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Summit High earns best finish in program history at the final day of the state track and field meet

Faith Fox and Ruby Snyder lead performances with third-place finishes

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Cody Jones

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Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
Faith Fox, right, and Ruby Snyder, left, compete in the 4A girls 100-meter hurdles on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Every end is a new beginning. 

Each year, this is showcased at the Colorado state track and field meet at Jefferson County Stadium in Lakewood. 

Whether passing the torch to younger teammates or graduating on to bigger and better things, athletes leave the annual meet primed to take on their next race, hurdle or challenge. On the final day of the state track meet on Saturday, May 17, senior Ella Hagen and senior Josh Shriver lined up for the final track races of their high school careers.

Both Hagen and Shriver got the chance to compete across the same distance in their final high school race —  the 1600-meter run.

Shriver was the first to step foot on the track for a final time. Seeking redemption after feeling like he had more to give in the 800-meter on the second day of the meet, Shriver got out to a controlled  start, splitting 1 minute, 3.32 seconds through the first 400-meters of the four-lap race. 

Shriver then went through the halfway point of the race in ninth place in a time of 2:09.52. With the majority of the field still around him, Shriver tried to make a definite move on the penultimate lap. As the field reached the bell lap, it was still anyone’s race.

Shriver accelerated down the backstretch alongside his competitors before unloading his kick over the final 200 meters. Shriver closed in 60 seconds to take eighth overall in a time of 4:15.44.

“It was a difficult race because it kind of wasn’t exactly tactical and it wasn’t exactly all-out honest,” Shriver said. “It made it hard to make moves with so many people left in contention. … I am still proud  of what I have done. The result today, never achieving the goal of winning one of these, doesn’t change anything in terms of what I think of myself. I am proud of the last four years.”

Niwot’s Rocco Culpepper won the race in 4:12.23, Thompson Valley’s Curtis Smela took second (4:13.55) and Coronado’s Oliver Horton finished in third (4:13.64).

Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
Ella Hagen runs in her final high school race — the 4A girls 1600-meter run — on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

Moments later, Hagen stepped onto the track for the 4A girls 1600-meter run. Sporting her signature racing shades and bright pink shorts, Hagen wasted no time in taking her spot near the front of the race.

Allowing Niwot’s Addison Ritzenhein to take the reins of the race, Hagen slipped in behind Air Academy’s Jordan Banta and let her block the slight wind. After coming through 400-meters in a time of 1:11.44, Hagen maintained sixth place over the second lap. 

Recognizing it was time to make a move, Hagen passed three runners over the third lap, setting herself up for a final kick to the finish line. With Jefferson County Stadium cheering her on for a final time, Hagen pumped her arms and willed her legs to go faster.

Hagen crossed the finish line in fifth place in a time of 4:58.83. Ritzenhein took first in 4:47.05 while Air Academy senior Tessa Walter finished second (4:50.02) and Air Academy sophomore Chamorra Cooper took third (4:54.40).

After creating numerous memories at the state meet over the last four years, Hagen’s final race will always hold a special place in her heart.

“I have gone through so much on this track and seen so many different sides of this sport,” Hagen said. “… I have made so many memories and come so far, but it’s also the end of an era and one that went by way too fast. … It is the start of a new chapter and I am beyond excited to kind of reframe and get ready for the next side of it. A lot of what I learned on this track is going to take me through the next 10 years.”

Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
Faith Fox, right, and Ruby Snyder, left, pose for a photo after making the podium in the 4A girls 100-meter hurdles on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

100-meter and 300-meter hurdles 

Hagen and Shriver handed off the figurative baton to junior Faith Fox and freshman Ruby Snyder, both of whom will represent Summit to the highest degree over the next few years.

Snyder has had a meet to remember. In her state meet debut, Snyder not only was able to qualify for finals in her two hurdling events, but was also able to tie for fourth in the 4A girls high jump. 

Snyder continued to show that she is a force to be reckoned with on the final day of competition. Lining up in lane nine for the 100-meter hurdles, Snyder flew over each barrier, accelerating in between hurdles, before dipping her chest across the finish line.

Snyder claimed the bronze medal in a new personal best and school-record time of 15.05 seconds.

“It was so fun,” Snyder said. “I’m so grateful. I’m so thankful to have Faith here with me. It’s so fun doing this and being able to do this is awesome.”

Niwot’s Reese Kasper took home the gold (14.22) with Pueblo East’s Reagan Falletta winning the silver medal (14.47).Fox finished three spots behind Snyder in sixth place overall in a time of 15.30 seconds — .05 seconds faster than her previous school record time of 15.35. 

“I love being here with another Summit girl,” Fox said. “I am so proud of her. She’s worked so hard for everything this year. It’s amazing, I love this so much.”

The two performances added 11 points to the Summit girls team score, pushing the team further up in the rankings.

“It shows that we are here to represent Summit and we are here to do this for our team,” Fox said.

Snyder and Fox both returned several hours later for the 4A girls 300-meter hurdles. 

Wanting to score more points for the team, both girls charged around the track, chasing after every competitor in their wake. This time it was Fox who claimed bronze. 

Fox dove across the line in a time of 43.71 seconds to not only improve a place from last season, but also reset her own school record by over half a second.  

“It feels amazing,” Fox said. “I was so scared coming into the race. But I just stuck to my plan and gave it all up at the end of the line. Just dove for it and hoped for the best.”

After taking third earlier in the day, Snyder secured sixth place in a new personal-best time of 44.92 seconds. Kasper completed the sweep of the hurdling events at the 4A state meet, taking first in 41.35 seconds. Falletta took second in 42.57.

The Summit girls improved seven places from last season in order to place fifth overall with 43.5 points. The finish marks the best finish at the state meet in program history. The Tigers’ previous best finish at the 4A state meet was ninth.

“We are bringing Summit to the track out here,” Hagen said. “Showing that we can show up. It’s a special feeling to have a team by my side. My freshman year, I think there were two of us, maybe three. Now to have a team here, hearing my name in this field of people and in the stands — it is amazing. And it means there’s a legacy with this team now and those people are going to keep it going.”

The Summit boys matched their placing from last spring, tying for 32nd with Evergreen (6 points). Running away with the competition, Niwot won both the 4A boys and girls team titles.

While Hagen and Shriver will be graduating from the squad, Fox believes the team will be just fine next year. 

“It’s an absolute honor to be running with them on the team,” Fox said. “They’re both outstanding athletes, and I’m so sad to see them go.  … They have definitely passed their leadership down. 
I know from their influence and their leadership, we’re definitely going to keep going on.”

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