Whitaker Comes Out On Top For Hamilton
Last year, Hamilton's Malik Whitaker (Sr.) claimed his State Title in the D1 Boys' High Jump and tied the Hamilton school record of 6 feet 6 inches. On Thursday evening at the Brophy Sports Complex, Whitaker cleared 6-8 for a new lifetime best and school record. "To beat the school record that I was recently tied with, was an amazing experience," says Whitaker. "When I cleared every height the first time, I knew that it was going to be a good day to try and beat the 6-8 mark." Whitaker's victory spearheaded the Hamilton Huskies early on that afternoon and they would keep that momentum throughout the meet.
On the Girls' side, Jada Sims (Xavier College Prep, Sr.) tied the meet record of 5-08 set by Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, '13) just six years ago. "I focus a lot on my approach and on staying taller," said Sims with respect to her victories in the Girls' High Jump and High Hurdles. Moore's former coach Tim O'Neil, a former decathlete himself, is now helping the Brophy and Xavier track and field teams. "He's been really helpful," said Sims. "I'll be doing the heptathlon this year and he's gonna' work with me to help me get stronger in all of the events."
Rylee Perkins (Centennial, Jr.) and Nicolas Nesbitt (Chandler, So.) clinched victories in their respective Girls' and Boys' Long Jump contest by almost a foot each, while Jacob Myles (Boulder Creek, Sr.) and Kimarah Holt (Chandler, So.) won the Triple Jump contests.
Chandler's Makayla Hunter and Ciera Jackson clinched victories in the Girls' Shot Put and Discus respectively. On the boys' side, Andrew Menlove (Jr.) won the boys' discus competition but Uriel Hernandez (North Canyon, Sr.) interrupted the Wolfpack blue wave with a PR toss of 50-05 to clinch the victory in the Boys' Shot Put.
On the girls' side of the throws, Chandler teammates Ciera Jackson (Jr.) and Makayla Hunter (Sr.) won the Girls' Discus and Shot-Put contests respectively, while taken 2nd in the opposite events.