Athletes to Watch
Match Ups to Watch
Heat Sheets
Schedule and Information
Maya Smith (Distance): After winning the state title in cross country last fall Maya hasn't skipped a beat so far this spring. Her coach callers her a “renaissance girl." While it may not be the intended outcome of the nickname, Maya is skilled at both middle and long distance events. The question isn't if the freshman will score big points for Northland Prep, but how many points she will put up before the end of the weekend. Her point tally will be important as Northland Prep hopes to be the David to Scottsdale Preps Goliath.
Skylar Cavanaugh (pole vault): After, finishing 12th as freshman, not being able to compete at the state meet two years ago and placing thurd last year Skylar is ready to win it all as a senior. She leads the division 4 state meet by a full foot going into the her final state meet. She has competed well this season, placing in large meets against top tier competition like the Chandler Rotary. Outside of Chandler and only two other meets where she faced big school competition, Skylar is undefeated on the season. The experience of big school competition and large invitational should serve as an advantage. It will be a big upset if she does not win.
Treyshon Malone (200m, Hurdles, LJ): Treyshon Malone is what you call dominate in speed and power events. His marks lead D4 in the long jump, hurdles and 200m dash. It is very possible that you see him put up 40 points for Yuma Catholic all by himself. I am not sure I can think of a better way to go out as a senior than by winning 4 events at state. I hope the Yuma Community College recruit runs at the meet of champions since it would be interesting to see how he fares against oppoents from D1 and D2.
Logan Pinkerton (1600m, 800m): Like Treyshon he will be a favorite every time he steps on the track for an individual event. Logan owns top times on the season in the 400m-3200m. At state, however, he will only run the 800m and 1600m for open races. His 800m time is so strong that it would make him competitive even in division 1. His mile time also is the class of the division 4 field. Look for him to win easily. Like Treyshon, it will almost be more interesting to see him compete at the Meet of Champions since that field will offer a greater challenge.
Rachel Matsumoto vs. Shea Jackson vs Amber Miller (800m): Everyone has their biases and I admit mine is the 800m. I love to see 800m heat sheets with times of several runners within a few ticks of each other. The 800m is a very unique event. As really anything can happen. The division 4 race might not be as fast as the division 1 girls, but it should be every bit as entertaining if not more so with the top six girls seeded within a few seconds of each other.
Kelby Brown vs Morgan Nelson (100m): Morgan Nelson is the defending champion and ahead of where she was this time last year. While softball is her first love, she enjoys getting to run for the track team as well. The points that she scores will be vital if Scottsdale Prep is going to hold off Northland Prep and repeat. Kelby has the fastest D4 time on the season so far. She also underperformed last year at state judging by her finishes in prelims and will by hungry to rectify that situation.
Cooper Fielder vs Ben Hall (3200m): It appears Ben Hall has taken a gigantic leap forward after last falls cross country season where he placed 63rd at the state cross country meet. Can he continue his ascension? Well he has the fastest time going into state. Cooper Fielder has also improved by leaps and bounds and is a close second in the seed times. Look for the two of them to battle it out. Adam Wong and Hayden Shelly should figure into the race, they were both top placers in cross country.
Lane Lunt vs Weston Wright (discus): Growing up I went to a small school. We knew that most of the good throwers came from the country. I am not sure if it was working on farms and ranches or what, but they always seemed to beat the city folks in the throws. Lane Hunt comes from rural Pima Arizona. Weston Hunt on the other hand comes from Scottsdale Prep HS. He is a city boy who is looking to buck the trend. Weston comes in having thrown two feet less than Lane on the year, but anyone who knows much about the discus knows that's not a lot of ground to make up. Who can toss it further? Wait and watch this weekend.