Thompson Valley senior Laura Tremblay is considered Class 4A’s top middle distance specialist after winning the 800- and 1,600-meter races at last year’s state meet, so she knows this season there is going to be plenty of talented runners trying to steal one of the titles she is trying to defend.

But she thinks one of the titles could stay within her own family. She said if she doesn’t win the 800 again, there is a good shot her fraternal twin sister, Liz, is going to be the one to dethrone her.

“I think she’s going to beat me in the 800; I know she is,” Laura said. “We did a time trial for a 600 in practice the other day and she beat me my 3 seconds. She’s going to be good. And she’ll only make me better.”

Liz Tremblay has spent her three previous years as a sprinter. She finished third in the 400 and fourth in the 200 at state last year, along with winning titles in the 800 and 1,600 relays (with a state-meet record of 3 minutes, 54.45 seconds.) And after visiting colleges, most of the college coaches told her she could have a bright future as an 800 runner.

“They all kind of opened my eyes to it, so I decided that I had better go ahead and try it and get used to it,” she said.

She decided two weeks ago to attend the University of Colorado — only to be surprised a few days later by Laura’s announcement that she was going to do the same.

“I made the decision first, because I never found a school that I liked more, and it was just a great fit for me,” Liz said. “And I was really surprised that a few days later, Laura said that it’s the school she could see herself at for the next four years. So, we are really excited to go to college together.”

And while the Tremblay sisters have many years ahead of them to compete, this spring track season is first and foremost on their minds, to try to help Thompson Valley defend its team title.

Laura has her sister to face in the 800, but she is the favorite to defend her title in the 1,600 after winning by more than 2 seconds with a time of 5:03.23. She expects to try some 3,200 races this season as well.

“If I can improve in track as much as improved in cross country this fall, I’ll have a great year,” said Laura, who finished second in the 4A state meet last fall. “I loved cross country and I think I’m getting stronger in the longer distances because I have that 800 speed, so I can still use my kick at the end.

“But this season is huge for us, and I still really want to go out and do really well.”

Starting line

CLASS 4A

1. Thompson Valley - With the versatile Tremblay twins as a double threat, the Eagles should repeat.

2. Alamosa - A stacked distance crew should score plenty of points and challenge for the title.

3. Mullen - With the numbers and the talent spread through every event, the Mustangs are always a threat.

4. Broomfield - The Eagles are led by hurdling champions Kayla Wein (100 hurdles) and Ashley Miknis (300 hurdles)

5. Glenwood Springs - A young team is now a year older, with more experience and talent to be a force.

6. Widefield - Everyone returns, so the Gladiators should better their seventh-place finish last year.

7. Conifer - With Emily Blok going for four more titles, she’ll score plenty of points for the Lobos.

8. Moffat County - Will be strong with cross country champ Alicia Nelson and defending long jump champion Erin Urbanoski.

9. Windsor - With talent on the track and in the field and some stellar freshmen, team may work some magic to finish high.

10. Cheyenne Mountain - Lost talented sprinter Joy O’Hare to graduation but this year will have strength in distance.

TOP RETURNEES

Athlete, School, Year

Joyce Banks, Widefield, Jr. State finish: Third, triple jump

Emily Blok, Conifer, Sr. State finish: First 100, 200 and 400; second, long jump

Justine Boddy, Thompson Valley, Sr. State finish: Third, high jump

Natasha Bruins, Woodland Park, Sr. State finish: Third, long jump

Katie Chapman, Delta, Sr. State finish: First, triple jump

Nikki DeSouchet, Alamosa, So. State finish: Second, 800

Vanessa Fabrizio, Mullen, Jr. State finish: Third, 800

Alison Forrester, Rock Canyon, Jr. State finish: Second, high jump

Kiah Hicks, Falcon, So. State finish: Third, discus

Kalie Kirk, Lewis-Palmer, Sr. State finish: Second, 300 hurdles (5A)

Karlye Marshal, Lewis-Palmer, Sr. State finish: Second, pole vault (5A)

Amy Medina, Mountain View, Jr. State finish: First, high jump; second, triple jump

Ashley Miknis, Broomfield, Sr. State finish: First, 300 hurdles; third, 100 hurdles

Alicia Nelson, Moffat County, Sr. State finish: Third, 1,600

Allie Parks, Greeley Central, So. State finish: Third, 3,200

Kadeshia Rose, Mesa Ridge, So. State finish: Second, 100 and 200

Lindsey Sowards, Alamosa, Sr. State finish: Second, 3,200

Laura Tremblay, Thompson Valley, Sr. State finish: First 800 and 1,600

Liz Tremblay, Thompson Valley, Sr. State finish: Third, 400

Erin Urbanoski, Moffat County, Sr. State finish: First, long jump

Kayla Wein, Broomfield, Jr. State finish: First, 100 hurdles

Laura Young, Glenwood Springs, Sr. State finish: Second, 300 hurdles

NOTEBOOK

It’s never enough for Conifer senior Emily Blok.

She has five state sprinting titles to her name, but that second-place finish in the long jump at last year’s Class 4A state track meet didn’t make her happy. So, as she steps on to the track for her final season before heading to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Blok is determined more than ever to finish her stellar high school career with the illustrious four gold medals.

She will try to win her third consecutive titles in the 100 and 200 meters, defend her crown in the 400 and capture that long jump victory.

“I started training two weeks earlier than last year, and I am training harder than ever before because there is no taking it easy,” Blok said. “It’s a huge goal of mine just to defend those titles, and I know that it’s not going to be easy.

“Nobody has to tell me that I have to work hard to defend my titles. Because the more times you do it, the more pressure there is, and the more expectations people have. And I have my own expectations for myself. And I really would like to win the long jump this year.”

Blok said she is excited that her college decision has already been made so she can focus on the spring. But making a good impression on college coaches and making the decision for herself caused plenty of pressure and anxiety for her last year.

“I didn’t want to rush it, I wanted to make the right decision, and yes, that does take some pressure off of me,” she said. “Last year counted for something different because I wanted to create an opportunity for myself. And even though it’s nice to know where I’m going and where I’m headed, I’m not done yet.”

Thompson Valley won the 4A team title last year, and with almost every scoring athlete returning, the Eagles are a clear favorite to win it again.

“We have a lot of talent again this year, so I definitely think that we have a great shot to win,” coach Matt Norton said. “With Liz and Laura Tremblay, they are really talented and they have a really wide range. They pose a threat in anything from the 200 up to the 3,200, that’s pretty tough.”

In his fourth season as head coach, Norton said while he would love to win the team championship, he is going to try and make the most of this season with the seniors he has been with since the beginning.

“It’s like we have all taken this journey together, and so for me, I am just really going to try and enjoy this season as much as I can,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun season. They have all worked their tails off.”

Norton said he is excited to see how the change in the state meet format is going to work, as it will only benefit his talented distance crew.

Runners now have to run qualifying times to make the state meet, where all four classifications will compete at the same location, spread out over a three-day period.

“This format is going to ensure that the best 18 athletes are in each event, and I like the three-day layout because it spreads the distances out,” he said. “But it’s also going to be great to have all the schools together so that everyone can see what everyone else is doing.”

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