ENGLEWOOD ” When the Summit High School track and field season began more than two months ago, Chris Rice’s sights were set on a 22-year old school record in the 3,200 meter run.

The sophomore distance specialist finally reached his goal Thursday at Englewood’s Windjammer Invite, the Tigers’ penultimate meet of the season.

Rice, a sophomore, finished the two-mile race with a time of 10:55 ” one second faster than the pre-existing record.

“It was such a nailbiter to have it be so close,” Tigers coach Kristy McClain said. “Chris had been in the ballpark for a while. He just needed a little extra oomph and he got it.”

Rice won the event handily, which meant there was no one else to push him during his final lap.

“To me, that’s indicative of his mental strength as a runner,” McClain said. “Half of running is the mental barriers you set up and he’s been able to overcome those.”

Thursday’s historic result was foreshadowed during the Tiger’s cross country season last fall when Rice ran a two-mile split time faster than the now-broken 3,200 track and field record.

Sodergren breaks own triple jump record

Summit junior Katie Sodergren made Thursday’s meet twice as memorable for the Tigers by breaking her own 1-year-old triple jump school record by seven inches.

“I knew she would do it,” McClain said a day after Sodergren jumped 32 feet, 10 inches. “She’s been working toward it all season.”

The versatile Sodergren, who finished fifth in Thursday’s triple jump, also placed fourth in the 800 run and sixth as part of the 1600 relay, which included Steph Wade, Catherine Clark and Elise Scanlan.

Sharayah Dossett (second in discus) and Stephen Ike (eighth in triple jump) also placed for the Tigers.

Team results for the Windjammer were not available as of press time.

The Tigers will have just one more chance to qualify for the 4A state meet ” a 4A League/Regional meet, beginning Wednesday in Denver.

“They used to be two separate meets, but now they’re combined,” McClain explained. “We got to vote, and I voted no because it gives us one less opportunity to qualify for state.”

The Tigers, who were represented at last year’s state meet by Sodergren (triple jump) and Clark (100 hurdles), have yet to qualify anyone this season.

Adam Boffey can be contacted at (970) 668-4634, or at aboffey@summitdaily.com.