Cory Engel will be off to the ‘Wild Blue Yonder’ after he graduates in May from Northglenn. Until that time, the defending state champion in the 110-meter hurdles will attempt to win his second title in the event, as well as tack on a title in the 300 hurdles.

“I’m going to the Air Force Academy,” said Engel, who finished fourth in the 300 hurdles in a dramatic photo finish among the top four medal winners. “I want to be a fighter pilot, that’s my No. 1 goal. If not, I’d like to work as an engineer in the Air Force.

“I know that it’s going to be tough, but that means more to me than even track,” said Engel, a 6-foot, 175-pounder who is currently ranked No. 15 in the nation by Track & Field magazine. “I’m proud to be a state champion and I want to compete in track at the Academy. But my career goal is much more important than sports.”

Engel won the 110s with a time of 14.09 seconds, nipping Tarique Hill of Eaglecrest (14.17) and Hill’s brother, Tashaun (14.22). Engle had entered the state meet with the season’s best times in both hurdles, but couldn’t overcome Jordan Aguilar of Regis Jesuit, Littleton’s Kyle McIntosh or Palmer’s Brendan Jackson in the 300 finals.

“I should break into the 13s in the 110s within the next couple of weeks, since I’m getting in pretty good shape,” said Engel, who ran 38.66 in the 300s at state. “I want to run in the low 37s and get into the 36s come state. I’m pretty comfortable with both events, but I do like the 110s a bit more.”

Engel, who has already competed in two college meets, said he most likely will run the 200 and 400 meters this season for the Norse, estimating the 21-second range in the 200 and 48 seconds in the 400 are realistic times.

“I ran two indoor college meets unattached,” said Engel, who did not qualify for state his sophomore season. “I struggled in the first one because I was coming off a hamstring injury. But I made the finals at (Colorado School) Mines and placed fourth with an 8.2.

“I wanted to use my indoor season to get stronger for outdoors,” said Engel, who ran a 50.3 400 on the University of Colorado’s indoor track. “I feel I’ll be twice as strong this year than last. I’ve been training my butt off six days a week.”

Northglenn is still in a rebuilding stage this season under coach Scott Gallas, who said he looks to Engel for his leadership.

“Cory is a pretty motivated kid,” Gallas said. “He is the type of young man who knows where his weaknesses are and, as determined as he is, knows how to get the results he seeks. He has been around this sport long enough to know what it takes.”

Engel and since graduated high jumper Levi Adrian were the only ones to score points for the Norse at state meet last year.

“Cory is a leader,” Gallas said. “He know that it’s going to be tight again this year and it takes hard work. The kids look up to him, and we need that kind of leadership. We’ve got a few returnees, but for the most part we are still a very young team. We probably have the most talent coming back that we’ve had in the last four or five years.”

If Engel wins both hurdle events this season he would be heading off to the Air Force Academy with sky-high emotions.

Starting line

CLASS 5A TOP 10

1. Littleton: Nationally ranked hurdler/sprinter Kyle MacIntosh and great depth make the Lions top contenders.

2. Smoky Hill: State champion Chase Cooper and Mark Sparks, among a host of experienced returnees, will lead the Buffs.

3. Overland: The return of injured state champion sprinter Jeremy Rankin could put the Trailblazers in solid position to contend.

4. Regis Jesuit: Hurdler Jordan Aguilar and distance aces Bobby and Danny Nicholls will help propel the Raiders.

5. George Washington: The Patriots, paced by distance ace Matthew Bell, just reload year after year.

6. Cherokee Trail: Sprinter Antoine Jones leads the talented and experienced Cougars.

7. Eaglecrest: Look for the hurdling Hill brothers, Tarique and Tashuan, to spark the Raptors.

8. Fountain-Fort Carson: High jumper/hurdler Brock Emory and weightman Jamarius Mathis lead a solid group of Trojans.

9. Dakota Ridge: State 1,600- and 3,200-meter champion Evan Appel will help key the Eagles state bid.

10. Rampart: State 400-meter runner-up Devin Mohn will play a key role as the Rams strive for a high finish.

TOP RETURNEES

Athlete, School, Year

Terry Alletto, Ponderosa, Sr. State finish: First, shot put

Evan Appel, Dakota Ridge, Sr. State finish: First, 1,600 and 3,200

Kenny Chambers, Doherty, Jr. State finish: Third, 100

Chase Cooper, Smoky Hill, Sr. State finish: First, pole vault

Jason Dewitt, Ralston Valley, Sr. State finish: Third, high jump (4A)

