Perfect weather and fast times made the Meet of Champions a memorable event.
The Meet of Champions was sponsored by Dick's sporting goods. Every Meet of Champion winner won a $25 gift certificate; 2nd place received $15 and 3rd place received $10.
Meet of Champion Winners
Brian Shrader (Jr., Flagstaff) moved right to the front at the start of the pack with Jose Joe Munoz (Rio Rico) on his shoulder. The group came through the first lap in 62 seconds and 2:06 at the 800. With 300 meters to go senior Jon Brown from Highland made a move to catch Shrader coming up on his right with 60 meters to go. Shrader pushed harder and finished the race with a new PR of 4:12.07.
Brown was very pleased with his 7 second PR of 4:12.47.
Ryan Yazzie (Tuba City) took 3rd with a PR of his own (4:16.71).
"Coming into MOC I knew I should have PR'd really big based on my physical fitness. However the week leading up to the race I just wasn't feeling as sharp as I usually do. But I still managed to get about a 1 second PR which is always great to do. Jon Brown and Ryan Yazzie ran terrific PR's and everyone else ran extremely well too!" said Shrader after the race, " Running in MOC is always a really enjoyable meet for me. It's really relaxed, fun, and fast! It's a little disappointing how it's not as big as it should be. I think the meet should be a focus point for Arizona athletes in the future. It's a chance to see where you stack up against other divisions and race people you wouldn't other wise be able to. With the athletes who showed up you saw huge PR's and fast times. Just imagine what times and marks we could see if we truly got the best to compete against the best."
Andrea Klimowski (Northland Prep) finished the 1600 meter run in 5:22.53.
The lead went back and fourth during the 4 laps, between Klimowski and Notre Dame Prep runner Marcela Cartledge. The final stretch went stride for stride for the two with Klimoski getting the edge on Cartledge (5:22.57)
Johnson Shauntrell from Coronado (in red) won the 100 meter dash in 12.62. Mountain Pointe junior Charae Trotter took second in 12.91.
Charae Trotter won the 200 meter dash in 25.65.
Isiah Underwood (far left from Ironwood) won the 100 meter dash in 10.98, Dmitri Holman (far right, Centennial) took 2nd in 11.19 and Boulder Creek Mike McGrew came in 3rd in 11.55.
Dmitri Holman (center; Centennial) won the 200 meter dash in 22.86. On the left is second place Mike McGrew from Boulder Creek (22.92 and in third (far right) Paul Provost from Sandra Day O'Connor.
400 Meter Dash champion Romero Elizabeth (Center; Sunnyside) won the 400 meter dash in 59.39. Michelle Kreutzberg (far left; Desert Mountain) took 2nd in 59.30 and Casey Grant from Estrella Foothills (far right) placed 3rd in 1:00.36
Justin Butler (center; Show Low) won the 400 meter dash in 49.49. Nathan Bolivar (far left; Apollo) took 2nd in 50.79 and DeMarcus Ogbonna (far right; Desert Edge) finished 3rd in 51.79
Chloe Philips (far left; Flagstaff) led the 800 meter run right from the gun to finish in 2:11.76. Philips new PR moves her to the top of the Arizona leader board.
Kevin Rayes (right; Arcadia) hung back at the beginning of the 800 until the final 200. Pictured on right Rayes and Christopher Rutledge (left; Casa Grande) battle the last 60 meters. Rayes finished 1st in 1:52.45; Rutledge took 2nd in 1:52.50. Alex Evans (behind Rayes in photo; Sabino) came in 3rd (1:53.56)
Magda Mankel (Catalina) finished 1st in the 3200 in 11:37.15.
Billy Orman (center; Tuba City) ran a personal best of 9:16.41 in the 3200 meter run. Orman set the pace and led the entire race. Steven Gregg (left) from Sabino took second in 9:50.91 and Ryan Yazzie (right; Tuba City) finished in third (9:54.85)
Valley Christian hurdler Breanna Leslie (center) won both the 100 (15.86) and the 300 (45.80) meter hurdles. Katie Whitcombe (left; Goldwater) took second in the 300 hurdles (47.47) and Shea Grant from Estrella Foothills (right) came in third (47.80).
Santa Rita's Chris Correa (far right in green) won the 110 hurdles in 14.39. Also pictured is Hayden Conrad from Prescott who came in 4th (14.77).
Dimetrius Wilson (third from left in black, jumping over hurdle) from Millenium won the 300 hurdles in 39.20. 2nd place went to Hayden Conrad (far right in gold) from Prescott (39.41) and 3rd place went to Sam Andresen (center in blue) from Valley Christian (39.48).
High Jumper Brian McBride (center) from Sandra Day O'Connor jumped 6-08 to win the high jump event. Dylan Walashek (left) from Boulder Creek took 2nd with a 6-06 jump and Matthew Yalung (right) finished 3rd with a 6-04 jump.
Long Jumpers
Pole Vaulter Alec Hsu (center) from Desert Vista vaulted 15-7 to win the event. Walker Waldie (left) from Mesa Mountain View came in 2nd (14-7) and Christian Young (right in red; Bisbee) and Mat Vipond (far right; Hamilton) tied for 3rd place (14-7)
Langston Cavin from Mountain Ridge in the triple jump. Cavin jumped 45-08 to win the event.
Nathan Estes (left) from North won the shot put (56-08.50). Roger Dolan (left) from Boulder Creek took 2nd (52-02.50)
Brophy College Prep discus thrower threw the discus 177-02. Nathan Estes took second. The results are incorrect for Estes and as soon as they are corrected we will post them.
Shayla Simpson (Desert Vista) won the the Pole Vault by vaulting 12-01.00. 2nd place went to Sarah Hedberg from North (11-07) and 3rd went to Lacy Palmer from Westwood (11-07).
Samantha Collins (center, Westwood) jumped 18-01 to win the long jump. Amber Ying Ling from Kellis (left) came in second with a jump of 18-00 and Brianne Kee from Sunrise Mountain finished 3rd in 16-09.
Kelly Dallman from Cactus jumped 34-05 to win the triple jump. Brianne Kee (in photo on left; Sunrise Mountain) jumped 33-07 for second.
Chandler's Hannah Carson won both the shot put (40-08) and the discus throw (138-01).
Leigha Graziano from Deer Valley placed 2nd in the shot put (38-11) and 3rd in the discus throw (123-06).
Girls High Jump - Cadija Harris from Chandler won the high jump by jumping 5-04. Chantell Johnson from Desert Edge place 2nd (5-02) and Shakayla McEaddy from Catalina Foothills finished 3rd (5-02).
Sorry, I did not get a photo.