Meet draws state’s Top 5 individual entrants
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The 2025 Safford Rotary Track and Field meet will have some of the state’s top performers in attendance on Thursday, April 17. The field events begin at 10 a.m. and the running events at 10:30 a.m.
A total of 17 schools will be represented in Division I Queen Creek; Division III Douglas; Division IV Globe, Safford, Show Low, and Thatcher; and Division V Benson, Bisbee, Duncan, Elfrida Valley Union, Miami, Morenci, Pima, Saint David, San Carlos, Tucson Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind, and Willcox.
The final meet for Southern Arizona teams, the Tucson Salpointe Catholic Lancer Lightning state qualifying meet, will be held on April 29.
2025 Safford Rotary Invitational, Boys
Among the state’s top five-ranked participants are Thatcher senior Wyatt Nicholas, who is No. 1 in the high jump (6-7, April 4) and No. 4 in the triple jump (48-0, April 4), and Queen Creek junior Dash Wasson, who is No. 2 in the pole vault (17-8, March 27).
Division IV has No. 1 Nicholas in the high jump; No. 1 Safford senior Brian Villegas in the shot put (50-4, March 21) and discus (147-1, April 11); No. 2 Show Low junior Luke Taylor in the javelin (156-10, March 22); No. 3 Show Low senior Lincoln Taylor in the javelin (154-5, March 4); No. 3 Safford junior Matthew Madrid in the 200 (22.64, April 4) and No. 4 in the 300 hurdles (15.81, April 11); No. 4 Show Low senior Ethan Beeler in the 110 hurdles (15.91, March 22); No. 4 sophomore Drew McBride in the pole vault (13-0, March 19); and No. 5 Thatcher senior Nathan Schnebly in the 110 hurdles (15.93, March 29).
From Division V, ranked participants include No. 1 Morenci senior Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda in the 110 hurdles (15.37, April 4); No. 1 Pima senior Brock Haws in the discus (156-3); No. 1 Pima junior Charles Richardson in the javelin (152-11, March 22); No. 1 Nicholas in the long jump (22-10.25, April 4) and triple jump (48-0, April 4); No. 2 Miami senior Aiden Falquez-Goss in the 110 hurdles (15.61, April 11); No. 2 Kanyinda in the 300 hurdles (42.02, April 4); No. 2 Bisbee senior Spencer Anthony in the pole vault (13-3, April 11); No. 3 Willcox senior Avery Edington in the 200 (23.50, March 22); No. 3 Miami sophomore Ryder Guerrero in the 800 (1:57.21, April 11); No. 3 Thatcher senior Callum Welker in the triple jump (44-7, April 4); No. 3 Bisbee senior Mason Richardson in the pole vault (13-0, March 29); No. 4 Morenci senior Marcus Lucero in the javelin (149-5, March 8); No. 5 Falquez-Goss in the 300 hurdles (43.14, April 11); Anthony in the discus (131-10, March 29); No. 5 Morenci junior Derek Lytle in the javelin (148-9, March 22); No. 5 Morenci junior Lyndale Waterhouse in the high jump (6-0, March 8); and No. 5 Madrid in the triple jump (44-4, March 1).
Other Top 5 ranked relay teams include the No. 3 Division IV 4×100 relay from Show Low (43.64, April 11) with seniors Bryce Adams, Dallin Adams, and Jayden Waite along with junior Dane Roosma; the No. 4 Division V 4×100 relay from Willcox (45.30, April 11) with Edington, junior Sawyer Thompson, senior Alan Solis, and senior Landon Ward; and the No. 5 Division IV 4×400 relay from Safford (3:29.27, March 29) with junior Grady Lackner, Madrid, junior Noah Gonzales, and senior Andrew Ortega.
2025 Safford Rotary Invitational, Girls
Statewide ranked participants include the No. 3 Division I 4×800 relay from Queen Creek (9:39.27) with junior Hadlee Hardt, junior Nicole Ripperdan, sophomore Addison Gibson, and sophomore Amelia Ripperdan; and No. 4 Queen Creek junior Nya Campbell in the pole vault (11-9, April 4).
Division IV has No. 1 Thatcher sophomore Lillie Welker in the triple jump (35-1.25); No. 2 Thatcher junior Kylia Nelson in the triple jump (34-10, March 29); No. 3 Show Low junior Stevie Buschschulte in the shot put (33-6, March 28); No. 3 Show Low junior Sarah Gibbens in the javelin (117-5, March 22); No. 3 Safford sophomore Payton Abalos in the high jump (5-3, April 11); No. 4 Thatcher senior Susie Mack in the high jump (5-2, March 19); and No. 5 Safford sophomore JayCee Gable in the shot put (32-4, April 11) and discus (106-6, April 11).
From Division V, ranked participants include No. 1 Pima sophomore Hanna Ashby in the 200 (26.24, March 21); Pima senior Sadie Richardson in the 100 hurdles (15.70) and triple jump (35-3.5, March 29); Benson junior Rayleigh Owen in the 300 hurdles (46.81, April 11); Pima sophomore Cheyenne Alder in the pole vault (9-3, April 11); No. 2 Richardson in the 300 hurdles (47.44, April 4); Morenci junior Rozlyn Funari in the javelin (109-9, March 29); No. 3 Willcox sophomore Paislee Adams in the long jump (16-7.5, April 4); No. 4 Owen in the 100 hurdles (16.84, April 11); Valley Union senior Angela Vasquez in the javelin (108-0, March 19); Ashby in the long jump (16-6, March 29).
Other Top 5 ranked relay teams include the No. 4 Division IV 4×100 relay from Show Low (50.78, April 11) with junior Jaylee Bryce, junior Jordyn Bryce, junior Hailey Webb, and sophomore Taylyn Butler; the No. 2 Division V 4×100 relay from Morenci (51.89, April 4) with freshman Tracy Mianda, freshman Jayliana Guzzo, junior Rozlyn Funari, junior Layla Mendez-Garcia; the No. 5 Division IV relay from Thatcher (4:17.80, April 11) with junior Taizlee Taylor, Welker, junior Tyla Bryce, and junior Lanie Larson; the No. 3 Division V 4×400 relay from Morenci (4:24.28, March 29) with freshman Katerine Escalona, Guzzo, Ahumada, and Mendez-Garcia; and the No. 4 Division V 4×400 relay from Benson (4:24.49, April 11) with Owen, freshman Savanna Meza, junior Araya Stanley, and sophomore Nicole Holbert.