Jordan Edwards, Heritage, Sr. State finish: First, 100; third, 200

Cory Engel, Northglenn, Sr. State finish: First, 110 hurdles

John Gamble, Pomona, Sr. State finish: Second, high jump

Tarique Hill, Eaglecrest, Sr. State finish: Second, 110 hurdles

Tashuan Hill, Eaglecrest, Sr. State finish: Third, 110 hurdles

Joseph Manilafasha, Denver North, Sr. State finish: Third, 3,200

Kyle McIntosh, Littleton, Sr. State finish: Second, 300 hurdles

Devin Mohn, Rampart, Sr. State finish: Second, 400

Bobby Nichols, Regis Jesuit, Sr. State finish: Second, 3,200; third, 1,600

Jaden Terry, Doherty, Jr. State finish: Third, discus

NOTEBOOK

Brian Kula believes he will have his best boys team ever at Littleton, and the Lions are primed as they begin the season ranked No. 1. Leading the way is University of Colorado-signee Kyle McIntosh, who placed second in the 300 hurdles last season and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 in three events — 60 indoor hurdles, 300 hurdles and the 200 meters.

Littleton also has another top hurdler and sprinter in junior Kumar Pinkney, who as seventh at the 2008 Colorado State Games in the 300s.

“We’ve got great depth in the 200 and 400 meters and in the hurdles,” Kula said. “And, I think we got the kids who can score in the field events.”

Smoky Hill, ranked No. 2, appears ready to make a serious bid to win the championship this season with a dozen state qualifiers back. This includes Chase Cooper, the son of coach Mark Cooper, who returns to defend his title in the pole vault.

Cooper, who has committed to the Air Force Academy, vaulted 16 feet, 7 inches last season, the fourth-best effort in the U.S. last year and second-best all-time in Colorado. He was the state runner-up as a sophomore.

“Chase could become just the second Colorado vaulter to go over 17 feet,” Mark Cooper said in reference to Aurora Central’s Pat Manson, who holds the record of 17-7.5, set in 1986. “We feel we can be in the top three (at state) and could have multiple champions.”

Out to join Cooper atop the podium is weightman Mark Sparks, who placed fourth in the shot put. Also ready to move up are Ben Napier, who was third in the state pentathlon and was cited by Cooper as one of the most versatile athletes in the state.

Also look for Matt Caldwell, who was all-state in cross country in the fall, and Quin Erickson, who just missed all-state honors in cross country, to be in the hunt for state distance and relay titles.

Overland’s Jeremy Rankin, the All-Colorado runner of the year in 2007, missed last year’s state meet because of injury. If he’s healthy and up to speed, the sprints could be in his again.

Rankin won the 100 in 10.32 seconds and was second in the 200 as a sophomore. He entered last season fresh off a win in the 60 meters at the Nike Indoor Nationals.

However, Jordan Edwards of Heritage, the defending state champion in the 100 and a third-place finisher in the 200, will try and fend off Rankin. Also in the hunt will be Doherty’s Kenny Chambers, who was third in the 100.

Evan Appel of Dakota Ridge is the defending champion in the 1,600 and 3,200, but the 3,200 is loaded like no other event. Eight of the nine medal winners return, and six of the top nine return in the 1,600.

The top challengers will once again be Bobby Nicholls of Regis Jesuit (second in the 3,200 and third in the 1,600) and Denver North’s Joseph Manilafasha, the All-Colorado cross country runner of the year, who was third in the 3,200.

Ponderosa’s Terry Alletto will be out to win his second title in the shot put, which he won by a single inch last season. He should be hard-pressed by Doherty’s Jaden Terry, who was third in the discus, and by Smoky Hill’s Sparks.

Pomona could be one of the biggest surprises this season. The Panthers will be led by senior Jon Gamble, who placed second in the high jump last season with a 6-foot, 6-inch effort. Junior Ryan Duman, who was eighth in the discus (161-0), could prove to be a factor in both weight events this season.

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