May 19th 2024.
Chris Faust was feeling the need for some new ink. As the head coach of the Cherokee Trail boys track team, he had just witnessed his team win their second consecutive Class 5A state championship. They dominated the competition with a whopping 111 points, almost doubling the score of the second-place team, Mountain Vista. And for Faust, this meant it was time for another tattoo.
You see, Faust had a tradition of getting a new tattoo for each of his team's state titles. With this latest victory, the boys now had four championships under their belt, in addition to two from the girls' team. Faust couldn't believe the level of success they had achieved, especially considering their projected score was only 85 points. But they surpassed all expectations and outperformed across the board.
As Faust proudly showed off his tattoos, each one representing a different state title with images like state rings and the team's logo, he couldn't help but reflect on the journey that led them to this moment. The last time Cherokee Trail was favored to win back-to-back titles was in 2014, but they stumbled and ended up in second place. It was a tough lesson for the team, but they learned from their mistakes and came back stronger than ever.
Faust couldn't stress enough the importance of his team's unity and their total team effort. While junior sprinter Peyton Sommers was the standout with his impressive triple crown of 100-, 200-, and 400-meter titles, Faust made sure to give credit to the entire team. Senior Kahari Wilbon, a three-year captain, was the undisputed leader and other key players like junior Solomon Griffen, senior Cayden Sweets, junior Taylor Waters, and senior Jaden Smith all contributed to the team's success.
But Faust was also a superstitious coach. He wore the same outfit to every meet for the past two years, a grey jacket with a black cross country shirt underneath, and ate the same breakfast at the same restaurant each morning of the state meet. It may seem silly, but Faust wasn't willing to risk ruining the team's mojo. And with the talent they had, it was hard to argue with his methods.
As the team celebrated their back-to-back titles, they were already looking towards the future. With many of their key players returning next year, they had their sights set on becoming the first Class 5A boys team to three-peat since 2003-2005. For Sommers, the team's success meant more than any individual accolades. The brotherhood they had built was what truly mattered, and he was already looking forward to the possibility of a three-peat in 2025.
In the Class 4A division, another team was making a name for themselves. Northfield High School, part of the Denver Public Schools program, claimed their first state track championship. It was a remarkable achievement for a team that only a few years ago had just a handful of athletes qualify for the state meet. Senior Karamoko Sacko, who has offers from top universities, was a key factor in their victory. He set a new Colorado record in the 110-meter hurdles and placed second in both the 100 and 200-meter events.
But it wasn't just about Sacko. The team had grown in both talent and belief, and they put it all together to come out on top. And with more athletes coming up and improving in the distance events, Sacko was confident that Northfield would continue to win state championships in the future.
Meanwhile, at Eaglecrest High School, the Raptors were celebrating their 400-meter relay team's victory. The girls' team had just won their race with a time of 47.88, and the boys followed suit with a close win over Mountain Vista. For senior anchor Peace Warah, it was the perfect ending to a tough season filled with injuries and disruptions. But they trusted each other and it paid off in the end.
As the state meet came to an end, Faust couldn't help but feel grateful for the talented athletes he had the privilege of coaching. But more than that, he was proud of the brotherhood and unity that his team embodied. And as they looked towards the future, he knew that the sky was the limit for Cherokee Trail.
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