Arizona girls 800-meter record could be challenged

Two of the state’s elite distance runners will meet for first time in two-lap showdown at Meet of Champions, with sights set on breaking 2:07

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor 

Morgan Foster is the Arizona high school record holder in the girls 800 meters.

Allie Schadler has lost only one 800 race to an Arizona opponent in her four-year Rio Rico career, in the 2014 AIA Division 3 state final.

Yet, the Arizona Meet of Champions will showcase the first head-to-head 800 matchup involving the Chandler sophomore and the University of Washington signee Thursday at Brophy Prep.

Foster ran the state-record 2 minutes, 7.06 seconds June 12 at the Portland Track Festival and Schadler posted a personal-best 2:08.56 – No. 3 in Arizona history – to prevail April 15 at the 59th Mt. SAC Relays at El Camino College in Torrance, Calif.

Foster and Schadler have each won one state championship in the 800. Foster rebounded from a loss last year in the Division 1 final to Liberty’s Christine Williford to secure the championship May 3, along with a personal-best 4:52.79 in the 1,600.

Samantha Schadler has won the 800 title in Division 3 the past two seasons for Rio Rico after Allie Schadler captured the championship in 2015. Allie Schadler won the 400 and 1,600 titles Saturday, giving her 11 career state track championships and 15 career crowns overall, including cross country.

Foster, who has two individual, two relay and three state team championships in her career including cross country, won the Meet of Champions 800 last year in 2:09.51. She has raced Allie Schadler twice in the 1,600 at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational.

After helping North Canyon sweep the Division 2 boys and girls team titles for the first time in program history, junior Tyrees Moulton and freshman Jadyn Mays are scheduled to compete in the sprints.

Hurdling standouts Trey Johnson of Tolleson Union and Jae’Nisa Heckstall of Kellis are also entered after each winning multiple state championships.

The girls 400 includes Division 1 state winner Morgan Parzych of Hamilton and Division 2 champion Asiah Fields of Liberty. Hamilton’s Melanie Loff and Chandler’s Anna Foreman are also scheduled to compete.

Xavier Prep’s Sarah Carter, the Division 1 state runner-up, is entered in the 1,600 along with Division 2 champion Abi Archer of Chaparral, as well as Samantha Schadler, who won the 800 and 3,200 in Division 3.

The boys 3,200 boasts a talented field, with Division 2 winner Manny Olivo-Quinones of Buena, Division 3 champion Michael Barney of Saguaro and Division 1 title holder Thomas Cain of Cibola, in addition to Brophy Prep standouts Hociel Landa and Luke Mason.

Haley Wolf of Desert Vista, the Division 1 girls 3,200 winner, is expected to race, along with Division 1 boys 800 champion Daniel Lozano of Boulder Creek.

Canyon del Oro star Turner Washington, who set the Arizona discus throw record with a 218-7 in the Division 2 final, is entered along with boys high jump champion Cameron Crandall, the only athlete in the state this season to clear 7 feet.