From left to right: Highland junior Lainey Jones, Chandler senior Jocelyn Johnson, Chandler freshman S'Niyah Cade and Chandler sophomore Saniah Christian. All four are awaiting the final results of the Division I Girls 100m race at The 2022 AIA State Track & Field Championships at Mesa Community College.
Photo credit: David McBee/MileSplit Arizona
--
MESA, AZ. -- It's not often that a freshman leaves an indelible marks in their first season at the high school level. At 14 and 15 years old, the gaps between say, a senior who is 18, can be quite noticeable.
Chandler freshman S'Niyah Cade is an exception to this. Cade wasted no time proving her value on the prep track and field scene here in Arizona when she ran the second fastest time in the state for the 100m early on in the season, posting a 12.04 at The Arizona Open on March 11.
It was not long until she broke the 12-second barrier. A week later Cade clocked a 11.97 at the Brophy Prep AMDG Invitational -- a new state record for freshmen. The following week, Cade won the 100m and 200m at the prestigious Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational.
Cade's undefeated streak in the 100m ended up lasting the whole season all the way up to The 2022 AIA State Track & Field Championships, culminating in Cade winning the Division I crown in a time of 11.84. She barely out-leaned Mountain Pointe senior Trinity Henderson at the line in one of the best races at the state meet, who came in second at 11.85.
The lean was a savvy move, a technique that takes years of racing to hone and perfect. Well, that process gets sped up when you a have a mother who was an elite sprinter herself. Cade's mom, Keri Suell, competed at Chandler from 1999 to 2002. Suell ran 11.69 in high school, which puts her on the all-time top 10 list for the state.
Clearly, Cade takes after her mother.
Chandler freshman S'Niyah Cade (right) leans at the line in the Division I Girls 100m at The 2022 AIA State Track & Field Championships at Mesa Community College.
Photo credit: David McBee/MileSplit Arizona
--
Heading into the 200m, Cade was again the favorite. All eyes were on Cade as she led the state in the event for the whole season. Instead, for the only the third time this season, Cade was not the first to cross the finish line in a 200m race. She came in fourth place at 24.44. But despite the surprise placing, Cade remained optimistic looking ahead.
"Coming in as a freshman, I have three more years," Cade said. "So I have more time to improve myself."
Time is something she has plenty of. And speed.
As well as owning the state record in the 100m for freshmen, Cade is the sixth fastest freshmen in the 200m (24.29) -- behind some big names like North Canyon's Jadyn Mays and South Mountain's Taylor Evans.
The big question is now how fast can Cade ran? Peoria's Jessica Onyepunuka owns the overall state record at 11.31. One thing is not in question though -- Cade's tenacity on the oval.
"Like Coach Eric [Richardson] said, I'm never scared of no one," said Cade.
