Leaving A Big Mark On The 2019 Great Southwest Indoor


Anna Hall doesn't get as much ink for the hurdles as for some other events, but she was convincing tonight in the hurdles even so, taking the win in the final meters of the race.

It was a long way from the biggest delegation Colorado has ever taken down to the Great Southwest Indoor, but you'd be hard pressed to match the performance of this year's group of athletes.

First-place finishes for Colorado fell like rain. And with that drops came a few new meet records as well.

It began with Anna Hall winning the 60 hurdles in 8.62. That's pretty good for a start, but Hall wasn't nearly done. The high jump--or at least her portion of it--and the 800 ran more or less simultaneously. Normally, that would be considered bad  news and a lot of athletes would drop one or the other.

Not Anna Hall. After getting a clearance in the high jump, Hall stepped to the track and laid down a 2:11.81 winner in the 800. Ponder that for a moment. Let it sink in and roll around for a while.

There's no way that a 2:11 800 doesn't take something out of your legs, but it didn't take enough out of Hall's legs to keep her from winning the high jump. 

With a few minutes' break, Hall was back clearing bars. 5-7 came easily. 5-9 took a little more doing. But, in the end she cleared that and won the competition. 

The 800 mark stands as a  new meet record.

Carley Bennett added a second in the mile at 5:15. Mia Manson won the pole vault at a season-best mark of 12-0. Manson was also good enough for fourth in the long jump. Hailey Harris claimed the triple jump crown at 37-7.25. 

And, make a mental note of Harlie Medrano's 35-5.25 in the shot put. That was only good enough for fifth, but let's take note of the fact that Medrano hasn't even competed yet in a high school outdoor season.

The boys had more than their share of moments as well. Kain Medrano wrapped up the boys shot put with a throw of 54-11.25. Max Manson made 17-0 look easy in the pole vault and flirted with three very good attempts at 17-4.5. Zion Gordon won the 60 in 6.85 and the 60 hurdles in 7.86. That's a sweep you don't see every day. 

Luc Andrada didn't get a win, but he got a second in the 200 and a fourth in the 60. Cameron Harris was a close second to Gordon in the 60 hurdles.

It was definitely a show worth watching by the time all was said and done. And, evidently New Mexico agreed about the show. They named Anna Hall and Kain Medrano the athletes of the meet.

Check back on Monday (in all probability) for a photo feature on the Colorado athletes at Great Southwest!