Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

A Division I school fielding contending teams in all three boys relays is not all that unusual — so long as that school is an East Valley behemoth like Chandler, Phoenix Desert Vista or maybe Chandler Hamilton.

This year Valley Vista is poised to crash the party. In 2018, the Monsoon placed sixth in the 4x800-meter relay, 16th and last among finishing teams in the 4x100 and did not even qualify in the 4x400.

Entering the state meet, which begins today, the 2019 Valley Vista relay teams’ best times ranked fifth in the 4x100, sixth in the 4x400 and fifth in the 4x800.

“It seems like every year they’re breaking the last year’s record. Historically, over the last three or four years, we’ve been one of the top sprint schools with regards to relays,” Valley Vista track coach Willie Walker said.

While times suggest Valley Vista might get on the podium, head-to-head results hint at even more.

The Monsoon defeated Division I foes like Phoenix Desert Vista and Mesa Red Mountain to win the seeded 4x800 race at the 79th Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational in March.

“There were a whole bunch of teams at the Chandler Rotary and a lot of competition. We ended up taking first so that was our biggest moment,” junior Tommy Thompson said. “We actually had a tremendous gap to make up so us overcoming that and then still winning was big for us.”

Thompson is the team’s top 800-meter runner — with the third-best time in Division I — while senior Jamari Vanorsby edges him in the 400. This duo forms the heart of the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Junior Justin Tharp also is on both relay teams. Junior Matt Vazquez came on to the 4x800 after playing baseball last year. Sophomore Jace Valdez Crowley can run all three but focuses on the 4x100 and 4x400.

“They don’t like to lose and they’ve been working hard. They’ve got great chemistry,” Walker said. “Jamari Vanorsby and Tommy Thompson are probably our top two guys but they pull everyone with them.”

Walker said sometimes the last legs of the relay had to catch people and did.

The prime example is the Rattler Boost meet March 16 at North Canyon High School in Phoenix. Valley Vista’s 4x100 team broke school record with a 42.64 and edged Chandler by a hundredth of a second.

“We hit 42 and thought, ‘That’s actually pretty quick.’ I think that motivated us to start practicing handoffs more — not that we ever didn’t take it seriously but we were working harder at it,” junior Aiden Cunningham said.

Cunningham said he and his relay mates — seniors Obinna Elezar and Sidney-Michael Thomas and Crowley — had their smoothest exchanges at the April 6 Sun Angel Classic, lowering the school record at 42.51 finishing second to Scottsdale Saguaro.

Chandler will be tougher to catch the second time around, having posted a season-best of 41.59 in the 4x100 on April 12. Valley Vista is comfortable with its order after experimenting with it last year.

“Last year we were switching around and it came to be that I should be starter and then Jace would be second. Donovan was in the third leg but this year it’s Sidney. And Aiden would be anchor. It’s stayed like that,” Elezar said.

Thomas’ return this season after sitting out track in 2018 has been a godsend following sophomore Donovan Greathouse’s season-ending injury.

“Sidney Thomas came in for his senior year and he’s proven to be a real asset to the team,” Cunningham said. “We want to break 42 seconds. That’s the goal for this year.”

While exchanges are not nearly as crucial in the 4x400 and 4x800, the Monsoon has a comfortable order in the longer relays too.

“We have Justin start because he wants to get off really quickly and maintains his position well. He gives to Matt, whose job also is to maintain. When I get it, I make sure I run my race and stay in control,” Vanorsby said. “When I’ll get it I’ll see if I’m in first and if not I’ll move up there so Tony will have an easier time.”

Chandler, Desert Vista and Hamilton top the performance lists in the 4x400. Desert Vista, Phoenix Pinnacle and Gilbert Highland pace the 4x800.

“We’ve turned the 800 meter runners into sprinters. They understand that the 800 is a sprint and we do a hybrid workout so we can either go long or go short,” Walker said

With only three seniors between the three teams, Walker said he thinks the relays will be even better next season.But why wait?

“They’re respected by their peer group and vice versa. They think they can win it and I think they can win it too if they all do what they’re supposed to do,” Walker said.

Valley Vista’s 4x100 team is, from left, Jace Valdez, Obi Eleazar, Aiden Cunningham and Sydney-Michael Thomas, not pictured, pose for a photograph on April 22 at Valley Vista High School in Surprise. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]