Star duo helps Salpointe run away with team title

Any team that wanted a shot at the Division II track and field title Saturday, had two very big problems on their hands: Alyssa Thompson and Michaela Crunkleton Wilson.

The senior duo cleaned up at Day 2 of the Division II state meet, earning 70 points combined, and helping Tucson Salpointe Catholic defend its team title with 88 points at Mesa Community College.

Tempe was second with 43 points and Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge was third with 37.5 points.

Thompson won the long jump and both the 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles Saturday. She took home the triple jump title earlier in this week. The senior shaved twotenths of a second off of her 100 hurdle time Saturday and knocked off top-seeded Rachel Jones of Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, winning in 14.78 seconds.

“I was pretty nervous, but I was ready to go,” she said.

The Wake Forest University commit won the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 3 inches. She turned in the second fastest time in Arizona history in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 42.55.

“Alot of things just came together and I’ve been waiting to have a big day like this so here it is,” Thompson said.

Crunkleton Wilson, the defending champion in the 100 and 200, swept the sprints, taking home titles in the 100 (11.89), 200 (24.47) and 400 (55.41).

“This really shows that hard work pays off,” Crunkleton Wilson said.

The junior said she still struggles with nerves at big meets but goes into autopilot at the starting line.

“Honestly, I don’t really think. I just kind of do what I need to do,” Crunkleton Wilson said. “Practicing is for practice and racing is for meets.”

Flagstaff’s Tatiana Gillick dominated the long distance races, winning the 3,200 meters (11:08.95). She won the 1,600 meters earlier this week and was the leadoff leg of Flagstaff’s winning 4x800 relay. Gillick, Rae Johnson, Fiona Nicholson and Alix Manci, finished in 9:34.69.