STATE MEET (at Jefferson County Stadium)

Track events — 8:30 a.m.: 5A Sprint Medley Relay (prelim); 8:40 a.m.: 4A Sprint Medley Relay (prelim); 8:50 a.m.: 5A 100 meter dash (prelims); 9 a.m.: 4A 100 meter dash; 9:10 a.m.: 5A 3,200 meter run (FINAL); 9:40 a.m.: 5A 4×200-meter relay (prelims); 10 a.m.: 4A 4×200 meter relay (prelims); 10:25 a.m.: 5A Girls 100 meter hurdles (prelims); 4A Girls 100 meter hurdles (prelims); 10:40 a.m.: 5A Boys 110 meter hurdles (prelims); 4A Boys 110 meter hurdles (prelims); 11 a.m.: 5A 400 meter dash (prelims); 11:15 a.m.: 4A 400 meter dash (prelims); 11:35 a.m.: 5A 4×800 meter relay (FINAL); 12:05 p.m.: 4A 4×800 meter relay (FINAL); 12:35 p.m.: 100 meter Paralympics Wheelchair Race; 12:50 p.m.: 5A 200 meter dash (prelims); 1 p.m.: 4A 200 meter dash (prelims); BREAK; 2 p.m.: 3A Sprint Medley Relay (prelims); 2:10 p.m.: 2A Sprint Medley Relay (prelims); 2:25 p.m.: 3A 100 meter dash (prelims); 2:35 p.m.: 2A 100 meter dash (prelims); 2:40 p.m.: Break; 3 p.m.: 3A 4×200 meter relay (prelims); 3:15 p.m.: 2A 4×200 meter relay (prelims); 3:40 p.m.: 3A Girls 100 meter hurdles (prelims); 2A Girls 100 meter hurdles (prelims); 3:55 p.m.: 3A Boys 110 meter hurdles (prelims); 2A Boys 110 meter hurdles (prelims); 4:10 p.m.: 3A 4×800 meter relay (FINAL); 4:40 p.m.: 2A 4×800 meter relay (FINAL); 5:10 p.m.: 1A 3,200 meter run (FINAL); 5:45 p.m.: 3A 200 meter dash (prelims); 6 p.m.: 2A 200 meter dash (prelims); 6:20 p.m.: 3A 3,200 meter run (FINAL); 6:55 p.m.: 3A 400 meter dash (prelims); 7:15 p.m.: 2A 400 meter dash (prelims)

Field events — 8:30 a.m.: 5A boys pole vault, 5A girls long jump, 5A boys high jump, 5A boys discus, 4A girls triple jump, 4A boys shot put; 11:00 a.m.: 5A girls pole vault, 5A girls discus, 4A boys triple jump, 4A girls high jump; Noon: 2A boys shot put; 12:30 p.m.: 2A girls long jump; 1:30 p.m.: 3A boys pole vault, 3A girls high jump, 3A boys discus; 2 p.m.: 2A girls shot put; 2:30 p.m.: 3A boys triple jump; 3 p.m.: 2A boys long jump; 4 p.m.: 2A girls high jump, 1A girls pole vault, 1A boys shot put, 1A girls discus; 5:30 p.m.: 1A boys long jump

Attitude has carried Mason Markle a long way in his swimming career at Smoky Hill High School, but he has the ability take it the next step.

The positivity-fueled junior standout is headed to his third straight Class 5A boys state swim meet May 18-19 at the Edora Pool & Ice Center and is part of the Buffaloes’ contingent of 11 state qualifiers seeking to make some noise. Markle just helped Smoky Hill to third place at the Centennial “A” League championships and he goes into state seeded 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 23rd in the 200 individual medley, plus will work on two relay teams.

Out of the water, the 16-year-old Markle carries a 4.76 GPA.

What is your favorite high school memory, athletically or otherwise?

Last year at the Smoky Hill High School Invitational, Steven Holiday and myself came in 1st and 2nd place for the 100 Breaststroke during finals, putting Smoky Hill in the lead by 1 point. We won for the first time in years.

What is the biggest sacrifice you have to make to play your sport?

I have to give up a lot free time for practice. But, it’s worth all the time spent when I have a good race.

What’s the best piece of advice ever given to you in sports or in life?

Work hard, but don’t let it take over your life.

Are you a leader? If so, what do you think makes a good leader in yourself or others?

