LAKEWOOD – Scottie Vines remained cavalier as competitors cleared their respective heights in the high jump and as the wind picked up at Jeffco Stadium.

Vines dominated the competition all season. He recognized the weather nor his competition could delay his inevitable victory.

The De Beque Dragons senior cleared 7 feet at the Colorado State Track and Field Championships en route to his third consecutive high jump title.

Vines’ mark also set the 1A meet record – which he also set last season at 6-10 – and earned a spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials later this summer with a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

“I’m grateful for what I was able to accomplish,” Vines said. “I got over 7 feet, which is what I like to promise people. Every single time I get on a track I’m going to get over 7. That was my goal all season … and that’s what I did.”

Since his sophomore year, Vines has owned the high jump.

After a second-place finish at the Rifle High School Invitational on March 18, 2022, Vines has won 26 high jump events in a row.

In all six of his high jumps this season, Vines cleared seven feet. Vines hit 7-4.25 three times this year and did so for the first time in March at the Texas Relays in Austin.

However, CHSAA did not recognize the mark as a Colorado record since it occurred out of state.

So, during the Phil Wertman Invitational on April 13 in Grand Junction, Vines cleared the mark again and broke the 33-year-old record previously held by Buena Vista’s Matt Hemingway.

“I was angry that I didn’t get the record,” Vines told the Grand Junction Sentinel on April 13. “Once I did it here, you can’t take it away from me.”

Vines hoped to put on a show for the crowd gathered outside the gate near the high jump pit and fans around the stadium at Jeffco.

Vines had the option to stop at 6-8, which served as his first jump of the day and a mark he cleared with ease on his initial attempt.

Vines proceeded to clear both 6-10 and 7-0 with grace on his first attempts and moved to 7-2.25.

On his first two attempts at 7-2.25, the audience began clapping for Vines – first, at the behest of the CU commit, then on their own – but he requested silence for his final attempt.

“I’m not gonna lie, I thought the claps were going to be a lot better at state,” Vines said as he laughed. “It kind of ruins your rhythm going up to the bar if they speed up too fast. But I can’t complain. I’m happy with what I did this season and I’m satisfied and happy that I had all of these people come out to watch me.”

After his leg clipped the bar at 7-2.25 on his third and final attempt, Vines laid sprawled out on the mat.

Fans applauded Vines as he returned to his feet and exited the area for the final time in his prep career.

Although he’ll jump in Division I next season, Vines said he’s grateful to represent 1A and even beat out higher class high jumpers.

“It means a lot because I get to represent my small school,” Vines said. “I feel like there are a lot of athletes who get overlooked at small schools. I wanted to prove there can be good athletes at small schools too. I’m not the only good athlete at De Beque, we have Jace [Graham], Burke Largent, Wyatt [Carman]. He’s going to be a [good] high jumper.”