Chandler sweeps both Division 1 crowns, with girls winning fifth in a row and 14th in past 15 finals; Snowflake secures pair of Division 3 championships, with Valley Christian taking two Division 4 titles; North Canyon girls capture fourth straight in Division 2, with Casteel earning first boys state victory

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

As much as the absence of the Arizona Interscholastic Association state championships last season as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic left many to wonder about what could have been for many impressive seniors who were unable to compete, the return of the meet May 12-15 offered reminders that the elite teams still remained the same, and new stars emerged with breakthrough performances after benefiting from training the past 15 months.

Chandler remained the exceptional standard by sweeping both Division 1 team titles, capturing a fifth consecutive girls championship and 14th crown in the past 15 state meets with 154.5 points, more than 70 points ahead of Highland and host Desert Vista.

The Wolves defended their boys title from 2019 and secured a fourth championship in the past five finals with 84 points, with Desert Vista edging Red Mountain for second.

There were also sweeps by Snowflake in Division 3 and Valley Christian in Division 4, with North Canyon securing a fourth straight girls title in Division 2 and Casteel capturing its first boys championship in program history behind the distance dominance of senior Dayton Carlson.

Makayla Long of Perry, a transfer from West Linn in Oregon, set a new Arizona standard in the shot put, with North Canyon junior Joy Moorer producing the No. 2 mark in state history in the 300-meter hurdles.

Javelin champions Makayla Hunter of Chandler and Jade Kwinn of Sabino – competing in Division 1 and Division 3, respectively – both equaled the No. 2 all-time state performance, with Desert Vista distance standout Lauren Ping ascending to No. 4 in Arizona prep history in the 3,200 meters.

Sabino junior Eva Bruce was the only athlete to capture four individual championships, with Chandler junior Trinity Henderson sweeping three sprint titles in the Division 1 final. Phoenix Country Day freshman Kimi Cahoon won all three distance races in Division 4, as well as the 4x800 relay, with Northland Prep junior Sydney Sventek earning three individual titles and contributing to the victorious 4x400 relay.

More than 10,000 spectators attended the four-day competition schedule at Desert Vista and Perry, an increase from the 8,676 fans that attended the 2019 championship meet at Mesa Community College.

Division 1 - Desert Vista High

Trinity Henderson delivered again on the biggest stage for Chandler, winning championships in the 100-meter dash with a wind-legal 11.82, the 200 in a lifetime-best 23.93 and the 400 in 55.37.

She won both the 100 and 200 titles as a freshman in 2019, but placed fourth in the 400 final.

Henderson, who ran a personal-best 11.75 in the 100 prelims, also contributed to a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay in 3:52.56. Chandler prevailed in the 4x100 relay in 47.32.

Makayla Long of Perry, who moved from Oregon last year, captured the first two state titles of her career after having the postseason canceled last season.

Long, who had her Arizona all-time shot put mark of 53-3.75 (16.24m) on April 2 not validated by AIA officials after she had her two middle fingers taped, produced what will be recognized as the state record with her 50-8 (15.44m) performance.

Long, a Baylor signee, also won the discus with a 162-foot throw (49.37m), just behind her Arizona No. 2 all-time effort of 163-2 (49.73m). The record of 176-4 (53.74m) held by Chandler’s Cindy Johnson has stood since 1982.

Makayla Hunter, an Indiana-bound senior, returned from being sidelined following a positive COVID-19 test to capture the javelin title with a personal-best 151-6 (46.17m) – equaling the No. 2 mark in both program and Arizona history behind Hannah Carson at 171-9 (52.34m) – and placed second in the discus at 153-4 (46.73m) and shot put at 42-9 (13.03m).

Desert Vista sophomore Lauren Ping contributed to a third-place team total of 80 points, with a lifetime-best 10:16.25 in the 3,200 to elevate to No. 4 in state history, in addition to winning the 1,600 in 4:54.02 and contributing to a victorious 9:18.59 performance in the 4x800 relay.

Katie Sigerud, also a member of the winning 4x800 lineup, triumphed in the 800 in a personal-best 2:10.64, along with the junior finishing second behind Ping in the 1,600 in 4:55.31 and runner-up in the 3,200 in 10:35.05.

Alisha Ellsworth, a senior, won the long jump for runner-up Highland, which accumulated 83 points. Ellsworth had a wind-legal leap of 18-8.75 (5.70m) and secured the runner-up team finish with her performance on the 4x400 relay that knocked off Chandler in 3:51.66.

