The Class 2A girls track community has spent the past few seasons looking up at Limon , as the Badgers have won three consecutive state championships.

It appears the road ahead for Limon is paved with a few more speed bumps than normal this season. A strong group of teams is poised to make a run at ending the Badgers' reign.

David Grimes, in his 14th year leading Limon, believes his team might be going through a minor transition period.

"We definitely lost some great runners in Justine (Sandersfeld) and Jennee Burgess," Grimes said. "We'll just need to work hard and we should be there in the end."

To help cope with the loss of Sandersfeld and Burgess, the Badgers return senior standout Whitney Liggett. Liggett placed first in the 300-meter hurdles last season and helped the 400 and 1,600 relay teams to first-place finishes.

"She'll have a great year," Grimes said about Liggett. "I'm not worried about her at all."

• Among the contenders will be Akron. The Rams return Julia Saunders, whose sensational freshman year was capped by a second-place finish in the 1,600 and 3,200. Saunders also placed third in the 800 at state.

Finishing runner-up to Limon, Akron might have the motivation needed to supplant the three-time defending champion.

"You get that taste and you feel so close," Saunders said. "We want it really bad."

Akron coach Tom Meyer said Limon still is the team to beat until proven otherwise.

"We've got some good athletes with experience so we can push for a title, but (Limon) does such a good job of plugging people in," Meyer said.

• A major factor in Fountain Valley's third-place state finish last season was the sibling duo of Emily and Maggie Hanna. Emily, a sophomore, not only set a meet record at state in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.5 seconds, she beat the record by 1.04 seconds. Maggie will not be able to return for her senior season because of a horse-riding injury.

• Burlington, previously competing in 3A, will join the 2A ranks this season. Look for the Cougars to compete immediately with the top teams in the class. Junior Morgan Witzel's 16-foot, 3 3/4-inch effort in the long jump at state would have placed her second in 2A. She finished seventh in 3A.

2A Girls Starting Line

CLASS 2A GIRLS TOP 10

1 Akron: Several standouts and strong relay teams boost the Rams' title hopes.

2 Limon: The Badgers always contend in the relays, and this season is no different.

3 Crested Butte: Distance runner Emma Coburn won two titles last season to lead the Titans.

4 Fountain Valley: Two- event champion Emily Hanna carries the title hopes for the Danes.

5 Burlington: The Cougars might be short on numbers but have quality performers.

6 Crowley County: Shaylee Robinette might be all the Chargers need to contend.

7 Wray: The Eagles have depth and quality on the track and in the field events.

8 Lyons: The Lions' relay teams are as strong as any in the classification.

9 Fowler: The Grizzlies should contend behind Kaylea Goff and hurdler Lindsey Grasmick.

10 Dolores: Sprinter Kyla McCracken has the Bears on pace to do some damage.

TOP RETURNEES

Athlete School Year

Kori Banks Dove Creek Sr. State finish: Second, 300 hurdles

Kathryn Barkey Akron Sr. State finish: Third, 1,600

Amanda Brown Limon Sr. State finish: Third, triple jump

Brittany Brown Sangre de Cristo Jr. State finish: First, shot put; second, discus

Emma Coburn Crested Butte Jr. State finish: Second, 800; first, 1,600; first, 3,200

Kaylea Goff Fowler Jr. State finish: Second, high jump

Kristin Gardiner Peetz Sr. State finish: Third, 100 hurdles

Emily Hanna Fountain Valley So. State finish: First, 100 hurdles; first, high jump

Jess Hadford Nederland Sr. State finish: Third, 400

Whitney Liggett Limon Sr. State finish: First, 300 hurdles

Mackenzie Mailly Crested Butte So. State finish: Third, 300 hurdles

Mato Marstrand Moffat Jr. State finish: Second, long jump

Kelsey Miller Swink Sr. State finish: First, long jump

Emily Post Wray So. State finish: Second, triple jump

Shaylee Robinette Crowley County Jr. State finish: Second, 100; first, 200; first, 400; first, triple jump

Julia Saunders Akron So. State finish: Third, 800; second, 1,600; second, 3,200

Bobbie Strand Otis Jr. State finish: Third, high jump

Ashley Stroh Holyoke Sr. State finish: First, discus

Christine Tompkins Simla So. State finish: Third, shot put

Elena Vigil Akron Sr. State finish: First, pole vault

Other top returnees

Robyn Albertson, Lyons Jr. (hurdles)

Kali Anderson, Burlington Jr. (distance)

Jill Ball, Kit Carson Sr. (sprints)

Natasha Bassett, Calhan Jr.(high jump)

Lauren Barnard, Lyons Jr. (distance)

Stacy Beckman, Sedgwick County Jr. (shot put)

Emily Bolejack, Elbert Sr. (relays)

Alysson Britton, Akron Sr. (relays)

Christine Castor, Wiggins Jr. (relays)

Kari Castor, Wiggins So.(relays)

Mandy Culla, Elbert Jr.(relays)

Jerae David, Burlington, So. (sprints)

Brandy Deimling, Kiowa Sr. (sprints)

Kelsey Dutton, Limon So. (relays)

Jessica Ellis, Wray Sr. (high jump)

Alissa England, Lyons Jr.(relays)

Ashley Frost, Limon Sr. (relays)

Lindsey Grasmick, Fowler Jr. (hurdles)

Alyssa Guy, Akron Jr. (relays)

Ashley Hayes, Wiggins So. (sprints)

Lynnae Hewlett, Elbert Jr. (discus)

Kaila Ivers, Wray Sr. (relays)

Stephany Jacobson, Lyons Jr. (relays)

Brittany Kelly, Calhan So. (relays)

Erin Neumann, Wray Sr. (relays)

Molly Lane, Norwood Fr. (sprints)

Christa Loyd, Wray So. (long jump)

Jerrica Mallard, McClave So. (hurdles)

Amy Marin, Caliche Jr. (sprints)

Kyla McCracken, Dolores Sr. (sprints)

Amanda McKay, Akron Sr. (relays)

Katelynn Montross, Lyons Jr. (relays)

Jessica Naylor, Limon Jr. (discus)

Kaitlin Neumann, Wray So. (relays)

Kayla Pendelton, Monument Academy Sr. (sprints)

Alisha Pettitt, McClave Fr. (sprints)

Tiffany Poet, Flagler Sr. (distance)

Stacy Post, Wray So. (high jump)

Tara Richardson Wiggins So. (distance)

Allanah Ricketts, Calhan So. (sprints)

Angie Tornowski, Limon Jr. (pole vault)

Kelly Yelverton, Lyons So. (pole vault)

Hannah Radner, Fountain Valley, Jr. (distance)

Allanah Ricketts, Calhan, So. (sprints)

Emma Vosburg, Crested Butte So.(distance)

Jessica Walker, Calhan Jr. (relays)

Jessi Warden, Wiggins Sr. (long jump)

Lacey Williams, Holy Trinity Academy Sr. (discus)

Tara Wille, Elbert Jr. (relays)

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