Washington saves best throw for last

Canyon del Oro senior adds to discus state record, elevates to No. 6 performer in U.S. prep history with final throw in Division 2 championship; Mason wins third discus crown in a row in Division 1, Conlon repeats in shot put

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Turner Washington wasn’t able to regain his national lead in the boys discus throw Wednesday, but the Canyon del Oro senior did reclaim his Division 2 state title at the Arizona AIA Outdoor Championships at Mesa Community College.

After fouling all three throws in last year’s final, Washington captured his second championship in three years with a lifetime-best throw of 218 feet, 7 inches (66.62m) on his final attempt to improve on his own state record.

Clovis senior Jonah Wilson, who broke the California state record April 28 with a throw of 221-5 (67.48m) at the Battle of Central California, remains the No. 5 performer in U.S. prep history, with Washington elevating to No. 6. Washington fouled a throw that sailed beyond 220 feet April 22 at the Southern Arizona Championships.

Mountain Pointe senior Kayleigh Conlon repeated as Division 1 champion in the girls shot put with a mark of 46-9 (14.24m). Conlon broke the 2013 state record set by Ky Westbrook of Chandler with her 47-9.5 (14.56m) on April 20 at the Tempe City Championships at Desert Vista.

Desert Vista senior Elijah Mason won his third consecutive Division 1 boys discus title with a throw of 203-9 (62.10m), with his personal best still 212-11 (64.89m).

Canyon del Oro senior Cameron Crandall became the state’s first high jumper to clear 7 feet this season to win the Division 2 title. Crandall attempted the state record of 7-2.75 (2.20m), but brushed the bar with the back of his leg.

Chandler secured three titles on the first day in pursuit of its 11th team championship in 12 years, with sophomore Morgan Foster running a personal-best 4:52.79 in the 1,600 and adding a victory in the 800 in 2:12.14.

Tiana Poirier-Shelton repeated in the girls triple jump with a leap of 40-1.5 (12.23m), with teammate Jai Grunewald placing third with an effort of 39-2 (11.93m) for the Wolves. Grunewald also became only the second Chandler female athlete to break 43 seconds in the 300 hurdles, posting the top qualifying mark at 42.89, along with leading all qualifiers in the 100 hurdles in 14.40.

Cactus Shadows senior Alexa Hokanson won the Division 2 girls 800 championship in 2:15.58 and Chaparral sophomore Abi Archer prevailed in the 1,600 in 5:04.75.

Buena senior Manny Olivo-Quinones won the Division 2 boys 3,200 title in 9:16.36, with Cibola’s Thomas Cain prevailing by a dramatic 9:23.58 to 9:23.59 margin over Brophy Prep’s Luke Mason in the Division 1 final.

Tolleson Union senior Trey Johnson nearly matched his state-leading mark in the long jump, winning the Division 1 crown on his final attempt with an effort of 24-5.75 (7.46m), with teammate Dallas Dixon clearing 6-6 (1.98m) to win the Division 1 high jump crown. Fairfax senior Shamar Moreland won the Division 2 long jump championship with a leap of 23-9 (7.23m)

North Canyon freshman Jadyn Mays won the Division 2 girls long jump with a leap of 19-1.75 (5.83m) and could capture four titles overall, after posting the top qualifying marks in the 100 (11.88) and 200 (24.54) prelims, along with anchoring the Rattlers’ 4x400 relay to the fastest prelim mark of 3:54.03. Marana senior Mele Hala’ufia secured the Division 2 girls triple jump title with a mark of 37-4.25 (11.38m).

Sandra Day O’Connor senior Madelyn Lundberg cleared a personal-best 12-3 (3.73m) in the pole vault and prevailed over Desert Vista’s Sevanna Hanson and Corona del Sol’s Josephina Wright on fewer misses to secure the Division 1 title. Flowing Wells senior Katherine Daily won the Division 2 championship with an 11-6 (3.50m) clearance.

For the second year in a row, Marcos de Niza junior Carlan Naisant won the boys javelin title – throwing 197-1 (60.07m) – and Chaparral senior Maja Ahmann repeated as girls champion with a throw of 142-4 (43.38m).

Hamilton secured the Division 1 boys 4x800 relay title in 7:57.31, with Shadow Ridge capturing the Division 2 championship in 7:57.75.

Competition continues Friday and Saturday at Mesa Community College.