Spring Roundup 5/5-6
Luke DeNezza soars in pole vault; baseball responds behind Jackson; girls soccer completes regular season on a high note; and boys lacrosse caps a tough campaign.
At the Stutler Bowl in Greenwood Village on Saturday, Mullen competitors showed they were excited about the much-nicer weather at the Cherry Creek Invitational, their final meet of the regular season.
They were 10th in boys as a team and fifth in girls, but first-year head coach Taylor Bond was most thrilled with a series of improved efforts.
“It went so well,” she said. “Our best meet, thus far … it was a really good day.”
Bond added that “we probably had 20-plus PRs (personal records) across the board.”
At the top of the list was Luke DeNezza, who went 13 feet, 7 inches in the pole vault. It was more than 2 feet-and-a-half feet better than his previous mark and put him third in school history and fourth in Class 4A.
“You can’t get much better,” Bond said.
DeNezza said a combination of improved conditions, his ability to gradually use longer poles since the beginning of the season and sheer enjoyment carried him to a new height.
“I still can’t really get my mind around it,” the junior said. “It has been a crazy day.”
He said he’s at his best when having fun and obviously his entertainment flowed on what was the best weather for meets to date in 2023.
In addition, junior distance runner Jacob Sushinsky continued to shrink his time in the 1,600 meters, this time going 4 minutes, 22.50 seconds.
“(Jacob) was great!” Bond said.
After their layoff, the Mustangs will have back-to-back weekends of competition to wrap up their season – the Centennial Championships May 11 and 13, then the Colorado Championships May 18-20 at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood.
Here is a link to the meet’s full results:
Here is a link to the 4A boys leaders by event:
And here’s a link to the girls leaders by event:
http://www.maxpreps.com/list/leaderboard_list.aspx?state=CO&statedivisionid=bf5da4f1-485e
4e23-a496-9c9603e8f2f4&eventid=b222bbee-15dd-40ef-b996-a089d9298d75&ssid=0e9e705b-ba7b-42d5-9cd1-f993f76d8dce
RESULTS
CHERRY CREEK INVITATIONAL
At Stutler Bowl, Greenwood Village
BOYS
Team score – 29 pts., 10th.
100 meters – 4. Samuel Puana, 11.01 seconds; 25. Kameron Lewis, 11:53’ 29. Santino Donati, 11.58; 37. Gavin Martinez, 11.87.
200 – 8. Samuel Puana, 22.62; 16. Kameron Lewis, 23.40; 32. Connor Woodruff, 24.79.
400 – 30. Caleb Belcher, 57.66.
800 – 11. Jacob Sushinsky, 2:03.47; 31. Andres Taboada-Cross, 2:19.22; 37. Caden Garrison, 2:29.65.
1,600 – 1 Jacob Sushinsky, 4:22.50; 30. Matthew Egan, 5:15.68; 35. Caden Garrison, 5:25.71.
110 hurdles – 17. Stephen Welte, 18.10; 18. David Weaks, 18.39; 26. Luke Troni, 21.18.
300 hurdles – 15. Davis Weaks, 43.87; 23. Stephen Welte, 45.29; 29. Luke Troni, 48.32.
400 relay – 8. 43.54.
1,600 relay – 5. 3:34.68.
Long jump – 9. Jonathan Alexander, 20 feet, 1.50 inches.
Pole vault – 2. Luke DeNezza, 13-7; 12. Caleb Palmeiro, 8-1.
Discus – 13. Hayden Woodruff, 98-9; 20. Cayden Wynn, 81-5.
Shot put – 10. Hayden Woodruff, 40-5; 22. Cayden Wynn, 32-2.
GIRLS
Team score – 45 pts., 5th.
200 – 32. Shannon McCarthy, 29.62.
400 – 5. Julia Brown, 1:00.39.
800 – 11. Kira Van Der Steen, 2:28.41; 25. Lizzie McGarry, 2:38.83; 33. Emma O’Connell, 2:45.68; 36. Isabel Medina, 2:57.69.