I try to make swimming fun for everyone on my team, because I think that a positive attitude can make anything possible. I’ve seen students who have never swam a yard in their life become A-League finalists within a single year, which would not have been possible without a positive attitude to start. I think that good leaders have confidence in every situation. If someone wants to become a team leader, they must build confidence first.

Do you have any quirks or superstitions when it comes to your sport or in life in general?

Swimming is as much of a mental sport as it is a physical one. I have always been amazed what a positive outlook can do for a swimmer. Attitude can make or break a race. Proper physical and mental preparation are necessary for any swimmer to do well.

If you listen to music before a game, what gets you most ready for competition? If not, how do you get focused?

I usually listen to fast-paced music before a race to get excited. Moving around helps loosen my muscles and stay nervous. I think that a good amount of nervous energy before a race helps me preform better, as long as I don’t psych myself out.

What’s a sport you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t and why haven’t you?

I’ve always wanted to learn how to surf…but I live in Colorado.

If you could pick a person living or dead to spend a day with, who would it be and why?

Will Ferrell, he’s a funny guy.

Other than sports, do you have another true passion in life and if so, what is it and why?

I like spending time outside, especially in the mountains. It’s great to get away from the city sometimes.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

I don’t know yet, hopefully something exciting.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

• The Class 5A-1A state track meet opens May 17 and runs through May 19 at Jefferson County Stadium, with events beginning at 8:30 a.m. all three days. Vista PEAK makes its state debut with a handful of 3A individual qualifiers, while nine of Aurora’s 10 5A schools have at least one individual or relay team in the mix.

• The Class 5A baseball championship series opens May 18, with Grandview and Regis Jesuit in action in the double-elimination tournament played at two sites: Bishop Machebeuf H.S. and All-City Field. Both teams play at Machebeuf to open on May 18, with the third-seeded Raiders taking on No. 6 Dakota Ridge at 10 a.m., followed by a 12:30 p.m. contest between No. 7 Highlands Ranch and the No. 2 Wolves at 12:30 p.m.

Opening game winners play later in the day, while losers try to stay alive in games on May 19.

• The boys lacrosse state championship is decided May 19 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, with Regis Jesuit hoping to walk off with a second straight state title. The sixth-seeded Raiders had to get past No. 3 Cherry Creek in a semifinal on May 16 to earn a berth in the finale.

• Girls lacrosse semifinals are scheduled for May 19 at the University of Denver, with Regis Jesuit hoping to be part of it. The Raiders needed a quarterfinal win over Centaurus on May 16 to advance.

• The Class 5A girls state golf tournament comes to Aurora, with two rounds scheduled for May 21-22 at the Aurora Hills Golf Course. Tee times begin at 9 a.m. May 21 for the 84-golfer field, which includes seven qualifiers from Aurora: Defending champion Seung Ha Choi of Overland and teammate Soleil Worthy, Cherokee Trail’s Alissa Rhee, Eaglecrest’s Jamie Griffin, Gateway’s Malorie Williamson and Rangeview’s Danae Bushman and Julia Kim.

• Regional champion Regis Jesuit takes on Boomerang Links in Greeley May 21-22 in the Class 4A girls state golf tournament. The foursome of Kathleen Kershisnik, Sofia Vigil, Lauren Richardson and Sydney Gillespie will try to get the Raiders on top in their last season in 4A.

The Raiders won their third straight regional title handily on a 7-over-par 79 by Kershisnik, plus Gillespie’s 81, Vigil’s 82 and Richardson’s 91.

Regis Jesuit earned the automatic team berth in the May 21-22 4A state tournament at the Boomerang Links in Greeley.

• The Hinkley boys swim team won a third straight league championship by edging Brighton to win the East Metro Athletic Conference title on May 12 at Gateway High School.

The Thunderbirds — who got wins from Brandon Barocio (200, 500 freestyles), Sam Buchholz (50 freestyle, plus a state qualifying time in prelims), Andy Stockinger (100 backstroke), Steve Banuelos-Loya (100 breaststroke) and the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays — scored 599 points to the Bulldogs’ 578.

Hinkley coach Beth Himes was named EMAC swim coach of the year.

• Grandview and Regis Jesuit earned berths in the Class 5A double-elimination championship series, winning District 5 and 7 tournaments on their home fields, respectively.

