Crowley County's Rashaun McNeil displaying talents on track at state meet

Jeff Letofsky, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
·2 min read

Jun. 27—LAKEWOOD — He's a hurdler and a jumper. And pretty good at both.

All of Rashaun McNeil's talents were on display during the Colorado state high school track and field championships at Jeffco Stadium.

A junior from Crowley County, McNeil qualified for the Class 2A state meet in multiple events. He competed in the 110-meter hurdles and triple jump on Thursday. He followed that up with the 300-meter hurdles on Friday and long jump Saturday.

He took third in the triple jump at 40 feet, 8 1/2 inches on Thursday, second in the 110-meter high hurdle finals in 15.77 seconds on Saturday, and he was sixth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdle finals in 42.41 seconds, also on Saturday. McNeil also finished 10th in the long jump at 19 feet ,1 inch on Saturday.

A three-sport standout for the Chargers who plays football and basketball, McNeil has become quite enamored with track and field.

He qualified for the 300 hurdles as a freshman and came to state but didn't get past the preliminaries.

"I made it to the prelims but didn't do so good," McNeil said.

Coming into state, McNeil was ranked third in the 110 hurdles, 10th in the 300 hurdles and the triple jump and 19th in the long jump. He said his favorite event is the hurdles.

Thursday, he qualified for the finals in the triple jump and the 110-meter hurdles, finishing third in both. He went 40 feet, 8.5 inches in the triple jump and was timed in 16.09 seconds in the hurdles.

Friday, he posted a personal-best 42.16 in the 300 hurdles, qualifying for Saturday's finals as the No. 7 seed.

"I like basketball but track is becoming my favorite sport," McNeil said. "I'm starting to love this sport. I get to come out here and race against competition and race against kids who go to college and get to the Olympics."

McNeil's goal over the weekend was to win at least one state title.

"I'd like to win one of them, make my family proud, my dad proud," he said. "I'd at least like to get on the podium. I want to make finals in all the events."

McNeil doesn't know where he wants to attend college or what he wants to study.

For now, he's enjoying his high school career on the track.

Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftian.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky