In less than a few heartbeats, Overland's Jeremy Rankin stamped himself as the nation's top sophomore sprinter. At least indoors.

Rankin, who placed second in the 100 and third in the 200 meters at the Class 5A state track meet last season, won the 60-meter championship at the Nike Indoor Nationals in Land- over, Md., last weekend.

Rankin had become the national sophomore record holder in the event when he ran 6.67 seconds at an all-comers meet Feb. 10 at Colorado School of Mines.

At the Indoor Nationals, he bettered a field of 53 runners.

With those efforts, Rankin also made himself the one to beat this spring in Colorado in the sprints.

For an athlete who never competed in track until he was 13, he has progressed quickly in a short period of time.

"The nationals were a different level," Rankin said. "There were a lot of kids with national rankings, and it was not like anything I had experienced. I didn't feel a lot of pressure, as I was really not picked to do anything."

Rankin originally was not shown as the winner in the race. The scoreboard produced an incorrect set of results, with senior Shane Crawford from Indiana being declared the winner. When corrected, Rankin, who thought he had finished third, was pronounced the winner by .01 seconds with a time of 6.71 seconds.

Wrote Dyestat.com's Steve Underwood in his race report, "Those who questioned his fast altitude-aided times out west in the open/college meets he ran in, which make him the U.S. No. 1 soph record-holder, saw that Rankin was the real deal."

Rankin, 16, now has set some higher goals.

"I'd like to get the two national sophomore outdoor records, win the 100 and 200s here in the state and get the All-Colorado class records," said Rankin, who might also run the 400 and sprint relays for Overland this season. "I think I'm capable. I know it's going to take a lot of hard work."

Individual honors aside, Rankin wants Overland to excel as a team this season.

"Our team is really young, but I think we will be pretty good this season," Rankin said. "I think we should match up well with the best."

George Washington senior Ashley Cruder also did well in the 60-meter girls competition at the Indoor Nationals, placing second behind Victoria Jordan of Texas. Cruder was timed in 7.64 seconds to Jordan's 7.48.

Another sophomore to watch this season is Mullen's Andrew Berberick. Berberick, fifth at the state meet last season in the 800, ran his first 1,600 last week in a dual meet. His time of 4:26.7 seconds would have placed him fourth at state.

ALL-STATE GAMES: The Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports will contest its girls basketball all- star games Sunday at Horizon High School. The Class 2A/Class A game is scheduled for 1 p.m., the 4A/3A game at 2:30 p.m. and the 5A game at 4 p.m.

In addition, the Colorado High School Coaches Association has selected its participants for the boys and girls basketball and wrestling All-State Games this summer in Greeley. Rosters for both events can be found at RockyPreps.com.

Joint Effort Prime Time Hoops will sponsor its annual basketball exposure games for high school boys basketball players at Regis University from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Information: 303-745-9649.

ALL-STATE BASKETBALL: This is the final weekend for head basketball coaches to participate in the Rocky Mountain News' online all-state process. To receive an online ballot, e- mail valeriog@RockyMountainNews.com. Ballots must be received by Saturday.

STEINMARK NOMINATIONS: Nominations for the 36th boys and 34th girls Fred Steinmark High School Student/Athlete of the Year Award are due at the Rocky by May 1. Any coach, athletic director or school administrator may nominate an athlete from any school.

There are four requirements for an athlete to gain a nomination: The athlete must be a senior, have carried at least a 3.0 grade-point average through his/ her high school career and have played a minimum of two sports each year. The nominee must have been selected all-state in one sport and at least all-league in another.

There is no formal nomination form. Please submit a short letter or e-mail stating the athlete has met or will meet the requirements by the end of this spring season.

Send nominations to: Fred Steinmark Award, c/o Scott Stocker, 101 West Colfax Ave., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, or e-mail stockers@RockyMountainNews.com.

In addition, coaches, athletic directors and administrators are needed for the Steinmark selection committee. Representatives from schools submitting nominees are not eligible.

ETC.: Windsor boys basketball coach Monty Alcaraz resigned his position, while Andy Parks has stepped down as girls basketball coach at Colorado Springs Christian to concentrate on his duties as athletic director. . . . Reminder: the Message Board, which lists games and coaches needed, in addition to college signings, is now posted at Rocky Preps.com.

How did we do?

• With the basketball season finishing last weekend, it's a good time to look back at the Rocky Mountain News' preseason rankings to see where the state champions began their march to a title:

Champion BOYS Preseason No. 1 (preseason rank)

Class 5A: Aurora Central Denver East (2)

Class 4A: Lincoln Lincoln

Class 3A: Faith Christian Eaton (unranked)

Class 2A: Jefferson Academy Grand Valley (7)

Class A: Kit Carson Kit Carson

Champion GIRLS Preseason No. 1 (preseason rank)

Class 5A: Highlands Ranch Highlands Ranch

Class 4A: Broomfield Broomfield

Class 3A: Faith Christian Machebeuf (4)

Class 2A: Limon Limon

Class A: Haxtun Eads (3)

Rocky Preps poll

• This week's question: Should booing be banned at high school sports events?

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