Amanda Flores of Westview competes in the pole vault at the Chandler Rotary. Arizona Milesplit Photo.
The Girls' high jump is sure to impress featuring a number of girls over 5'4" including Alhambra's defending state champion Zarriea Willis (5'9") who is undefeated so far this season. Not to be overshadowed, Westwood's Jalissa Smith (5'6") and St. Mary's Quintella Johnson (5'4") have each won two invitationals this season as well. The prestigious elite section of the Chandler Rotary meet marks the only loss any of these girls has had all season as they managed to finish 1-2-3.
Amanda Flores of Westview is the favorite to win her first pole vault title of the year after clearing 10 feet at the Chandler Rotary. The 2014 state qualifier is on pace to match last year's 10'6" performance at the state finals very soon. A trio of sophomores are entered at 8'6" including Tolleson's Annie Hancock, Sedona's Alexandra Hawes and Sarah Nguyen of Prescott.
Makenna Bryce brings star power to the long jump, having soared 16'11.75' for the NPA Skydome title. You can bet that next quarter of an inch will be on her mind as well the other competitors. Daeja Delgado (16'1") of Millennium is the only other 16 foot entry but Alexia Marsh of Tolleson and Chavez's Tasia Marshall were both 2014 state qualifiers.
Marshall's best event however is the triple jump, having jumped 33'4.5" to win Gaucho Relays gold. She'll need to watch her back though, if Jalissa Smith (34'5") of Westwood recoups her 2014 form she will be very hard to beat. Allyson Henson (31'6.5") of Valley Vista will look to improve on her best jump and provide some of Marshall's stiffest competition.
Nicolette Savage (100'0") of Casa Grande was the first of our discus field to hit the 100' mark in winning the Metro Relays, but she will have plenty of competition here. Marissa Carrara (112'7") from Sedona Red Rock has the biggest throw of the field so far. Over at La Joya Brianna Villafana (92'3") is quietly emerging as one of the west side's better female discus throwers, having already added 20+ feet to last year's personal record. If that improvement continues the discus will be a three horse race.
Speaking of La Joya's throwers, Tayla Pandell (34'0") may be the most consistent shot putter around having thrown between 33 and 34 feet in every meet so far, but it's Westview's Brytany Orsund that has the farthest career throw, having reached 34'2" last year. Ruth Buchholz (31'8") of Arizona Lutheran is another thrower to watch, having qualified for the division IV state meet not only in both throws, but the high jump as well.