Wolf adds 1,600 program record to 3,200 mark from Division 1 state meet; Babcock, Hagstrom produce redemption runs in 800

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Some athletes ran for redemption Thursday at the Arizona Meet of Champions. Others were focused on making an impressive final statement in their home state.

Whatever the motivation, the extra incentive for several of Arizona’s elite performers led to many memorable moments at the Brophy Sports Complex in Phoenix.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

The meet was capped by a pair of impressive 1,600 performances, including a state-leading 4 minutes, 52.38 seconds from Chandler senior Haley Wolf, who produced her second program record in nine days, following a 10:34.76 effort in the 3,200 on May 2 to capture the Division 1 state title at Mesa Community College.

Wolf rebounded after being edged by a 4:55.85 to 4:58.01 margin by Highland sophomore Caroline McLeskey in the 1,600 final at the Division 1 state meet May 5.

Morgan Foster, who ran 4:52.79 to set the record last year, finished second for Chandler in 4:55.76. Chaparral junior Abi Archer, the Division 2 state champion, ran a personal-best 4:56.07 to place third.

After leading Campo Verde to a Division 2 team championship, junior Rylan Stubbs returned to run a program-record 4:12.94 in the boys 1,600, holding off Division 1 state champion Leo Daschbach of Highland (4:14.17).

Tanner Hagstrom of North Canyon and Meg Babcock of Mingus Union both rebounded from disappointing outcomes in their respective 800 races at the Arizona state meet to secure impressive victories.

Hagstrom was disqualified for lane infringement in the Division 2 final and Babcock regrouped following a third-place finish in the Division 3 championship.

Hagstrom ran a personal-best 1:54.58 for the second-fastest time in the state, with Babcock also producing a program record by clocking 2:16.22.

Desert Edge senior Tyson Jones was the only double winner, throwing the discus 189-6 and just missing his third 70-foot performance of the season in the shot put with a victorious mark of 69-11.

Westwood senior James Smith, No. 4 in the country in the boys 300 hurdles, clocked 36.89 for his fifth sub-37 effort this season.

Desert Vista junior Sevanna Hanson repeated in the girls pole vault with a 12-6 clearance. Mountain View Mesa’s Sam Jarvis cleared 16 feet to secure victory in the boys pole vault.

Chandler senior Jai Gruenwald followed her impressive showcase with four Division 1 state titles by winning the 300 hurdles in 42.97. Samantha Ponds prevailed in the discus throw for the Wolves with a 141-7 effort.

Liberty teammates Mary Agube (12.33) and Asiah Fields (55.48) won the girls 100 and 400, with Queen Creek’s Myreanna Bebe capturing the girls 100 hurdles in 14.40 and teammate Alexis Jones winning the shot put with a mark of 42-10.

Millennium’s Terayah Stukes won the girls triple jump with a leap of 37-1.50 and placed second to Gila Ridge’s Mia Corners (18-8.50) in the long jump with an 18-4.50 effort.

Nogales freshman Sabina Romero cleared 5-4 to win the girls high jump, with Campo Verde earning a victory in the girls 4x100 relay in 48.78.

Shadow Mountain’s Cameron Fischer set a program record by running 48.88 in the boys 400, with Millennium’s Jalan McKeaver clocking 10.96 to prevail in the boys 100.

Phillip Austin won the boys long jump with a wind-aided leap of 24-1.25 for Maricopa, which also won the boys 4x100 relay in 41.86.

Campo Verde’s Jake Treptow prevailed in the boys triple jump with a wind-aided leap of 44-11.75 and Hamilton’s Malik Whitaker cleared 6-4 to secure victory in the boys high jump.

Austin Lemasters of Casa Grande Union was victorious in the boys 110 hurdles in 14.45.