One is never enough
For most high school track and field athletes winning one team or individual state title is the culmination of years of hard work and a great reward to receive as one is leaving the high school ranks and moving on to a collegiate career. But, the North Canyon High School seniors of Jadyn Mays, Dominique Mustin, Jayde Charlton, and Delphine Dah (who unfortunately had technical difficulties and could not join us yesterday) one state title would have never been enough. In fact, these four girls were going for North Canyon's fourth straight Division 2 girls' outdoor track and field team title - a feat only done by a small group of select schools, in any division, since the late 1970s (see chart below).
Last year, in their third Division 2 Girls' team title, these four young ladies accounted for 63% of North Canyon's total team score, and these four alone would have outscored the runner-up team of Campo Verde High School by more than 20 points!
Multiple ways to beat you
All four of these girls compete in one or more of the sprint races, primarily. Jayde Charlton and Jaydn Mays run the 100 and 200, individually. Jayde, Delphine, and Dominique all run the 400, individually. Dominique moves up to run the 800 and also does the 100H (Dominique won the 400, 800, and 100H in last year's state meet). Mays also is a strong long jumper, last year taking 2nd overall at state. And the four together in the 4x400 is a sight to behold, where they already hold the state record and were looking to drop that time even lower in 2020.
That was the recurring theme throughout our 20+ minute interview together, that they were 1) hoping to quadruple-peat and defend their girls' team title and 2) also trying to lower their current state records or try to attain some more state records this year, if possible. And their early-season results showed that they were most likely, barring injuries, on their way.
True champions
Of course, there is not going to be a state meet this year and so the four-peat will have to wait for 2021, where all of them will be off and competing for their respective Division I programs across the country. But although I sensed a bit of frustration within all of them on this matter, they were true champions throughout. They were proud of what they had accomplished over the years and only wished they knew that their last meet in March (Husky Invite on March 7th) was going to be their last high school meet ever because they would, of course, have taken it much differently. This is not to say that any of them aren't diligent in their preparation and goals, but they are human like all of us - to err is human; and like many of us, these four dynamic girls were not ready for the season to end as abruptly as it did.
It was a pleasure speaking with all of them yesterday and I wish them well with all their future track and field accolades, which will be sure to follow them if they continue with the work ethic, love of the sport, and focus they all seem to possess.
Where to find these girls next year:
Jaydn Mays - University of Oregon
Delphine Dah - Utah State
Jayde Charlton - Sacramento State
Dominique Mustin - Texas A&M
Girls Arizona All-Time High School Record Lists
Arizona Girls Repeat Track & Field Team Champions (3x or more in a row)
Team Division Years Comments
| Division I and Class 5A | 2006-2019 | Runner-up in 2015 | |
| Class 5A (Div II) and Class 5A | 2005-2008 | ||
| Class 5A | 1993-1995 | ||
| Division II | 2017-2019 | ||
| Class 4A | 1995-1997 | ||
| Class 4A and Class 3A | 1977-1979; 1986-1998 | ||
| Class 3A | 1999-2001 | ||
| Class 2A | 1992-2010 | 3rd place in 1995 | |
| Class 1A and Division IV | 2005-2011 | Not top 3 in 2010 | |
| Class 1A | 1995-1997 |