Feature Photo By: Samir Mohamed – The girls’ and boys’ track teams get off the blocks hot during practice. Last year, the Raiders placed 7th out of 10 in the APS Championship.

Pop! And they’re off! As the 2016-17 school year blazes into its final turn towards the finish line. Boys and girls basketball, girls swimming and wrestling pass the baton to the spring sports, one of those being track.

This year’s team has a completely different look. As last year’s senior-led squad is full of fresh faces and newcomers ready to make their mark. The APS champion boys 4×100 meter and 4×200 meter teams saw three of their four members graduate, all of whom went on to play college sports: Ronald McQueen and Stephan DeLeon, who are running, and DeVante Wheaton, who is playing football.

Coach Justin Hoffman is back for his second year as Rangeview’s track coach, splitting his duties between both football and track, and is again bringing many of his players from the gridiron to the track. These two-sport athletes include college football signees Alex Thomas, Aaron Reed, Clinton Thomas, and quarterback Jaelin Odegard and nearly their whole offensive line and receiving corps.

Coach Hoffman described his players’ transitions from football to track by saying, “It’s always a good transition for them, it strengthens up their hips, and allows them to add weight,” He continued by stating, “A faster team is a better team.”

Seniors Matthew Thomas and Diondre Johnson, both state placers in the triple jump last year, will join the team again while Hoffman expects successful campaigns from both of them. Dawnielle Lewis, who finished 5th in the girls 100 meters at state as a freshman, and according to Hoffman, the group which consists of just one senior, and 25 freshmen and sophomores.

Other competitors to watch are David Aggrey, a runner who is making the switch from football to track in the 100m and 200m  Jasmine Bowman, who is playing soccer and running track during the same season, and freshman Lushous Davis, who impressed Hoffman with a near 28 foot throw in the shot put.

Rangeview recently placed 8th of 28 teams in the Columbine Invitational, and 7th out of 10 at the Aurora City Championships.

For more on Rangeview’s boys track team, visit:

http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/rangeview-raiders-(aurora,co)/track-field/home.htm

For information on the girls see:

http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/rangeview-raiders-(aurora,co)/girls-track-field/home.htm