The view from the top looked great for the Faith Christian boys track track team last season.

The Eagles won the school's inaugural Class 3A boys state track title and aren't ready to give up its view.

"We're definitely going into this season looking to repeat as champions," said coach Keith Bushaw, in his third year. "We lost a fair amount of small points from last year's team on relays, but we should still be able to match the points we scored at state last year and win again."

Last season, the Eagles scored 95 points to soar past Colorado Springs Christian, which finished second (69).

Bushaw's confidence comes from the stars he has returning.

Ian Lettow, the Rocky Mountain News 2006 Field Athlete of the Year, returns for his senior season to defend his discus and shot put titles. Lettow's best career effort in the shot put (58 feet, 11 1/4 inches) and discus (184-3) are 3A state records.

Graham Yantis also was a multiple state champion last year. He won gold medals in the triple jump and long jump. The junior also is expected to contend for state supremacy in the high jump.

"With Ian and Grant leading the way, along with all of the other talented guys we have, we should be OK," Bushaw said. "From a points standpoint, the team that we're keeping an eye on is Colorado Springs Christian."

• There is good reason to watch Colorado Springs Christian, the state runner- up the past two seasons.

"Faith Christian looks like they're going to be awfully tough to beat again this year," said Colorado Springs Christian coach Mike Caton, in his fifth season. "I know we're going to have a very strong distance team and I think my team (as a whole) should be pretty good."

The Lions won the 1,600-meter relay last year and return seniors Michael Williams, Luke Brohmer, Rob Clarkson and Brandon Wold.

• Manitou Springs, third at state last year, also is in the mix again."We're young and we lost a lot of good seniors off last year's team," Manitou Springs coach Phil Rich said. "But we could be competitive."

Manitou Springs' Bart Stuchlik, a senior, placed sixth in the 100 at the 2006 state meet and ran legs on the Mustangs' 400 and 800 relay teams, which took second and third. Cole Smith, second in the high jump, also is back.

• Bayfield, fourth at state, has a strong core of athletes returning, led by seniors Ryan Wirth and Jake Krueger.

"We think that we're going to have a fairly deep team this year and we will just have to see how things go," coach Vernon Kimball said.

3A Boys Startling line

CLASS 3A BOYS TOP 10

1 Faith Christian: Double state champions Ian Lettow and Graham Yantis lead a loaded Eagles team.

2 C.S. Christian: The Lions' distance runners and relay teams are top quality.

3 Bayfield: Pole-vault champ Ryan Wirth and distance runner Jake Krueger should score points for the Wolverines.

4 Manitou Springs: Bart Stuchlik is a multiple-event scorer, and Cole Smith was runner-up in the high jump.

5 Platte Canyon: Senior Matt Houghton is a points producer for a solid Broncos squad. 6 Valley: Senior Justin Huwa is one of several talented athletes for the Vikings.

7 Roosevelt: The Roughriders return four state qualifiers, led by junior Corey Spahn.

8 Buena Vista: The Demons have 12 returnees, led by junior sprinter Josh Graff.

9 Gunnison: The Cowboys have 17 returning letter- men in the mix, including six state qualifiers.

10 Middle Park: The Panthers have been a strong team in recent years; this season should be no different.

Top returnees

Athlete School Year

Justin Huwa Valley Sr.

State finish: Second, 110 hurdles

Evan Johnston Middle Park Sr.

State finish: First, 800

Jake Krueger Bayfield Sr.

State finish: Third, 800

Ian Lettow Faith Christian Sr.

State finish: First, shot put; first, discus

Garrett Marquardt Cedaredge Sr.

State finish: Third, 3,200

Mitch Smith Manitou Springs Sr.

State finish: Second, high jump

Brady Schriebvogel Weld Central Sr.

State finish: Third, shot put; third, discus

Corey Spahn Roosevelt Jr.

State finish: Third, long jump

Trevor Waliszewski Classical Academy Jr.

State finish: Third, 1,600

Ryan Wirth Bayfield Sr.