The Wolves got a no-hitter from pitcher Jordan Schlehuber in besting Rangeview 10-0 in the opener, then rolled past Chaparral 5-1 behind Madison Spencer’s 7-hitter and four RBI from Josh Huntley. Regis Jesuit earned a shot at defending its 5A state title by hammering Northglenn 9-0 in the opener and then surviving for an 8-7 win against Liberty, with Joey Larson delivering the go-ahead base hit in the bottom of the six inning. David Peterson gutted out seven innings for the victory.

Cherokee Trail nearly made it an Aurora trio in the championship series, but the Cougars couldn’t hold a late three-run lead against Dakota Ridge in the District 8 championship game.

• Smoky Hill sophomore Juhan Hong won the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle and teammate Steven Holiday ruled the 100 breaststroke to lead the host Buffs to 3rd place at the Centennial “A” League boys swim meet May 12.

Cherokee Trail sophomore TJ Konde took the 100 backstroke.

• Regis Jesuit won the Continental “A” League Championship boys swim meet May 12 at Heritage in its final tune-up before making its bid for the 5A state championship.

• Aurora’s last remaining girls soccer team lost in the second round, as Smoky Hill was beaten 1-0 in double overtime by Heritage on May 12 at Legacy Stadium. The No. 7 Buffs (12-4-1) had much of the run of play against the No. 10 Eagles, but went down on goal 1:33 into the second extra session.

Rangeview lost 1-0 to Highlands Ranch in overtime and Grandview fell to Fort Collins in penalty kicks in the first round.

• The Cherokee Trail boys track team won the Centennial League championship May 12, pulling away from the field to win handily at Stutler Bowl. The Cougars were fueled by three relay wins (4×200, 4×400, 4×800), plus Devin Bell’s hurdles sweep and Dillon Zacharias taking the shot put.

Eaglecrest’s Marcus Harris swept the two sprint events and Avery Roberts jumped a 5A-best 6 feet, 8 inches to win the high jump. Smoky Hill’s Tanner Ruhl took the 800 meter run and Grandview’s Ben Hanson captured the discus.

Cherokee Trail was also tops among city teams on the girls side in 3rd, as Hannah Sparks won twice (long jump, triple jump) and Maddie Leatherbury took the discus.

Smoky Hill junior Zainab Sanni tuned up for the state meet by taking the 100 and 200 meters, while Eaglecrest’s sprint medley relay team and Grandview shot putter Adaeze Obinnah — with 5A’s second-best toss — also won league championships.

• Regis Jesuit took 3rd on the girls side and 6th on the boys at the Continental League track championships May 12 at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker.

• Regis Jesuit No. 2 singles player Haley Chirico and the No. 1 doubles team of Kerbi Brisch and Lilly Iacino placed third at the 4A girls state tennis tournament May 11 at Pueblo City Park. The Raiders finished 5th as a team.

The 5A tournament was over quickly for Aurora players, as Eaglecrest’s Renee Christopher (No. 1 singles) and Cherokee Trail’s Alexandria Linville (No. 2 singles) and Sydney Reese/Natalia Zaremba (No. 3 doubles) lost in the first round.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com

Aurora’s police officials are considering a four-phase approach to beefing up surveillance techniques to fight crime, and they’ve found funding for the first two phases.

The issue was also discussed at an Aurora City Council committee meeting in March.

Phase 1 will: modernize existing Aurora Police Surveillance cameras, which will cost about $45,000; install new surveillance cameras capable of compressed video transmission along Colfax Avenue to the tune of $30,000; install a wireless mesh radio transmission system capable of transmitting video from a target area on Colfax Avenue to an existing video server located at the Aurora Municipal Center building, at a cost of $75,000.

Phase 2 will: install two fixed automated license plate reader units on eastbound Colfax at Yosemite and two fixed ALPR units on westbound Colfax at Peoria; install four fixed ALPR units on Colfax in the vicinity of Macon Street at a cost of about $80,000; install mobile ALPR units on two existing patrol cars at a cost of $32,000.

The license plate readers automatically scan all vehicle license plates and alert police officers of license plates that match those of persons of interest. Some of the newer Aurora police cars have license plate readers.

In phases 3 and 4, city officials expect to purchase 15 more surveillance cameras and boost their video server capacity, and acquire a technological device that will recognize and locate gunshots.

