What to watch for at Chandler Rotary Invitational
It’s the week of the 84th Annual Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational, where top high school track and field athletes from around Arizona converge for what’s considered the most competitive state event of the regular season. Out-of-state schools, from California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico also come, raising the level of competition. The event will be held Friday and Saturday at Chandler High School. Here are some storylines to look for:
What will Vance Nilsson do?
The Gilbert senior is ranked No. 1 in the country for the 300-meter hurdles with his time of 36.87 seconds. He wants to go even faster, putting Phoenix Brophy Preparatory Robert Grant’s 2014 state record of 36.24 in serious jeopardy of being broken. Nilsson is the top seed and has a relatively comfortable margin over the second-seeded athlete (senior Cayden Roberson, California Eastvale Roosevelt). The 110-meter state record, held by Brophy Prep’s Devon Allen at 13.50 in 2013, feels slightly safer. But Nilsson has been performing at a ridiculous level so far this season with his personal best of 13.87 and with the crowd atmosphere at Austin Field, it’s not crazy to think the record could fall.
A hurdler faceoff
The girl’s hurdles should be even more intriguing because many of the state’s top competitors all entered to race. Chandler Hamilton’s Kori Martin, a Kentucky commit, is making a run at history in the 100-meter hurdles as she tries to take down Williams Field’s Saira Prince’s record set last year (13.33). Martin is the top seed and has run the fastest time in Arizona so far in 2024 at 13.78. Waddell Canyon View senior Annaleise Taylor has broken multiple meet records this spring and competed at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston. Taylor is the second seed at 13.98. Also, watch out for Phoenix North Canyon sophomore Rebekah Jhade-Garrett.
A 3-way showdown in girl’s 100-meter
Laveen Cesar Chavez sophomore Mayen Usoro looked like the runner to beat in the 100 meters after her dominant
freshman season, but two other athletes have emerged: Avondale Agua Fria senior Stacey Onyepunuka and Chandler junior S’Niyah Cade.
This season, all are ranked in the top three with Cade at 11.87, Onyepunuka at 11.94 and Usoro at 11.95. Usoro has the fastest lifetime best out of three with her 11.54. The three are entered in the 100, setting up an epic showdown between the state’s top sprinters. Adding more intrigue to the mix is another athlete, Nevada Centennial senior Iyonna Codd, who is the top seed in the race at 11.46. Expect a very fast race.
The 200-meter race should be just as exciting with Usoro and Oynepunuka entered, as well as Codd. Gilbert Campo Verde senior Lea Spindell, a North Carolina commit, also entered in the race along with rising North Canyon freshman Devyn Henderson.
Jamar Beal-Goines looks to build
Goodyear Desert Edge junior Jamar Beal-Goines has been busy stacking up Division I football offers, but it hasn’t stopped the two-way athlete from establishing himself as the state’s fastest sprinter. Beal-Goines ran a state-leading 10.59 in the 100 last week at the Rattler Booster Invite, beating an impressive pool of competitors that included Phoenix South Mountain junior De’Mar Coleman and Goodyear Millennium senior Diego Aguirre-Stewart.
This week he’ll get another chance to test himself against Coleman in a rematch, try to improve on his time and take on some quick out-of-state competitors. Beal-Goines is seeded third in the 100 while Coleman is fifth. Ahead of those two are athletes from New Mexico: junior Bryce Melton (10.49) and senior Melaki Gutierrez (10.53).
Searle could make history
American Leadership Academy Queen Creek senior Taylor Searle, a transfer from Montana, catapulted himself into state history a few weeks ago when he recorded a mark of 17 feet, 3 inches in the pole vault at the Aztec Invite. The BYU commit has his sights on the state record, and beyond, as Searle wants to hit 18 feet this season. The state record is 17-7, held by Surprise Valley Vista’s Cole Riddle. Phoenix Country Day School junior Sam Novak (16-6) and Lake Havasu senior Sylvan Osman (16-1) are seeded second and third.