Chandler, North Canyon sweep team championships

Wolves win back-to-back crowns in both genders in Division 1, with Rattlers celebrating first Division 2 titles; Rio Rico's Allie Schadler finishes career with 11 state track championships, 15 overall

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

With wind gusts of up to 35 mph wreaking havoc on the track events Saturday at the Arizona AIA Outdoor State Championships, Chandler had to rely on strength in numbers to hold off rival Desert Vista in both Division 1 finals, with North Canyon showcasing a promising young roster in its first Division 2 title sweep.

Chandler amassed 184 points to win its second straight girls championship and 11th in 12 years, with the boys also repeating and securing its third crown in six seasons with a 100-98 victory at Mesa Community College.

North Canyon captured its first titles in both genders, but there were several other programs that joined Chandler in championship repeats.

Snowflake and Scottsdale Prep both won their third consecutive boys crowns in Division 3 and Division 4.

Fountain Hills repeated as Division 3 girls winner and Pusch Ridge Christian captured its first Division 4 girls championship since securing back-to-back titles in 2012-13 with a 72-70 victory over Scottsdale Prep, winner of the past three crowns.

The best individual performance came from Desert Edge junior Tyson Jones, who won the Division 2 boys shot put title with a 67-6.50 (20.58m) effort, No. 2 in state history and third in the country this year. Canyon del Oro senior Turner Washington was second with a mark of 65-1.50 (19.85m), No. 5 all-time in Arizona and 11th nationally this season.

Rio Rico senior Allie Schadler concluded her career with 11 state track and field titles and 15 overall, including cross country, winning the 400 in 58.02 and 1,600 in 5:08.20, along with anchoring the Hawks in 57.8 to secure the 4x400 victory in 4:05.08.

Schadler won state titles in six events -- 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x400 and 4x800 -- in her track career, but came up just short of the program's first team championship, finishing third, seven points behind Fountain Hills. Samantha Schadler won the 800 in 2:22.68 and 3,200 in 11:16.84, in addition to contributing to the Hawks' victories in the 4x400 and 4x800 (9:54.25) as the sisters combined to win six races.

Anaya Bailey won four Division 1 crowns for the Chandler girls team, anchoring both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays to victories in 47.26 and 3:52.12 along with titles in the 100 and 200 (12.23 and 26.20), with Jai Gruenwald securing three championships by winning the long jump with a leap of 19-10.50 (6.05m) and sweeping the 100 and 300 hurdles in 15.03 and 44.17.

Chandler won 11 events, including Morgan Foster in the 800 (2:12.14) and 1,600 (4:52.79), along with all three relays.

The boys team championship came down to the 4x400 relay, with T.J. Green, Edwin Adams, Jaheim Brown and Imani Lee taking second in 3:24.06 for Chandler behind Desert Vista's Ryan Bender, Ethan Wright, Gabe Deutsch and Jacob Suber in 3:21.09, allowing the Wolves to hold on for a two-point victory, despite Elijah Mason sweeping the shot put and discus throw titles for the Thunder.

Kendon Walker and Brown sweeping the top two spots in the 200 in 22.14 and 22.25 put Chandler in a position to secure the title, overcoming a fall from Green in the 300 hurdles and a third-place finish from Lee in the triple jump.

The Wolves also ran the No. 3 time in state history in the 4x100 relay, with Green, Brown, Lee and Walker clocking 41.03.

Freshman Jadyn Mays secured four Division 2 titles for the North Canyon girls, winning the 100 (12.41), 200 (25.80), long jump (19-1.75) and anchoring the 4x400 (3:55.59).

The Rattlers won the 4x400 and 4x800 (9:43.25), with freshman Dominique Mustin contributing to both victories, including overcoming severe cramps on the anchor of the 4x800 to will herself across the finish line, which made the difference in North Canyon's 75-74 victory over Cactus Shadows.

Junior Tyrees Moulton rebounded from a narrow setback in the Division 2 boys 100-meter dash to Queen Creek's Kavon Jackson -- both were timed in 11.15 -- to prevail in the 200 in 22.06, the 400 in 47.49 and anchor the Rattlers' 4x400 with a 46.9 split to secure the championship by a 3:23.12 to 3:23.13 margin over Apollo. North Canyon posted a 53-43.5 victory over Canyon del Oro.

Kellis junior Jae'Nisa Heckstall won the Division 2 girls 100 hurdles in 14.85, the 300 hurdles in 43.79 and took second to Mays in the 100 in 12.66, along with helping the Cougars' 4x400 relay place second to North Canyon.

Pusch Ridge Christian junior Kacy Haynes won the Division 4 girls 100 (13.12), 200 (27.57) and contributed to a 4x100 victory in 50.66 to help the Lions capture the team title. Pima's Jessica Sherwood won the 100 hurdles (15.95) and 400 (1:01.14), in addition to taking second to Haynes in the 100 (13.36) and 200 (27.59).

Team Champions

Division 1 - Chandler boys, Chandler girls

Division 2 - North Canyon boys, North Canyon girls

Division 3 - Snowflake boys, Fountain Hills girls

Division 4 - Scottsdale Prep boys, Pusch Ridge Christian girls