AANI Hardesty won two individual titles, Sarah De La Cerda won two individual titles, and Alamosa High powered its way to the Colorado State High School Class 3A state championship on Saturday.
It was an impressive display of all-around talent by the Alamosa girls, who also won state titles in the 4×800 relay and 4×400 relay en route to scoring 98.2 points to edge past Classical Academy and Coal Ridge in the team standings.
Hardesty and De La Cerda were also part of the 4×400 relay team, along with Whitney Thong and Lia Castillo. Castillo; her sister Madeline; and the McQuitty sisters, Elizabeth and Autumn, formed the 4×800 state championship relay team.
“Ecstatic,” said Hardesty of her two wins. “I didn’t expect a team title, too. I think everyone did so well.”
She won the 100- and 300-meter races on Saturday, while De La Cerda won the 3200 meters on Friday and came back Saturday to win the mile.
Alamosa also got critical points from Brooke Gonzales, who finished third in the shot put and sixth in the discus throw. Lily Heersink was fourth in the girls 300-meter hurdles.
For De La Cerda and the Castillo and McQuitty sisters it was their second state championship this academic season. They were all part of Alamosa’s Class 3A state cross country title earlier in the fall.
Alamosa last won a girls state title in 1991.
The team is coached by Jenn McQuitty, Aaron Williams and Philip Castillo.
Other Valley state champs:
Sanford’s Erica Miller won the Class 1A state 800 meter title, and the Sanford boys won the Class 1A 4×200 relay. Sanford finished third in the boys team standings.
Monte Vista High won two state titles in relays: the Pirates won the 4×400 and 4×100 boys state relay titles.
Full Individual Results:
