News Summary

The 2025 Arizona high school track and field season has kicked off, following an extraordinary record-breaking year in 2024. Athletes are showing promise with events set to break personal and state records, including remarkable performances by rising stars in hurdles, pole vault, and distance races. Highlights from the recent Arcadia Invitational featured four state records, showcasing the strength of Arizona’s young talent. As local athletes gear up for another thrilling season, the excitement continues to build with the potential for more records to fall.

Arizona High School Track and Field Season Promises New Records and Rising Stars in 2025

Get ready, Arizona! The 2025 high school track and field season is off to an exciting start this past week, following an incredible record-breaking season in 2024. With anticipation buzzing through the air, the spotlight is firmly on our talented young athletes. Over the past two years, Arizona track and field has truly seen a resurgence, with nine state records tumbling like dominoes since 2023. It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement!

Record-Breaking Stars on the Horizon

Last year, Gilbert’s Vance Nilsson made headlines after setting a national high school record in the 300-meter hurdles. And the buzz surrounding this season suggests we could witness yet another influx of state records! Events poised to smash records this year include the Girl’s 100 and 200 meters, Girl’s 100-meter hurdles, Girl’s triple jump, and for the boys, the 1,600 and 3,200 meters races, as well as the pole vault and the 4×100-meter relay.

The Pole Vaulting Phenomenon

One athlete making waves is Sam Novak from Phoenix Country Day School. Just last week, he cleared a remarkable 17-6.5 feet, putting him tantalizingly close to the outdoor state record of 17-7, held by Cole Riddle. Currently rated the No. 1 pole vaulter in the U.S., Novak is hungry to make this spring his record-breaking season. Keep your eyes peeled for what he accomplishes next!

Hurdles of Hope

Watch out for the prodigious Rebekah Jhade-Garrett from Phoenix North Canyon, who is also garnishing a lot of buzz. She recently ran an impressive 13.28 seconds in the 100 hurdles, though it doesn’t officially count as a record due to wind conditions. She’s aiming for a time of under 13 seconds this season, a feat that would etch her name into the record book.

Distance Dominance

Coaching prodigy Mike Scannell at Chandler Hamilton has been making strides, significantly elevating his team’s distance performance. After his squad set a Division I state record for both points and total time at the AIA cross-country championships last fall, expectations for this track season are sky-high. Junior Zarian Rodriguez is hoping to clock in under 4:10 in the 1,600 meters and under 9:00 in the 3,200 meters. With such determination, who knows what might unfold?

More Stars in the Making

The Open championship has seen a real shakeup since its inception in 2023, with four different schools taking home the coveted title. Highlights include Gilbert Highland and Mesa Red Mountain pocketing wins in the first year, followed by Hamilton and Queen Creek taking the spots last year. This season, everyone’s eyeing the North Canyon Girls and Hamilton Boys to possibly meet or exceed target scores of 56.5 and 44 points respectively. Don’t count out Goodyear Desert Edge, either; they boast an impressive lineup of sprinters, featuring the top boys’ hurdler in the state.

A Weekend to Remember

What makes this season even more exhilarating is the remarkable performance of Arizona athletes at the recent Arcadia Invitational. In less than an hour, four state records were shattered! Reigniting the home-state pride, Saira Prince from Williams Field set a new standard in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.58 seconds, while Tyler Mathews from Red Mountain broke the 800-meter record at 1:49.32. Additionally, Mountain Pointe’s Jayden Davis established a new record for the 400-meter with a blazing time of 46.45 seconds. Saira also made headlines with a new 300-meter hurdles record of 41.24 seconds!

Soaring to New Heights

This past season has seen Vance Nilsson being awarded the prestigious title of 2023-24 Gatorade Arizona Boys Track & Field Player of the Year, making history as the first recipient from Gilbert High School. He not only excelled in hurdle events, ranking among the Top 25 nationwide, but also demonstrated dedication with a 4.00 weighted GPA. Plus, a new chapter awaits him as he has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete at the University of Florida.

As the Arizona high school track and field community gears up for an exhilarating season filled with potential new records and emerging stars, there’s no doubt that the excitement will only continue to build. Make sure to support your local athletes and catch all the thrilling moments this season!

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