After running 42.27 in the prelims, Chaparral junior Neya Jamison prevailed in the 300 hurdles final in 43.64.

Westwood senior Rahni Turner captured the 100 hurdles title in a wind-aided 13.68, with Hamilton freshman Kori Martin placing second in 13.91. Martin had run the top wind-legal performance by a ninth-grader in the country this season by clocking 13.81 in the prelims.

Queen Creek teammates Chloe Bingham and Viann Vanderwall cleared 5-5 (1.65m) and 5-4 (1.62m) to take the top two spots in the high jump.

Vanderwall also finished second in the triple jump with a 37-foot performance (11.27m), with Chandler senior Sheena Cumberbatch emerging victorious with a wind-legal 37-4 (11.37m) effort

Corona del Sol sophomore Ena McMahon won the pole vault title with an 11-9 (3.58m) clearance.

Chandler received boys state titles from Amar Elmore in the discus with a personal-best throw of 180-9 (55.08m), along with Jamere Haskell in the triple jump, improving by more than a foot to triumph with a state-leading mark of 45-8 (13.91m).

Haskell also contributed to a victorious 4x100 relay for the Wolves in 41.63, which also included Tyson Tippett, who took second in the 100 in 10.53 and third in the 200 in 21.74. Chandler took second to Liberty in the 4x400 final by a 3:20.17 to 3:21.56 margin.

Mason Hickel closed out his last state final at home, winning the shot put for Desert Vista with a 61-foot effort (18.59m), along with placing second in the discus with a throw of 174-3 (53.11m).

Luke Stalus won the 400 for Desert Vista in 47.84 and helped the Thunder secure second overall by a 61.5 to 61 margin over Red Mountain by overcoming a false start in the 110 hurdles to place fourth in the 200 in 21.76.

Xander Black of Brophy Prep doubled in the 1,600 and 3,200, clocking 4:20.36 and 9:29.73. Fellow senior Jackson Moran was second in the 1,600 in 4:22.75 and third in the 3,200 in 9:37.88 for the Broncos, with both athletes also contributing to a runner-up finish in the 4x800 relay in 7:59.76.

Sandra Day O’Connor senior Aiden Harvey won the 100-meter final in a wind-aided 10.48, the best all-conditions mark in the state this season, and added a victory in the 200 in 21.51.

Yan Vazquez, a junior at Red Mountain, won the 300 hurdles in 36.68, No. 5 all-time in state history, and the Mountain Lions also won the 4x800 relay in 7:54.03.

Basha senior Jacob Kauffman cleared a personal-best 16-7 (5.05m) to equal the state lead in the pole vault, with Westwood senior Jeremiah Reed emerging victorious in the long jump with a 22-8 (6.90m) effort.

Valley Vista senior twin brothers Trenton Givens and Tyson Givens took the top two spots in the 110 hurdles in 13.95 and 13.99.

Hamilton senior Cade Russo prevailed in the 800 in 1:54.64 and sophomore teammate Rachana Men cleared 6-5 (1.95m) to emerge victorious in the high jump final.

Shadow Ridge junior Jake Railey triumphed in the javelin with a throw of 191-10 (58.47m), along with finishing third in the shot put at 52-4.50 (15.96m) as well as the discus with a 150-7 (45.89m) effort.

Division 2 - Perry High

Following the graduation of Dominique Mustin and Jadyn Mays, Joy Moorer emerged as the new star for North Canyon, leading the Rattlers to a fourth consecutive championship with 90 points, ahead of Williams Field with 80.

Dayton Carlson was the catalyst for Casteel to secure its first team title following a runner-up finish in 2019, as the Colts also took second in all three relays to accumulate 121 points, with Desert Mountain finishing second at 45.

Moorer ran the second-fastest 300-meter hurdles in Arizona prep history, clocking 41.69 seconds, trailing only the 2019 mark of 41.38 produced by Ma’Kayla Dickerson of Betty H. Fairfax. She also prevailed on the final attempt of the long jump competition with a lifetime-best 19-1 (5.81m).

Moorer placed second in the 100 hurdles in 14.42, but suffered a quadriceps injury in the 200 and was unable to finish.

