Prep track midseason update following districts
Who helped themselves Tuesday, who around the area has qualified for state so far
This year marked the first since 2013 that the district track meet used a fully automatic timing system so that it could count as a state-qualifying meet.
In past recent years, district times were essentially meaningless — all that mattered was place. This year, though, kids were able to help themselves from a state standpoint.
So, who took advantage of the fact that Tuesday’s meet’s times counted for real?
Seven individuals and two relays set qualifying marks for the first time this season, while 10 individuals and one relay improved upon qualifying marks they’d already set.
Yuma High senior boys sprinter Tevon Pauldon was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the meet. After posting an 11.9 100-meter time in the Criminals’ only previous qualifier, Pauldon dropped all the way down to an 11.18 in winning Tuesday’s 100. That’s an automatic-qualifying time in Division III, and he also became a provisional qualifier in the 200 meters with a firstplace time of 22.97 — less than one-tenth of a second off of automatic-qualifying status.
Gila Ridge senior Bryce Hill was another athlete who improved their statequalifying standing in two events, achieving Division II provisional status in the boys long jump (2nd at 212.5, a PR) and improving his provisional mark in the high jump (1st at 6-0, also a PR).
Three other Hawks also became first-time Division II provisional qualifiers by setting personal-bests in an event — juniors Leialoha Renaud (2nd at 16.69) and Faith Lopez (3rd at 17.1) in the girls 100-meter hurdles, and freshman Molly Sims (2nd at 8-0) in the girls pole vault. Senior boys thrower Rafael Duarte, meanwhile, went from a provisional qualifier in the shot put at 46-2 to an automatic qualifier at 47-8.5 (PR by a foot).
Improving upon previous provisional marks for the Hawks, senior Ryleigh North went from 21-6 to 219.75 in the boys long jump and senior Savannah Stewart went from 32-10 to 33-7.5 in the girls shot put.
For Cibola, senior Mori Gordon provisionally qualified in the girls 100 meters (2nd at 12.56, a PR) and junior Rylee Lakey provisionally qualified in the girls high jump (3rd at 4-10), while senior Jake Smith improved his provisional mark in the 3,200 meters (1st at 9:41.72, a PR) and senior Levi Galvan improved his in the shot put (2nd at 45-10, a PR).
Tuesday just about marked the halfway point of the 2018 track season, with six of the seven local programs — including Yuma Catholic and San Pasqual, which were not a part of the YUHSD meet — having either three or four AIA qualifiers remaining.
With that, here is a midseason updated on each of the seven local programs:
• Boys: The Hawks appear to have a trio of Division II individual state title contenders judging by the season’s first half. Currently, senior Daniel Marquez is ranked No. 1 in the 1,600 meters, senior Ryleigh North is tied-forsecond in the triple jump and senior Cody Hartman is No. 4 in the 800 meters.
Marquez set a new school record in the 3200 (9:54.54) Saturday at the Nike Chandler Rotary, and two weeks ago ran a 1,600-meter time of 4:32.82 (No. 8 in Div. II) at the Rattler Booster Invite.
Marquez (1600m, 3200m), Hartman (800m, 1600m), North (long jump, triple jump) and the aforementioned Rafael Duarte (shot put, discus) and Bryce Hill (high jump, long jump) all have at least provisionally qualified in two individual events, while senior Tristan Worthen (3200m) has in one.
The Hawks are also currently ranked No. 4 in the 800-meter relay, and have a provisional-qualifying time in the 4x4.
• Girls: Junior Mia Corners has already automatically qualified for the Division II state meet in the 100 meters (ranked No. 3), the 200 meters (No. 10), the long jump (No. 3) and the triple jump (No. 1). She set a school-record triple-jump mark of 38-1.5 Saturday at the Nike Chandler Rotary, and season-best marks in her other three events Tuesday at districts.
The aforementioned Savannah Stewart also broke a school record earlier this season, throwing a 123-1 in the discus at the Husky