Friday evening the 1A and 3A Arizona State meet got underway with the 3A boys 4x800 meter relay. Tuba City junior Ryan Yazzie (photo below) anchored the winning 4x800 for a time of 8:08.83. Chino Valley took second in 8:15.96.
Yazzie had an incredible weekend as he went on to win three more state titles. Later Friday evening he won the 3200 in 9:28.89 then came back Saturday to win the 1600 in 4:20.94 and the 800 in 1:57.91.
Saturday the Blue Ridge girls took the State Title with a time of 9:48.61over Chino Valley who posted a time of 9:57.86. Blue Ridge senior Jessica Rydberg ran a leg of the 4x800 and later won the 3200 meter run in 10:32.23 setting a new conference and meet record, shattering the previous record set in 2005 by then junior Kari Hardt of Queen Creek. Rydberg holds the number two spot on the Arizona leader board in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs but her 3200 State Meet time has moved her to US #16.
On Friday, Rydberg (photo: left) also broke Hardt's 1600 meter record of 5:03.58, running a 4:58.34. Rydberg was pressed the first two laps by freshman Rolonda Jumbo of Chinle. Jumbo tried to pass Rydberg after the first lap but Jessica was not going to allow it. "I was expecting her (Jumbo) to come out fast because of her 3200 at Chandler Rotary and her 1600 at Winslow. I was trying to stay in front of her to stay out of the way of her great kick," said a very happy Rydberg after the race." During the third lap Rydberg started her own kick and put some distance between herself and Jumbo. Later during the meet Rydberg took second in the 800, running a 2:22.65.
The 4x800 anchor, Senior Emerald Raney set a new meet record by winning the 800 meter run in 2:15.42. Her new time moves her to the #3 sport on the Arizona leader board.
Senior Matt Boyd (photo right) from Blue Ridge won two State Titles, both in the hurdles. Boyd ran a 14.55 in the 110 hurdles and a 38.56 in the 300 hurdles.
Alchesay junior Marie Lupe (photo left) had a memorable State Meet weekend winning three events. Lupe won both the 100 meter hurdles (16.28) and the 300 meter hurdles (45.98). She also won the Triple Jump, jumping to a 34-11.50.
Freshman, Jasmine Pratt (photo right) from Estrella Foothills took home two state titles, winning the 100 meter dash in 12.67 and the 200 dash in 25.53.
Tevin Renfro (Jr., Wilson) won both the high jump (6-04.00) and the triple jump (44-02.50).
Alex Smyth (Sr., Fountain Hills) won the boys discus throw (157-06) and the shot put (41-02.00)
Other State Champions:
Boys:
Matt Reidhead (Sr., Snowflake) ran an 11.02 in the 100 meter dash.
Justin Butler (Sr., Show Low) ran the 400 meter dash in 49.65
Harrison Ware (Sr., Empire) ran the 200 Dash in 22.55
Stacey Berg (Sr., Winslow) jumped 22-6.25 in the long jump
Keevan Schimmel (Jr., Blue Ridge) won the pole vault with a height of 14-03.00
Girls:
Allie Haskell (So., Empire) ran the 400 dash in 58.41
In the high jump Maddie Nossek (Jr., Payson) jumped 5-01.00
Ciera Holston (Fr., Safford) jumped 16-08.00 in the long jump
Pole Vault Rebecca Brewer (Jr., Show Low) 9-09.00
Discus Annete Hopkins (Sr., Safford) threw the discus 104-11
Kayla Morgan (Sr., Payson) won the shot put with a throw of 35-08.75
Relays:
Estrella Foothills boys won the 4x100 in 43.38
Chino Valley girls won the 4x100 in 51.51
Estrella Foothill girls won the 4x400 in 4:05.08
Snowflake boys won the 4x400 in 3:24.42