Ella Escobar, a Liberty transfer, won the 100-meter dash in a wind-aided 12.05 for North Canyon, in addition to contributing to a victory in the 4x400 relay in 3:52.98 to secure the team title.

Williams Field was led by sophomore Saira Prince, who won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.25, and took second to Moorer in the 300 hurdles final in 43.93.

Agua Fria sisters Stacey Onyepunuka, a freshman, and Sabatiney Onyepunuka, a sophomore, accounted for all 44 team points in the 100, 200 and 400.

Stacey Onyepunuka won the 200 (24.20) and 400 (55.15), along with taking third in the 100 in 12.10. Sabatiney Onyepunuka finished second in the 200 (24.85), as well as fourth in the 100 (12.12) and the 400 (57.63).

Cactus Shadows sophomore Gloriah Hussey, who took second to Moorer in the long jump with a leap 18-4.75 (5.60m) on her final attempt, won the triple jump with a personal-best 37-0.75 (11.29m) and cleared 5-4 (1.62m) on her first opportunity to capture the high jump as well. Hussey also took sixth in the 100 hurdles in 15.64.

Taylor McCue, a sophomore at Catalina Foothills, won the 1,600 in 5:01.16 and the 3,200 in 11:03.11, along with placing sixth in the 800 in 2:21.94.

Sunrise Mountain junior Kaitlyn Kaye triumphed in the 800 in 2:17.18, was second in the 1,600 in 5:05.04 and finished fifth in the 3,200 in 11:16.97.

Desert Mountain prevailed in the 4x800 relay in 9:40.14.

Casteel had a pair of champions, including the 4x100 relay in 47.60, along with Olivia Dillon clearing a personal-best 11-3 (3.42m) on her first try to edge Karli Neff of Cactus Shadows on fewer attempts.

After finishing second in the shot put competition with a mark of 35-10 (10.92m), Verrado junior Harlie Medrano emerged victorious in an dramatic discus final that saw her tie with Campo Verde senior Gracie Norburg at 120-5 (36.70m), only to secure the title based on a better second throw in the competition.

Greenway senior Bridget Mullings won the shot put championship with a 37-0.50 (11.29m).

Cienega sophomore Aislin Martinez-Pompa produced a throw of 130-6 (39.77m) to win the javelin title.

Carlson swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 championships for Casteel, clocking 1:52.43, 4:08.07 and 9:13.82, with teammate Joseph Meagher placing second in the 800 in 1:55.81.

The Colts also received victories from Jayce Knutsen in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 175 feet (53.34m) and Dallin Clark in the pole vault with a 13-6 (4.11m) clearance, along with taking second in the 4x800 relay in 7:59.59, with Millennium capturing the title in 7:55.66.

Desert Mountain was led by Quinton Patterson, who earned the long jump title with a wind-aided leap of 23-5 (7.13m), and high jump champion Eli Mackowski and his 6-4 (1.93m) clearance. Patterson also placed second in the triple jump at 44-9.25 (13.64m) and third in the 400 in 48.92.

Centennial senior Dominick Brister doubled in the 100 in 10.60 and the 200 in 21.54, running the latter into a headwind after clocking 21.25 in the prelims.

Sam Halaufia of Mountain View Marana, a junior, triumphed in the shot put with a mark of 52-4.50 (15.96m) and the discus with a winning throw of 160-2 (48.81m).

Horizon senior Donovan Castillo edged Millennium junior Jaedyn Carpenter, anchor on the victorious 4x800 relay, by a 48.17 to 48.27 margin. Castillo also guided Horizon to the 4x400 crown in 3:18.30.

Sunrise Mountain junior Malachi Marshall produced a personal-best 45-5 (13.84m) to capture the triple jump crown and finished second in the long jump with a wind-legal 22-9 (6.93m) effort.

In one of the most thrilling finishes of the final day of competition, Canyon del Oro senior Ethan Seppala prevailed in the 300 hurdles in 38.32, surviving a courageous dive at the line by Horizon senior Javon Burton (38.38).

Desert Edge junior Amir Smith captured the 110 hurdles title in 15.03, with Buckeye Union securing the 4x100 championship in 41.61.

Division 3 - Desert Vista High

Snowflake swept both titles for the first time since 2017, with the girls capturing their third consecutive championship with 125 points, ahead of runner-up Sabino with 102.

After being edged by Safford by a two-point margin in 2019, the Lobos secured the boys crown with 77 and second-place American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) had 62 points.

