Owen Hays exploded out of the blocks.

The Roosevelt junior quickly went to counting his steps before each hurdle.

1…2…3…

By the third hurdle of the 300-meter hurdles at the Pomona Invitational, Hays had already made up the stagger. His only competition now would be the clock.

And it ticked on, just like his steps.

The Roosevelt junior was like a rocket trying to break free of Earth’s gravity.

There would be no holding him down on this day, because he was flying around the track at record-breaking speeds.

Hays soared into the final straight, still fighting gravity, still counting steps between hurdles.

And still winning the battle.

He soared over the final two hurdles without losing his stride and leaned into the record books.

Hays crossed the line in a jaw-dropping 36.14 seconds.

When the time stretched across the giant scoreboard on the south end of Jeffco Stadium, it was met with a collective gasp.

Hays had just wiped the 25-year-old Colorado state record of 36.41 off the record books.

The previous record was run by Bear Creek’s Garren Crochet years before Hays was born — back in 2001.

The record was the third-oldest in the books.

And now it was gone.

Not to mention the Pomona meet record fell as well — by over a full second.

Hays’ performance wasn’t just a state record, it was a US No. 4.

He had flirted with the record in Friday’s prelims, clocking 36.49 — the second-fastest time in Colorado history, but now the record was his.

And it wasn’t the only performance taking a black sharpie to cross out any records.

Meet records were falling like raindrops from a dark blue cloud in the Pacific Northwest at the Pomona Invitational.

***

Highlighting the girl’s side of the competition has to be Fossil Ridge senior Addyson Smith.

Not only did she sweep the sprints – which were loaded – but she torched a state-leading, meet record, school record, and personal best of 23.86 in the 200.

She now owns the No. 1 times in the 100 and the 200.

Windsor’s Maya Brasch also dipped under 24-seconds, clocking a 4A No. 1 of 23.94.

On the topic of meet records, Golden junior Abigail Trapp dropped a 54.89, which moved her up one spot in the Class 5A rankings to No. 3.

The 800 was another impressive event that not only saw a meet record, but a slew of personal bests within the field.

Mountain View’s Madeline Clark torched the field to run a meet record of 2 minutes, 09.30 seconds — that’s the second-fastest 800 run in Colorado this season, only behind her 2:08.99 from last month.

Golden’s Esla Vessely gave chase, and was rewarded with a massive personal best of 2:12.24 to finish second — that’s a 5A No. 1, while Fossil Ridge’s Lily Wale also had a breakthrough, clocking 2:13.39 to finish third for a 5A No. 2.

Of additional note on Vessley and Wale — prior to Saturday’s Pomona Invitational, they were ranked No. 10 and No. 11 in 5A (now they’re No. 1 and No. 2).

In the relays Mountain Vista’s 4×400 put on a clinic and became the third squad to dip under four minutes this season, clocking a state-leading 3:56.60, while Chaparral and Golden were just four seconds back, both clocked at 4-flat.

On the topic of sweeps, cue Alexa Queen.

The Fountain-Fort Carson senior made light work of the hurdles, clocking 14.47 to win the 100H, and 43.97 in the 300H.

In the field, Mackinzy Wall starred. The Manitou Springs senior tossed 144-1 to win the discus – that’s the No. 2 mark in the event only behind her own 144-3.

Friday night saw three more girls crack the coveted 11-minute marker, led by Loveland freshman Brynn Torres, who ran 10:53. Lakewood’s Iris Barnett and Fort Collins’ Delaney Johns joined her under 11, clocking 10:57 and 10:59.

Meanwhile, Golden sophomore Jackson Ferguson soloed a stellar 9:10 to win the boy’s 3,200. The performance moved him to the No. 6 spot in 5A.

Ferguson also doubled back to win the 1,600 from the front on Saturday, clocking 4:19.77.

Back on the topic of meet records, Loveland’s Jackson Conroy opened Saturday’s action on fire, clocking 13.54 to win the 110H. The time led the field by nearly a full second, and it leads the state by over half-a-second.

In the 200, Fort Collins’ Preston Mozer backed up last week’s 400 win with a state-leading (wind-legal) 21.35 to win the 200.

In the relays, Fort Collins added to the theme of rewriting the meet record books, blazing a state-leading 41.22. That’s also the fifth-fastest time in Colorado history.

In the field, Palmer’s Evan Ballam and Discovery Canyon’s Quinn Pascual both cleared 15-4 in the pole vault, while long jump state-leader Cameron Bell from Eaglecrest added another victory to his name, landing at 23-3.75 to win the event.

Run Around The Country

Del Norte Tiger Invitational: Del Norte’s Damon Ledford-Vigil won the pole vault in a 2A No. 1 clearance of 15-3.

Boulder County Championships: The Broomfield boys 4×800 ran a 5A No. 1 of 7:53 to win the event. That’s also the second-fastest time run in Colorado this season. Erie was a close second in 7:55.

The Niwot boys 4×200 ran a 4A No. 1 of 1:26.90 – a three-second victory.

Arcadia Invitational (California): Colorado’s best distance runners went west for gold, and quite a few came back with some nuggets.

Highlighting the meet for the Centennial state was Coronado’s Oliver Horton, who finished third in the Invitational 3,200, clocking the fastest time ever by a Coloradan — 8:38.95. (The previous record was held by Cole Sprout, who clocked 8:40.73 at the 2019 edition of Arcadia.)

The performance makes Horton the fastest 3,200 runner in Colorado history — at any altitude.

Niwot’s Quinn Sullivan finished seventh overall, clocking 8:41.68, while teammate Hunter Robbie and Summit’s Jay McDonald finished in 8:45.20 and 8:45.46. Niwot’s Ryder Keeton and ThunderRidge’s Ben Lee also dipped under 8:50, both clocking 8:47, while Castle View sophomore Wyatt Dann was right on 8:50.

Doubling down in distance, Fort Collins senior Cadel Ruthven won the Invitational 1,600, clocking 4:07.98.

In the girls Invitational 3,200, Niwot’s Addy Ritzenhein led Colorado, finishing fifth in 10:00.13. Hot on her heels was Heritage’s Emry Schwalm, who finished sixth in 10:01.56. Eaton’s Delaney Reuter also dipped under 10:10, clocking 10:06. Eight Colorado girls dipped under 10:30.

In the girls 1,600 Cherokee Trail freshman Madison Lange led the way for Colorado, finishing fourth in 4:50.96. Air Academy’s Jordan Banta was sixth in 4:52.57.