Riddle’s final performance no joke

Valley Vista senior elevates state pole vault record to U.S. No. 2 17-7 (5.50m) at Arizona Meet of Champions; Schadler edges Foster in highly anticipated 800

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

There was drama for Cole Riddle in the pole vault when it came down to his last attempt at a state record Thursday, but there was no question about the outcome for the Valley Vista senior at the Arizona Meet of Champions.

Riddle easily cleared 17 feet, 7 inches (5.50m) to improve on his own record and add two inches to his U.S. No. 2 performance, the best by an American high school athlete with national high school record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Lafayette LA representing Sweden in international competition.

Riddle became the 23rd prep performer to clear 17-7 after breaking the 1990 Arizona high school record of 17-4.75 by Tolleson Union’s Nick Hysong with his 17-5 effort April 26 at the Desert Vista Last Chance meet.

Riddle was one of five state record holders competing at the Brophy Prep Sports Complex, including throwers Turner Washington of Canyon del Oro and Kayleigh Conlon of Mountain Pointe also participating in their final high school meets in Arizona.

Washington won the discus throw with a second-round effort of 216-6 (65.98m), just off his 218-7 (66.62m) record May 3 at the state final at Mesa Community College, which made the Arizona signee the No. 6 all-time high school performer.

Conlon repeated as Meet of Champions winner in the shot put with a mark of 43-8 (13.30m). Conlon entered the event with four consecutive meets surpassing 46 feet, including her record 47-9.5 (14.56m) on April 20 at the Tempe City Championships.

Rio Rico senior Allie Schadler, the state record holder in the 3,200, squared off against Chandler sophomore and 800 record-setter Morgan Foster in their first head-to-head matchup in the 800.

Schadler prevailed by a 2:08.22 to 2:08.89 margin, strengthening her No. 3 mark in state history behind Foster (2:07.06) and Highland’s Lauren Ellsworth (2:07.61).

Elisha Brooks of Brophy Prep set the sophomore state record in the boys 300 hurdles by clocking 37.45, becoming the sixth athlete in program history to run under 38 seconds. Brooks elevated to the No. 2 sophomore in the country this year with the second-fastest time in the state overall.

Desert Vista won the girls pole vault for the fifth consecutive year, with sophomore Sevanna Hanson clearing 12-6 (3.81m) on her second attempt, two inches off her April 26 personal best.

Jillian Lombardi added two more victories for the Thunder, sweeping the girls long jump and triple jump with leaps of 18-7 and 38-5.

After winning its 11th Division 1 state title in 12 years by defeating Desert Vista, Chandler had another impressive performance, with Anna Foreman capturing the girls 400 in 55.80, LaMeyah Charlton securing a victory in the girls 300 hurdles in 44.84 and Samantha Ponds prevailing in the discus throw by a 145-8 (44.39m) to 138-5 (42.18m) margin over Conlon. Junior twins Kerri Welch and Kylie Welch swept the top two spots in the girls 3,200 in 11:33.13 and 11:35.44.

Tolleson Union’s Trey Johnson also doubled up with victories in the boys 100-meter dash in a wind-legal 10.59 and the long jump with a leap of 24-1.50, as did Chaparral’s Umajesty Williams in the 200 (21.73) and 400 (48.39).

North Canyon freshman Jadyn Mays anchored the Rattlers’ girls 4x100 relay to victory in 48.40, in addition to winning the 200 in 24.48. Hannah Flodin of Blue Ridge won the 100 in 12.25 and took second to Mays in the 200 in 25.02, with Queen Creek’s Myreanna Bebe capturing the 100 hurdles in 14.56.

Millennium junior Zion Green won the girls high jump by clearing 5-2, anchored the victorious 4x400 relay in 4:06.29 and contributed to the runner-up 4x100 in 48.50. Teammate Aidan Diggs won the boys 110 hurdles in 14.79.

Xavier Prep senior Sarah Carter won her final high school competition in Arizona by prevailing in the 1,600 in 4:55.97, with sophomores Samantha Schadler of Rio Rico (4:58.02) and Abi Archer of Chaparral (4:58.42) both running personal bests to finish second and third.

Buena senior Manny Olivo-Quinones, who captured Division 2 state titles in cross country along with the 1,600 and 3,200, dominated a strong field that included two other state champions to prevail in 9:10.78. Tuba City’s Vaughn Jackson prevailed in the boys 1,600 in 4:28.88.

Canyon del Oro’s Cameron Crandall, the only high jumper in the state to clear 7 feet this season, followed his Division 2 title by winning with a 6-9 clearance. Prescott’s Paxton Henry secured a triple jump victory with a leap of 45-11 and Show Low’s Jaisen Brown captured the shot put with a mark of 56-2.

Highland swept the boys 4x400 and 4x800 relays in 3:22.30 and 8:12.09, with Sahuaro winning the boys 4x100 in 42.71. Scottsdale Prep was victorious in the girls 4x800 relay in 10:43.74.