Ellie Londo stood tall on the line.

The Valor Christian junior eyed the red track in front of her while her hands rested on her hips, waiting for the starter to send her into the blocks.

Londo had already won the 100-meter several hours earlier, but now she had 400 meters of track in front of her to battle with, along with a stellar field at the 2025 Liberty Bell Invitational in Littleton.

But battling is something the Valor Christian junior is familiar with — she is the Class 5A defending state champion in the 100.

In just 55.88 seconds after the starter shot his gun, sending Londo and the field into the fiery chaos of all that is the quarter-mile, Londo dipped at the line with her second victory of the day.

In around the same amount of time it took her to circle the track, she dropped onto the turf infield in exhaustion, having left every ounce of energy she had on the red oval.

Londo’s 55.88 clocking moved her up to the No. 2 spot in 5A in the 400, and it was a season-best.

With just under three weeks until the 2025 Colorado state track and field championships, it appears that Londo is finding her stride right in time.

“I’m excited, I’m feeling good this year,” she said. “I think I’m going to start dropping more time soon.”

Londo has run the 400 just once prior to Saturday’s Liberty Bell Invitational — a 56.36 victory at the Niwot Invitational.

As with previous years, Londo’s sharp curve upwards is highly visible as we inch towards the state championships.

Londo and Zona Welling battled in the 100 with the Valor Christian junior taking the win by less than a stride — 11.79 to Welling’s 11.81.

Londo and Welling’s performance ranks them No. 1 and No. 2 among all classifications in the 100.

Following Saturday’s races, Londo is now ranked No. 1 in Class 5A in the 100, No. 6 in the 200, and No. 2 in the 400.

Londo’s range begs the question: what will she compete in at the state meet?

“Maybe all three, we’ll see,” she said. “I’m beginning to love the 400. It’s a hard event.”

Welling did get a big win before the day was over, however.

The Heritage sophomore torched a state-leading 24.10 to win the 200.

“I was not expecting to PR (personal best) at all,” she admitted. “I’ve been out a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, so coming back and PRing has been amazing.”

Another bright spot came from the Heritage distance duo of Emry Schwalm and Benjamin Wolff, who swept the girls’ and boys’ distance events.

Schwalm ran away with the 3,200 Friday night, clocking 10 minutes, 43 seconds. The performance ranks her No. 3 in the latest 5A rankings.

Saturday, Schwalm came back to complete the sweep, winning the 1,600 in 5:03.

Likewise, Heritage teammate Wolff swept the boy’s distance events, clocking 9:18 in the 3,200, and 4:17 in the 1,600.

Put the state on alert, because Gery Lockman is the real deal.

The Poudre junior sliced nearly a second off his personal best in the 400, clocking a state-leading 47.53. That’s his first time under 48 seconds, and nearly a second-and-a-half ahead of his season best.

Meanwhile, Overland’s Jarrius Ward starred in the discus.

The defending state champion threw 191-0 to win the event in a new state-leading mark and season best. Of additional note, Ward currently leads the state by nearly 30 feet in the event.

On the girls’ side of the field events, it was Castle View’s Diana Nagel with a state-leading mark of her own – she won the discus with a toss of 145-07.

Across town and a day earlier, the Stutler Twilight did not disappoint.

Once again, the boys’ 1,600 took center stage, as five dipped under 4:18, led by the Mountain Vista duo of Benji Anderson and Ben Adams, who clocked 4:10.14, and 4:11.15.

Anderson and Adams are currently No. 1, and No. 2 in all classifications.

Of additional note, Adams is just a sophomore.

Likewise, Niwot’s Quinn Sullivan — also a sophomore — finished third in 4:14.61.

Going down in distance, Rocky Mountain’s Caleb Emery torched a state-leading 1:52.94 to win the 800. Like Adams, and Sullivan, Emery is just a sophomore.

In the pole vault, Taylor Waters continued to soar. The Cherokee Trail senior cleared 16-8 for a state-leading mark.

On the girls’ side of the competition, Rosie Mucharsky appears to be revving up into the final weeks of the season.

The Denver East senior won the 1,600 in a season-best of 4:53.08. The performance moved her up to the No. 2 ranking in Class 5A, and it was just the second time she’s run the event this season.

Likewise, Cherry Creek’s Kinley Wolfe torched a 2:12.75 in the 800, which ranks her No. 2 in 5A, and all classifications.

Adding six laps to the count, Emily Cohen ran away with the 3,200, clocking 10:42, also a No. 2 in 5A ranking.

In the 300 Hurdles, Reese Kasper continues her ascent.

The Niwot senior scorched the field to clock a state-leading 41.92. She currently leads the state in the event by over a second-and-a-half.

On the topic of state-leading marks, the Coronado boys 4×800 put their cards on the table — they clocked 7:54.65 at the Cougar Classic.

On the other side of the country, Niwot’s Addy Ritzenhein took second in the 3,000 at the Penn Relays, clocking 9:20.

The state’s best athletes appear to be getting into peak form with the state track and field meet less than three weeks.