Veterans, newcomers shine at D-II girls track meet

• Flagstaff's Tatiana Gillick defended her title in the 1,600 meters.
• Alexis Center of South Mountain won the 100 metersand also took home the 200-meter crown.
• Buckeye Youngker took home titles in the 300-meter hurdles and 400 meters.
• Brielle Sterns of Tucson Sahuaro won the 100-meter hurdles.

Defending champion Tatiana Gillick of Flagstaff was feeling the pain during the 1,600 meter race at Day 2 of the Division II girls track and field championships at Mesa Community College on Saturday.

"On the last lap, I was just ready for it to be over," Gillick said. "The only way I knew to make that happen was to go faster."

Gillick turned up the heat on the back stretch, passing Tucson Canyon del Oro's Bridgette Doucet for the lead and fighting to a first-place finish in 4 minutes, 59.11 seconds.

Gillick also won a repeat title the 3,200 meters on Day 1 of the meet. Saturday's win marked her ninth track title of her career.

In the team competition, Tucson Catalina Foothills edged out Glendale Cactus, winning the team competition with 56 points after taking home just two gold medals. Cactus was the runner-up with 47 points, and Buckeye Youngker had 45 points.

Sophomore Alexis Center of South Mountain was another multiple title winner Saturday. She won the 100 meters in 11.99 seconds and also took home the 200 meter crown with a time of 25.34 seconds. Center was second in the 100 meters and fourth in the 200 meters as a freshman.

Youngker took home titles in the 300-meter hurdles and 400 meters. Alanisse Williams won the 300-meter hurdles in 45.40 seconds, and Courtnee Oglesby won the 400 meters in 56.79 seconds. The team also took home the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:58.73.

Freshman Brielle Sterns of Tucson Sahuaro won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15 seconds. The freshman was six-tenths of a second ahead of the field. She was fourth in the 300 meter hurdles.

Catalina Foothill's Katie Izzo won the 800 meters in a time of 2:14.73. The championship team also won the 4x800 meter relay on Friday.

In the field events, Glendale Raymond Kellis junior Jessica Shinkle won the shot put title with a distance of 41 feet, 10 inches. Higley's Darreyl Woodson the triple jump at 38-06.75.

Flagstaff's Tatiana Gillick defended her title in the 1,600 meters.

Alexis Center of South Mountain won the 100 metersand also took home the 200-meter crown.

Buckeye Youngker took home titles in the 300-meter hurdles and 400 meters.

Brielle Sterns of Tucson Sahuaro won the 100-meter hurdles.