Snowflake won the girls 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays in 49.68, 4:05.95 and 9:08.48, and received one additional victory from senior Reagan Olson, who secured her third career triple jump title with a fifth-round effort of 37-5.50 (11.41m). Olson also anchored the 4x100 relay for the Lobos.

Sabino, which had only five athletes score, relied on the exceptional efforts of junior Eva Bruce and senior Jade Kwinn, who combined for 66 points.

Bruce was the only athlete in any division to win four individual titles, securing victories in the 100 in 12.39, the 200 in 24.81, the 300 hurdles in 44.04 and the long jump with a leap of 18-3.50 (5.57m).

Kwinn won the javelin with a division record, equaling the Arizona No. 2 all-time mark at 151-6 (46.17m), along with prevailing in the shot put with a personal-best 40-6 (12.34m) and finishing third in the triple jump at 34-9.50 (10.60m), trailing Olson and teammate Azariah Foster, who achieved an effort of 36-4.25 (11.08m) and also took second in the long jump at 17-8.50 (5.39m).

Sophomore Emerald Kwinn, Jade’s sister, was second in the shot put at 38-4.75 (11.70m) and discus at 116-3 (35.43m).

Salpointe Catholic was third with 95 points, behind the performances of sophomore Kylie Wild, who won the 1,600 (5:02.43) and 3,200 (11:02.61), took third in the 800 (2:03.25), and anchored the 4x800 relay to a runner-up finish in 9:54.63.

American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) was fourth with 71 points, with senior Kylie Bishop edging Salpointe Catholic junior Paris Mikinski in the high jump competition after both athletes cleared 5-6 (1.67m).

Bishop, the state leader at 5-8 (1.72), had to leave during the middle of the competition to run the 4x100 relay, only to return and execute a clutch jump at 5-4 (1.62m) to extend the final. She cleared 5-6 on her first try and Mikinski made it on her third opportunity, which decided the outcome, once both athletes missed at 5-8.

Remy Romney also captured a title for the Patriots in the 100 hurdles in 15.08, in addition to placing second in the 300 hurdles in 45.22.

Payson senior Faith Haught produced a personal-best 123-7 (37.66m) to triumph in the discus.

Coconino sophomore Cathron Donaldson won the 400 in 57.22 and took second in the 800 in 2:22.85, trailing Gilbert Christian freshman Ryley Nelson in 2:18.70.

Mingus Union junior Brooke Peterson prevailed in the pole vault with a 10-foot clearance (3.04m).

The only title secured by Snowflake in the boys competition was the 4x800 relay in 8:05.36.

Logan Hubler contributed significant points for American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) by winning the 110 hurdles in 14.49 and the 300 hurdles in 38.18, in addition to contributing to a victory in the 4x400 relay in 3:23.48 and a fifth-place finish in the 4x100 in 43.33.

American Leadership Academy (Gilbert North) won the 4x100 title in 42.28.

Marcos de Niza senior Tyrik Jones doubled in the 100 (10.62) and 200 (21.85), in addition to helping the Padres place second in the 4x100 in 42.66.

Coconino senior Grant Hagaman cleared 16 feet (4.87m) to capture the pole vault championship, with Shadow Mountain senior Ryan Moore clearing 6-5 (1.95m) to prevail in the high jump.

Combs took the top two spots in the boys shot put, with Bubba Taunima producing a mark of 52-5.75 (15.99m) and Brodee Tucker achieving a personal-best 48-4.50 (14.74m). Taunima also finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 133 feet (40.53m).

Show Low senior Nathan Jones, who was fourth in the shot put at 47-8.75 (14.94m), won the discus with a lifetime-best 137-7 (41.93m).

Mack Molander, a sophomore at Eastmark, won the javelin title with a throw of 188-2 (57.35m).

Peoria junior Isaac Moreno improved by more than a foot to win the long jump crown with a leap of 22-3.50 (6.79m) and placed third in the triple jump at 45-1.75 (13.76m).

Coronado senior Daijon Safford won the triple jump with a 45-6.75 (13.88m) performance, ahead of Peoria senior Terrion Amicks at 45-3.75 (13.81m).

Odyssey senior Joshua Landers edged St. Mary’s Catholic senior Pierce Vittone by a 49.46 to 49.55 margin in the 400. Vittone prevailed in the 800 in 1:55.41, in addition to helping the Knights secure third in the 4x400 (3:30.07) and 4x800 (8:13.85).

