City Champions!

TJ Track & Field wins their second consecutive City Title.

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.