The money for phases 1 and 2 would come out of the Technology Efficiency Fund.

Master Sgt. Ricky Kissell, a crew chief for the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard, gives his F-16 a bath Thursday afternoon, May 3 at Buckley Air Force Base. The Air National Guard is asking the public for input on a new airspace plan for eastern Colorado. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

In a statement this afternoon, the Colorado Air National Guard said crews at the base will be increasing their activity tomorrow as part of an “Operational Readiness Inspection.”

The 24-hour training will include simulated operations in a combat environment, which the Guard said will mean an increase in activity and noise level over the next few days. That includes frequent alarms and increased flying operations.

This inspection is one of several by the Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force, which will verify and validate that the 140th Wing is fully capable of deploying overseas, the statement said.

“We ask for the public’s patience and understanding during this period,” Brig. Gen. Trulan A. Eyre, commander of the 140th Wing, said in the statement

The Guard inspections comes in the middle of another inspection for the Air Force’s 460th Space Wing, which operates Buckley. That inspection is scheduled to end May 22.

For more, visit the Guard website: co.ng.mil

The senior shot a 16-over 88 in her round at the 5A Metro East Regional at Aurora Hills Golf Course on May 7 — six shots better than what she scored in a Centennial League meet on the same course a month earlier — then won a one-hole playoff against Heritage’s Erica Truong to win first alternate honors.

It paid off for her on Wednesday, when Rhee — who qualified for the 2010 state meet as a sophomore — was added to the 84-golfer field for the May 21-22 5A state tournament. According to Colorado High School Activities Association Assistant Commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees golf, each of the four regional qualifying tournaments were given a rough number of qualifiers based on the number of golfers expected to tee off. Those numbers were adjusted based on how many golfers actually played and the Metro West tournament had six or seven fewer golfers than expected, which decreased its number of qualifiers by one.

Rhee — who was the second alternate out of the Metro East Regional in 2011 — has a 10 a.m. tee time on May 21, playing with Ralston Valley’s Ashlyn Kirschner and Highlands Ranch’s Dani Listiadji.

She is one of seven Aurora golfers in the field at Aurora Hills, joining Overland’s Seung Ha Choi and Soleil Worthy, Rangeview’s Julia Kim and Danae Bushman, Eaglecrest’s Jamie Griffin and Gateway’s Malorie Williamson.

If Rhee is unable to play, Truong would be added to the field.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

Shocking, I know.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today a $45 million settlement with Skechers footwear regarding deceptive trade practices.

A release from Suthers’ office said:

According to the complaint, Sketchers made health-related claims in marketing and advertising its line of rocker-bottom shoe products, including Shape-ups, Tone-ups and the Skechers Resistance Runner, but could not substantiate the claims with competent and reliable scientific evidence. Sketchers did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but agreed that its future advertisements would be supported by scientific evidence.

Skechers agreed to pay the money, but didn’t admit any wrong doing.

When Skechers unveiled the shoes a few years ago, the marketing campaign included commercials with sports legends Joe Montana and Wayne Gretzky as well as reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

Some of the cash will be split between the 45 states named in the suit and $40 million of it will be set aside in a consumer redress fund, which will be administered by the FTC. The AG said consumers who think they were misled by the advertising can file claims online at www.ftc.gov/skechers or can call a toll-free number, 866-325-4186. Consumers affected by the settlement can expect to receive approximately $20 for each pair of shoes purchased, the statement said.

The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. on northbound I-225 a short distance north of the new overpass at East 17th Avenue.

Aurora police Lt. Chuck DeShazer said a car traveled northbound in the far right lane when the driver swerved and hit the back of a car in the middle lane.

The driver of the second car lost control and the vehicle rolled, blocking several lanes of traffic, he said.

Both drivers were alone in their vehicles at the time, DeShazer said. The driver of the first car was slightly injured but the driver of the car that rolled was uninjured, DeShazer said.

It’s unclear why the driver swerved, DeShazer said, but investigators don’t believe alcohol or excessive speed were factors in the crash. The driver who caused the accident will be charged with careless driving.

Emergency crews had to close northbound I-225 for about 20 minutes while they worked to clear the roadway, DeShazer said.

As officers diverted drivers onto Colfax and East Sixth Avenue traffic backed up well south of the East Alameda Avenue overpass.