By Kimbery and Coach Todd
Girls 100 Hurdle Preview:
Leah Steyer (Hamilton, 2011) is the first of our returners who has run under 15 in the 100 hurdles. She finished last season in the number three spot at the 5A I State Meet with a time of 15.08, however her personal best cam last during the Fiesta Regional Championships where she ran 14.92 placing a very close 2nd to another of our top returners.
Sherrelle Jordan (Chandler, 2013) lands the number four spot after having a very good freshman season last year. She finished the season with a 15.35 at the 5A I state meet. She continued running over the summer where she ran 14.70 during the prelims at the USATF Region X Championships. This year she has already run 8.99 in the 60 meter hurdles during the indoor season.
Jaide Stepter (CDO, 2012) is the returning 4A I State Champion. Last year she finished the high school season with a personal best of 14.70, she went on to compete over the summer where she finished 10th in the USATF Junior Olympic Championships.
Cadija Harris (Chandler, 2011) is the number two returner after missing most of the season with following knee surgery. She ran in one meet during the regular track season (North Canyon Invitational) before her return over the summer where she ran 14.68 at the USATF Region X Championships.
Alexis Clay (Chandler, 2011) Our top returner finished last season in the number two spot behind Tucson’s Christine Clark of with a time of 14.61. As with many of our other top returners she continued to run over the summer where she ran her personal best time of 14.50 at the USATF Region Championships where she finished in first place.
This could be one of the hottest contended events with all the top returners running under 14 seconds last year and a handful of athletes under 15.4 as well.
Others to watch: Brittney Marshall (Washington, 2011), Julia Kline (Desert Vista, 2011), Megan Benson (Corona del Sol, 2012), Braly Torey (Mingus, 2012), and Makaila Flannigan (Chandler, 2013), Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, 2014)
Boys 110 Hurdle Preview:
Michael Thomas (Desert Edge, 2011) can be found just about anywhere around the track because he competes in the Decathlon which means he can due multiple events. He lands the number five spot on our returning boys in the 100 hurdles with personal best of 14.76 at the Wolves Classic last year.
Matt Smith (Desert Vista, 2012) drops into the number four position. He placed 7th in the 5A I State meet last year with a time of 15.03, but his personal best of 14.75 came during the 5A Fiesta Regional Championships.
Nick Siefker (Corona, 2011) is the number three returner for the boys with a personal best of 14.75 which he ran during the 5A Central Regional Championships.
Devin Centers (Chandler, 2012) finished last season in the number four spot at the 5A I State Meet with a time of 14.82. His best time of 14.67 came last year during at the 5A Fiesta Championships where he finished in third.
Cameron Taylor (Westwood, 2011) is no surprise here, the top returner in the 110 hurdles. With a personal best of 13.90 look for the 5A I State Champion to push the state record before the end of the season.
Others to watch: Erwin Jones (Shadow Mountain, 2011), Jacob Rawlins (Snowflake, 2011), Michael Kiene (Mesa Mountain View, 2011) Paul Perkins (Chandler, 2012), and Caleb Fraley (Valley Christian, 2011), Tevin Mayfield (Corona del Sol, 2014)