Arizona athletes delivered standout performances at the Arcadia Invitational, earning wins, setting state leads, and even rewriting record books. These efforts highlight the state's growing presence on one of track and field's biggest stages.
Winners
Rebekah-Jhade Garrett - 100m Hurdles Invite Champion
The rich get richer at the Arcadia Invitational, where Rebekah-Jhade Garrett continues her outstanding senior season with her 5th consecutive 100m hurdles victory. In the invitational section, Garrett ran a season's best of 13.39 (+2.1w) in her most competitive field, featuring national-caliber athletes.
Ava Davis - 200m Seeded Winner
The sophomore from Millennium, Ava Davis, continues to impress time and time again, demonstrating that she's the top 200m runner in the state. She won the 200m seeded section on Saturday to earn a new personal best of 23.76, ranking her in the top 20 for the nation. Davis is also ranked U.S. #3 among all sophomore girls.
Hamilton Girls - 4x400m Seeded Winner
The girls' seeded section 4x400m was essentially an AIA State Championship preview when Hamilton and Canyon View received the baton at the same time, going into the anchor leg. Hamilton outleaned Canyon View by 3-hundredths of a second to win the seeded section with a time of 3:50.95, earning the new Arizona lead.
New State Leaders
Malachi Joyner - Discus, 178.5
Arcadia was another great meet for Malachi Joyner in the discus, where he set a personal best of 178-5, improving from his previous best of 175-5 set at the Chandler Rotary Invitational.
Yohanes Van Meerten - 3200m, 8:43.67
In his first 3200m of the season, Yohanes Van Meerten ran 8:43.67 to shatter the Arizona state record previously held by Bernie Montoya, set at the Arcadia Invitational in 2013.
Nicole Ripperdan - 800m, 2:09.01
Nicole Ripperdan finally got her sub-2:10 during the Arcadia Invitational open session, where she ran a personal best of 2:09.01. She also ran 55.49 in the invite 400m and helped Queen Creek in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Amerah Richardson - Long Jump, 19-0
Amerah Richardson has entered the national conversation this year with a 19-0 leap in the long jump to open up her season, inching close to her 19-5 PR from last season.
Tatum Lee - Discus, 145-7
In Tatum Lee's most competitive meet of the season, she threw a personal record of 145-7 in the discus to strengthen her state lead.
Cristiano Morales - 400m, 47.68
At the Arcadia Invitational, Cristiano Morales continues to improve with a personal record of 47.68 in the 400m to tak the state lead.
Other Notable Performances
Amerah Richardson, (Arizona College Prep, 12th) | 100m - 11.88 (0.8)
Aulani Gleason, (Mesquite High School, 9th) | 400m - 54.96
Ryane Ast, (Canyon View High School, 12th) | 400m - 55.10
Imani Galera-Young, (Chandler High School, 12th) | 100mH - 13.62 (2.1)
Mark Smith, (Williams Field High School, 11th) | 100m - 10.59 (2.2)
Crew Comish, (Red Mountain High School, 11th) | 800m - 1:53.15
Symond Martin, (Page High School, 12th) | 3200m - 8:59.28
Sanel Eminovic, (Mountain Ridge High School, 12th) | 110mH - 14.20 (1.6)
Dash Wasson, (Queen Creek High School, 12th) | Pole Vault - 16-8