1,600 – 6. Amy O’Connell, 5:13.02; 19. Jacqueline Magolske, 5:54.59; 21. Lizzy McGarry, 5:54.99; 22. Emma O’Connell, 5:55.06.
3,200 – 8. Kira Van Der Steen, 12:06.53.
100 hurdles – 21. Miabella Guadagnoli, 20.39.
300 hurdles – 10. Miabella Gaudagnoli, 50.74; 24. Claire McCain, 1:05.21.
400 relay – 6. 51.64.
800 relay – 2. 1:48.45.
1,600 relay – 4. 4:21.04.
Long jump – 3. Carmela Carbone, 16-4; 15. Clare Sladovnik, 13.-9; 20. Isabella Ziegler, 12-9.
Triple jump – 2. Carmela Carbone, 33.06.
Pole vault – 8. Ammory McDowell, 8-9.
Discus – 13. Madelyn McDanal, 64-10.
Shot put – 3. Madelyn McDanal, 31-1
Baseball
On Friday, the Mustangs responded nicely from an away spanking with an 11-3 victory over Eaglecrest in the Centennial League tournament.
At Bill Swift Field, Mullen was playing its fourth game in five days and coming off an 11-0 whipping in Colorado Springs at 5A Pine Creek, which was ranked third.
“That was the challenge,” head coach Phil Stanford said. “Walking out of that game and moving forward.”
The Mustangs did -- Mullen moved to 12-7, pounded out 16 hits and erased a 2-0 deficit in the first inning.
Sage Hurley and Ryan Jackson ripped home runs. Andres Bertaud, Dom Gamueda, Colin Mackenzie and Ryan Brady each doubled.
On the mound, Jackson went 5 innings and Mackenzie finished.
Round 2 of the league tournament for the Mustangs is Tuesday, May 9, at Cherry Creek, 4:15 p.m.
MULLEN 11, EAGLECREST 3
Eaglecrest 201 000 0 -- 3 6 3
Mullen 062 003 x -- 11 16 2
Mullen -- Gamueda rf 3-2-2-1, Kreiling ph 1-0-0-0, Mackenzie cf 4-1-3-3, T. Stewart 2b 4-0-1-0, Jackson p-rf 4-2-2-3, Krza c 3-0-1-0, Hurley ss 3-1-1-1, Brady 3b 4-1-1-1, Bertaud lf-cf 4-2-3-1, Peonio 1b 4-1-2-0, Dings cr 0-1-0-0. Totals 34-11-16-9.
E -- Krza. SB -- T. Stewart, Hurley. LOB -- 8. BB-- Hurley, Jackson. 2B -- Bertaud, Gamueda, Mackenzie, Brady. 3B -- Bertaud. HR -- Hurley, Jackson.
Pitching -- Jackson (W) 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K's; Mackenzie 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's. WP -- Jackson 2. Jackson hit 1 batter. HBP -- Hurley.
Girls Soccer
On Saturday, at home, the Mustangs completed their regular season with a 2-1 victory over Liberty Common in nonleague.
They will enter the 4A playoffs this week at 8-5-1.
Riley Guetz and Mattea Parsons scored for Mullen. Keelee Rakowski and Lizzy Marcoux had the helpers.
As of late Saturday, Mullen stood 10th in the RPI qualifying in 4A. There will be a 32-team postseason bracket.
MULLEN 2, LIBERTY COMMON 1
Liberty Common 0 1 -- 1
Mullen 1 1 -- 2
Mullen goals – Riley Guetz, Mattea Parsons.
Mullen assists – Keelee Rakowski, Lizzy Marcoux.
Boys Lacrosse
The Mustangs finished 2023 winless, losing 10-3 at Air Academy and 15-5 at Conifer the past two days.
However, first-year coach Jeremy Phelps remains positive, saying he told the juniors on his team that they are now seniors and the work must begin.
AIR ACADEMY 10, MULLEN 3
CONIFER 15, MULLEN 5
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