Coal Ridge Boys Capture First-Ever Class 3A State Track Title

Coal Ridge High School just delivered the first boys track and field state title in its history. The Titans won the Class 3A championship at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, racking up 86 points. They finished nearly 20 points clear of second-place The Classical Academy. It wasn’t a fluke. It was a demolition.

The girls team, meanwhile, finished fifth with 57 points. They came up short again. One year ago, they fell just 11 points from their own state title. The boys finished the job the girls started.

Head coach Ben Kirk called it "surreal." He’s been around this block. He knows what it takes to compete at the state level. He also knows the difference between a good team and a good program.

“There’s a huge difference between a good team and a good program,” Kirk said. “We put a ton of effort into trying to have a good program that all kids, no matter their talent level, are treated the exact same.”

That’s the pitch. That’s the philosophy. The Titans didn’t rely on one or two superstars to carry the load. They relied on depth. They relied on everyone doing more than they were supposed to.

The math checks out. The Titans scored 43 points just in the triple jump and long jump. They swept the triple jump podium. Senior Aiden Huey took first. Junior Marcus Munoz was second. Sophomore Clayton Terrell was third. In the long jump, Munoz set a state meet record at 23 feet, 2.75 inches. Terrell finished fourth. Huey finished fifth.

The 400-meter relay team finished second. It was a balanced attack. It was a team-first mentality in action.

Kirk said the margin was razor-thin. After Thursday and Friday’s events, he had them winning by just four points. Everything had to go right. And it did. Kids who weren’t supposed to make the finals did. Eighth-place points added up. Those little margins are what separate champions from contenders.

“The Titans did not just dominate the triple jump,” Kirk noted. “They also made their mark in the long jump.”

This is a Western Slope program with a chip on its shoulder. For years, Front Range schools ignored them. Now? They can’t. The Titans are forcing the rest of the state to pay attention.

The girls’ fifth-place finish is a story in itself. They’ve been close. So close. But the boys’ victory is the headline. It’s the first time the banner will fly in Jeffco for Coal Ridge track. It’s a validation of a system that values growth over individual stardom.

Kirk said the team was "very talented." But talent isn’t enough. You need execution. You need to beat expectations. The Titans did that. Event after event, they placed better than anticipated.

The short version: Coal Ridge boys won. The girls finished fifth. The program is growing. And the rest of Colorado is finally watching.

There’s a lot of pride in Delta County right now. The drive to Jeffco feels a little different this year. The bus ride back will be louder. The celebrations will be bigger. This isn’t just a win. It’s a statement.

The question now is whether the girls can close the gap. Eleven points is a lifetime in track and field. It’s a season of work. But the boys have set the standard. They’ve shown what’s possible when you treat every kid the same.

Kirk said it still feels "super awesome." That’s the feeling of a program that just broke through. The hard work paid off. The depth showed up. The title is theirs.