State finish: First, pole vault

Graham Yantis Faith Christian Sr.

State finish: First, long jump; first, triple jump

Other top returnees

Austin Adams, Platte Valley, Jr.

Aaron Alarcon, Roosevelt, So.

Jesus Avila, Arrupe Jesuit, Sr.

Brandon Bartlett, Peyton, Sr.

Chandler Bartlett, Peyton, So.

Ryan Borchardt, Peyton, Jr.

Kurt Borecky, Holy Family, Sr.

Cody Brazell, Peyton, Jr.

Luuke Brohmer, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.

Nick Brown, Manitou Springs, So.

Nate Brown, Manitou Springs, So.

Ty Burman, Platte Valley, Jr.

Levi Cheney, Platte Valley, Jr.

Rob Clarkson, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.

Matt Clyncke, Holy Family, Sr.

Tyler Coles, Manitou Springs, Sr.

Marshall Cornelius, Erie, So.

John Coyle, Erie, Sr.

Paul Flores, Arrupe Jesuit, Sr.

Skylar Cragg, Hotchkiss, Sr.

Travis Cozley, Hotchkiss, So.

Josh Duran, Arrupe Jesuit, Sr.

Will Eskew, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.

Ben Fonte, Faith Christian, Jr.

David Geiger, Jr., Peyton

Daniel Gieck, Manitou Springs, So.

Frank Giowcia, Buena Vista, Jr.

Jordan Graff, Buena Vista, Jr.

Josh Graff, Buena Vista, Jr.

Andrew Greene, Peyton, Jr.

Parker Gulterson, Platte Valley, Jr.

Sam Hatch, Hotchkiss, sr.

Colby Hayes, Hotchkiss, Jr.

August Heffner, Erie, Sr.

CodyHesse, Erie, Jr.

Blake Horstman, Platte Canyon, Sr.

Matt Houghton, Platte Canyon, Sr.

Justin Huwa, Valley, Sr., State finish: 2nd, 110 hurdles

Evan Johnston, Middle Park, Sr. State finish: 1st, 800

Jake Krueger, Bayfield, Sr. State finish: 3rd, 800

Jared Lebsock, Yuma, Sr.

Luke Lubbers, Yuma, Sr.

David Lunney, Erie High School, Jr.

Ian Lettow, Faith Christian, Sr., State finish: 1st shot put; 1st discus

Garrett Marquardt, Cedaredge, Sr. State finish: 3rd, 3200

Anthony Martinez, Peyton, Sr.

Jason Martinez, Erie, Jr.

Brandon Mathis, Faith Christian, Sr.

Josh Murphy, Faith Christian, Sr.

Cory Orth, Buena Vista, Jr.

Jacob Paden, Platte Valley, Sr.

Jordan Peterson, Hotchkiss, Sr.

Johnny Pieper, Hotchkiss, Jr.

Nate Plelcher, Yuma, Sr.

Cody Richards, Hotchkiss, So.

Rick Rimbert, Manitou Springs, Jr.

Jake Saradet, Manitou Springs, Fr.

Mitch Smith, Manitou Springs, Sr. State finish: 2nd, high jump

Brady Schriebvogel, Weld Central, Sr. State finish: 3rd, shot put; 3rd discus

Corey Spahn, Roosevelt, Jr. State finish: 3rd, long jump

Travis Stanford, Peyton, Sr.

Tyler Stratman, Cedaredge, Sr.

Bart Stuchlik, Manitou Springs, Sr.

Erik Sutterfield, Rock Canyon, Jr. State finish: 2nd, pole vault

Alex Vigil, Faith Christian, Sr.

Trevor Waliszewski, The Classical Academy, Jr. State finish: 3rd, 1600

Michael Williams, Colorado Springs Chirstian School, Sr.

Ryan Wirth, Bayfield, Sr. State finish: 1st, pole vault

Brandon Wold, Colorado Springs Christian, Sr.

Graham Yantis, Faith Christian, Sr., State finish: 1st, long jump; 1st, triple jump

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