiate and high school level athletes.

“This was a great event for the entire team,” said Bonner. “It was also an excellent time to run at a low altitude, which most of the kids never get to do,” he added

The team has continued to improve throughout the season, and will be a dominating force and should be the team to beat in Denver Public Schools. Relays have continued to be a strong aspect of the team, but patience has been the Achilles heal for many athletes. “We need to be willing to wait,” said Bonner. “There is no need to bolt out of the gate in our relays. If we take our time and pace and push ourselves, that is when the team does it’s best.”

This week the team is back at home, competing at their regular 5280 feet altitude. On Wednesday, April 8, the team will take part in the DPS Relays, and on Saturday, the team will compete on on a blue track at the Air force Relays.

“The whole team has come together,” said Bonner. “The boys look great and the girls are extremely close to their full potential. We have a strong base. Of our 60 athletes, only about six are seniors. The team is good this year, and will be good for years to come.”

Ben Makovsky leaps over the pole for the Spartan Track Team. photo by Kevin Fleming

Under the leadership of Head Coach Dave Cohen, the boys’ and girls’ track teams are ready to compete at the state level once again.

The track team, composed of 40 boys and 25 girls, has great potential to take the city title this year. “The boys, who won the city title last year, are in a good position to defend that title this year,” said Cohen. “If the girls can step up this year, especially in the middle length events, they have an excellent chance of winning the city title this year.”

The team has already been hard at work this season. The first event of the year was the Cardinal Classic, where the team took third place before the event was canceled due to weather. “The team was doing excellent before the weather stopped the meet,” Cohen stated. “We hadn’t even had a chance to compete in the events where we really excel, so I am confident we would have been near the top,” Cohen added.

Although many events in a track meet are individually judged, teamwork is still the driving force for the squad. “Track is like a car, and the athletes on the team are the parts of the car. Only when the team comes together can the car run smoothly and perform well,” quipped Jalil Debose, a competitor in the 4×800, 4×400, 400 Meter, and 110 Meter Hurdles events.

This past Saturday, the team took part in the Cherry Creek relays, competing among 12 other teams. “This is a great training opportunity for the team. It is good to practice in a competitive environment,” said Cohen.

Competing in this all day event, the team was full of confident competitors. “I feel like the ultimate today,” exclaimed Kevin Kumar. “I fell good and I am confident that I will be able to perform well.” Kumar competes in the 100 and 300 Meter Hurdles events

The goals were accomplished for the day, and the team managed to come in 8th place. Coach Cohen was proud of the team, but did recognize some spots for improvement. “Right now it seems as if we lack depth in the distance events, and we are continually looking to improve in that area,” explained Cohen.

The team is stacked with returning state qualifiers; all of whom Cohen thinks have a great chance at qualifying for state again this year.

Boys-
Efrem Woldu
Jared Louis
Matt Averyheart
Kyllan Snow
Jalil DeBose
Joe Madlock
Ben Makovsky

Girls-
Mariah McCrea
Paige Wilson
Sabrina Harris
Ana Blunt

Due to the changes in state qualifying regulations this year, everybody has a chance at state. CHSAA now will take the top 25 athletes in each event, so the bar for a state qualification is constantly changing. “This new system is both good and bad for us. While there is never a set time to get into state, this opens up the field and allows almost anyone to qualify.”

With the new rules, it is important for the team to stay motivated throughout the long season.

Spartan Runner Jamal Shields stated, “The team is speed, and speed kills. Coach always keeps us motivated to do our best.”

    Derek Leidigh was the last Spartan to qualify for the State Meet in cross-country in 2001 as a senior, finishing 34th overall.    He also qualified in 2000 as a junior, coming in 30th.   No Spartan had qualified for State since Leidigh, until Makovsky.

    As for Makovsky, he says he is just happy to have a chance to participate in such a prestigious competition, and make Spartan history at the same time.  “It feels really good. It is an honor to be a part of TJ athletic history,”  said Makovsky.  Already feeling proud of what he has accomplished, Makovsky said he feels little pressure as the State Meet approaches. “The whole goal of State was to just run in the competition in the first place,” stated Makovsky.   

    Makovsky will travel to Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins on Saturday, October 25, and run with the best of the 4A boys at 11:00 am.