Colorado Teens Chase History at State Track Championships

Colorado high school track stars are racing toward history this weekend, and the records they're chasing span more than a century of athletic excellence.

The CHSAA State Track & Field Championships kick off Thursday at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood, bringing together 61 defending champions from across the state. But two athletes stand out with a chance to etch their names into Colorado sports lore.

Roxy Unruh of Cheyenne Wells and Addison Ritzenhein of Niwot could each claim their 11th individual state championship across all sports. That would tie them for third place in Colorado history, joining an exclusive club of just nine athletes who have reached double digits.

Unruh, a 1A sprinter, already holds eight track titles and is favored to win the 100, 200, and 400 meters this weekend. Ritzenhein, a 4A distance runner, has eight total titles between track and cross country and is seeded to win the 1600 and 3200 meters.

The all-time record belongs to Palisade runner Natalie Hughes, who won an astonishing 13 individual titles from 1997 through 2001. That research into championship history became possible this week when CHSAA launched a complete database of every state track champion dating back to 1922 for boys and 1968 for girls.

The Ripple Effect

The new database does more than celebrate past champions. It connects generations of athletes and coaches, showing young competitors the legacy they're joining when they step onto the track.

This year's field has already been making history before the state meet even begins. Three new state records fell during the spring season, including Roosevelt's Owen Hays in the 300-meter hurdles and Windsor's girls 4x100 relay team.

Across all five classifications, returning champions are defending their titles while newcomers chase breakthrough moments. Springfield junior Parker Arbuthot won three distance events last year and is favored to repeat in all three. Arvada West senior Layla Petz could claim her ninth individual championship across three different sports if she wins the pole vault.

The three-day championship runs through Saturday, with competition spanning from the smallest 1A schools to the largest 5A programs. Each race and field event represents years of early morning practices, personal sacrifices, and the support of coaches, teammates, and families.

For Unruh and Ritzenhein, this weekend offers more than medals—it's a chance to join Colorado's most accomplished high school athletes and inspire the next generation already dreaming of their own championships.