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Last year, as a freshman, Amber Suits decided it was time to run with the leaders.

This season, as a sophomore, the Hayden middle-distance and distance runner is consistently one of the leaders.

On Saturday, the school record holder in the 1,600 meters finished fifth in 6 minutes, 0.50 seconds at a Clint Wells Invitational field that included several of the state's top runners on the Western Slope.

She narrowly missed placing in the 800 meters and is closing in on that school record, as well.

"I'm shooting for the state-qualifying time of 5:41 (in the 1,600)," Suits said. "This year, I'm more excited to go out and run. It's better than I've ever done."

School records seem primed to fall for the rest of the season. Keenan Bruchez broke his school record in the 110-meter hurdles yet again, finishing in 16.39, which is 0.06 away from the state prequalifying time in Class 2A.

But Bruchez did lock up a trip to the state meet with his fourth-place throw of 133 feet, 9 inches in the discus. Hayden teammate and classmate Tyson Sweetser finished second with a throw of 139-11.

Sweetser has prequalified for state in the discus.

"A lot is practice, practice, practice," Sweetser said about improving in the discus. "I've been throwing it since the sixth grade."

On Saturday, Hayden's 400-meter relay team of Jesse Drennan, Tyson Letlow, Kenny Gehrman and Evan Hilling prequalified for the state meet in the 400-meter relay, finishing fourth in 45.64. The four also placed fourth in the 800-meter relay.

They weren't pleased with either finish or time, considering they expect to fare at well at state in both events.

"Jesse and my handoffs were terrible," Letlow said. "We didn't run very good. We will work on handoffs all this week."

But Saturday's meet in Craig was just the second time this year the four have been able to run together because of Letlow's early season injury.

He spent nearly a month in physical therapy. If he never sees a bike again, he'll be fine with it.

The boys will have another chance to prequalify for state in the 800-meter relay Saturday at the Western Slope League meet in Kremmling.

Soroco is the favorite, and Saturday, the Rams finished second in the 800-meter relay in 1:34.07.

"We have to catch Soroco," Letlow said.

Soroco and Hayden are the favorites to win the boys league title.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com