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Track, field contenders line up for state
Posted
Compiled By Richard SmithWest Valley Preps
Centennial’s boys 4x100-meter relay team, featured in Peoria Today two weeks ago, is the Coyotes top contender for a Division II gold medal, but not the only one.
Sophomore Rylee Perkins is ranked No. 2 in the long jump and junior Jamia Clark is No. 4 with a bullet in the shot put, after adding nearly four feet to her best mark during the season.
Two 2017 champions from Peoria schools are looking to defend in the state meet this week. Liberty senior Asiah Fields is a clear favorite in the Division II 400 meters, while Peoria faces a challenge from Queen Creek Casteel to repeat in the Division III 4x800-meter relay. Panthers seniors Lahad Adehim and Bak Reyak could win the individual 800 meters.
Kellis senior Jae’Nisa Heckstall will try for a second state championship in the Division II 100- and 300-meter hurdles this week at the state track championships.
She enters the meet with the third-best time in the 100 hurdles, and fourth in the 300. She also is ranked fourth in the 100-meter dash, just behind senior teammate Alyssa Bishop.
The Glendale school with the best chance to take home a first-place medal is Mountain Ridge, which boasts the top rated 4x800-meter relay team in Division I. The team of Gavin Allen, Austin Clayton, Vivek Ravi and Reier Gilbertson nearly has a one-second advantage of second-rated Phoenix Pinnacle.
Cactus and Deer Valley will also rely on distance runners. Juniors Maggie Gibbs (Cactus) and Emily Stutesman (Deer Valley) are top contenders as is Deer Valley freshman Randy Espinoza.
Dysart junior Kiara Anderson, ranked second in the Division II shot put and fourth in discus, is the top Dysart Unified School District contender for track and field medals this week.
Shadow Ridge senior Kyle Kerr, the defending Division II 800 meter champion, has missed most of the season due to an injury and is unlikely to compete.
In Division I, Valley Vista junior Timothy Ellis is ranked No. 2 and looks to continue the tradition established by state record holder Cole Riddle.
Today’s schedule includes field events in Division I and II and the girls’ 4x800 relays. Division III and IV field events are Friday and the majority of the finals are Saturday.
All state track and field championship events happen at Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Ave.
Here is a list of the other top track athletes in the area, based on their rankings April 30 on athletic.net:
From left to right, Centennial's 4x200m team Kieran Clark, Kenneth Williams, Jeiel Stark and Dominque Hampton pose for a photograph on April 11 at Centennial High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]
From left to right, Centennial's 4x200m team Kieran Clark, Kenneth Williams, Jeiel Stark and Dominque Hampton pose for a photograph on April 11 at Centennial High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]