Gilbert Olivas of Cactus won the 1,600 in a program-record 4:16.06, with Abraham Valenzuela of Palo Verde clocking 9:15.09 to triumph in the 3,200.

Division 4 - Perry High

The Valley Christian boys captured their third straight title with 81 points, ahead of runner-up Arizona Lutheran with 58 points.

After winning 15 consecutive Class 2A championships from 1996-2010, Valley Christian finally secured its first girls crown in more than a decade, edging St. Johns by an 86-83 margin.

St. Johns finished second in the 4x400 relay and Valley Christian was sixth to close the final margin of victory.

Valley Christian received only one victory in the boys competition, but it was one of the most impressive performances as junior Logan Kelley cleared 16 feet (4.87m) in the pole vault.

Arizona Lutheran was led by junior Jackson Schaumberg, who prevailed in the 400 in 49.08 and helped the 4x100 relay secure victory in 44.68.

North Phoenix Prep senior Richie Johnston captured the 800 in 2:01.21 and 1,600 in 4:29.55, along with contributing to the 4x800 triumph in 8:21.66.

Trivium Prep senior John Jeanisse swept the sprints, winning the 100 in 11.02 and 200 in 21.96. The Knights also won the 4x400 in 3:25.89.

Tempe Prep senior Louis Ternyk secured the javelin title with a throw of 148-5 (45.23m), in addition to taking the 110 hurdles in 15.66.

Mogollon senior Jayk Kelton doubled up in the long jump at 22-2 (6.75m) and triple jump with a mark of 44-4.25 (13.51m).

St. Johns had a pair of individual winners, with Preston Wilson clearing 6-8 (2.03m) in the high jump and fellow senior Nicholas Patterson producing a mark of 50-7.50 (15.43m) in the shot put.

After finishing second in the 1,600 in 4:31.58, junior Shota Yabuuchi of Sedona Red Rock earned a thrilling victory in the 3,200 over Northwest Christian’s Luke Poarch by a 9:43.75 to 9:43.80 margin.

Gilbert Classical Academy senior Hyrum Sawyer rebounded from an eighth-place finish in the 110 hurdles, after entering the final as the top seed, by winning the 300 hurdles in 40.73.

Northwest Christian senior Alex Hernandez emerged victorious in the discus competition with a throw of 140 feet (42.67m).

Valley Christian had a much stronger presence in the girls finals and needed every person to deliver in order to hold off St. Johns.

Riley Brown, a junior, won the 100 in 12.71 and the 200 in 26.46, along with contributing to the 4x100 victory for the Trojans in 50.74.

Senior Rebecca Smith, the only female pole vaulter in the state to clear 13 feet all season, secured the title with a 12-9 (3.88m) effort.

Emma Richardson, also a senior, added another championship for Valley Christian in the javelin with a throw of 106-6 (32.46m).

Northland Prep was third in the girls competition with 66 points, in large part to the performances of junior Sydney Sventek, who won the 100 hurdles in 16.09, the 300 hurdles in 47.91 and the long jump at 17-9 (5.41m), along with being a member of the victorious 4x400 lineup in 4:10.71.

Phoenix Country Day took fourth with 51 points, with 30 coming from freshman Kimi Cahoon, who tripled in the 800 (2:25.28), 1,600 (5:22.25) and 3,200 (11:20.78), in addition to contributing to another 10 points with a victory in the 4x800 relay in 10:03.36.

Mogollon senior Isabella Horn won the triple jump with a mark of 35-2.50 (10.73m) and high jump with a 5-4 (1.62m) clearance.

Glendale Prep sophomore Zoe Rich was second to Brown in the 200 in 26.98 and won the 400 in 59.54.

Grand Canyon senior Alana Keebahe captured the shot put with a 33-2.50 (10.12m) effort and Ashlee Bueler of Camp Verde, also a senior, won the discus title with a throw of 101-4 (30.88m).

Team Champions

Division 1 - Chandler boys 84 points, Chandler girls 154.50 points  RESULTS

Division 2 - Casteel boys 121 points, North Canyon girls 90 points  RESULTS

Division 3 - Snowflake boys 77 points, Snowflake girls 125 points  RESULTS

Division 4 - Valley Christian boys 81 points, Valley Christian girls 86 points  RESULTS