There were plenty of fireworks on the track at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, WA.
It must be July.
Three Coloradan's accepted their invite into the meet, and two nearly came away with titles.
Parker Wolfe was the first Colorado athlete to compete Friday. The Cherry Creek ran 8:43.91 to finish second in the 3,200 after leading the first 3,000-meters.
Wolfe stated his intentions early - he opened with a 65-second lap, leaving the pack about 20-meters behind. By Lap 2 the pack picked up and rejoined Wolfe.
Wolfe led the pack through the 1,600 in 4:24, and continued to lead into the final lap. Though Nathan Mountain was lurking behind him into the final quarter of the race. Mountain kicked by Wolfe with 200 to go to claim the title.
Wolfe's 8:43.91 is No. 9 all-time in the event, and No. 2 all-time for Colorado behind Cole Sprout's 8:43.77.
Last week Wolfe won the 3,200 state title in dominating fashion, running 9:07. He doubled back the next day in a race of the ages against Harrison Witt , where he finished second in 4:10.9.
Wolfe is headed to the University of North Carolina in the fall.
Riley Stewart nearly had the 1,600 title.
The Cherry Creek junior kicked late to finish second in 4:40.66.
The pace was somewhat even throughout the race. Stewart ran within the pack through the opening 400 in 1:11, then the 800 in 2:21. Stewart trailed the lead, which passed the 1,200 in 3:32, and then the kicks ensued.
With 300 to go she sat in third, though a late kick in the final 200 inched her up to second.
Stewart finished second to Whittaker Juliette, who ran 4:38.65.
Just one week ago the Cherry Creek senior achieved the rare feat of tripling at the Colorado state meet. She won the 800 in 2:09.60, the 1,600 in 4:45.96, and the 3,200 in 10:31 - all over the span of two days.
In mid-June Stewart ran a Colorado state record of 4:44.13 at the Stutler Twilight.
Harrison Witt was set to chase a Sub-4 mile in a loaded field.
The pace, however, seemed to chase the heels of a Sub-4 throughout the entire race, which eliminated any real opportunities for that to happen.
The Mountain Vista senior hovered near the back of the pack through an opening 1:01+ quarter. The field ran just off four-minute pace through the 800, passing in 2:02+. The third lap proved to be the final dagger in any Sub-4 clocking. Witt hit the bell around 3:07, while Nathan Green began kicking about 20-meters ahead.
Green went on to win the event in 4:01.76. Witt finished fifth in 4:09.38.
Last week Witt torched his previous 1,600 state record, lowering it to 4:04.36 at the 2021 Colorado State Track & Field Championships. The race was run at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, right around 5,512-feet of elevation.
In early June Witt smashed the Colorado 800 state record, running 1:48.50 to become the first Colorado half-miler to break 1:50 on Colorado soil. He nearly duplicated the feat just last week, where he ran 1:48.75 at the State championships the day before running 4:04 in the 1,600.
Witt is headed to Princeton in the fall.