Thatcher boys first in Benson, Safford meets
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – There were no spectators in the stadium stands, along the fence, or under portable shade canopies still in use. A handful of vehicles remained in the parking lot. The 46th Safford Rotary track meet then came to an end with the conclusion of the final event, the boys’ pole vault, completed at 5:30 p.m. Herman BB Andrews Track and Field was nearly empty by then.
Class of 2027 member Justin Hanchett set a meet record, clearing 14-feet, 6-inches, or six inches higher than Safford classmate Drew McBride and more than two feet higher than Thatcher senior Tanner Smith. The third-place effort was a foot less than six days prior, vaulting 13-3 as a Jerry Lee Invitational record setter in Benson.
Hanchett departed the stadium with an ear-to-ear smile and hand-in-hand with a female companion.
Four other records were set, two by Safford senior Matthew Madrid clocking in with 20.04a (200) and 40.90a (300H), one by Thatcher junior Josh Jones in the triple jump (39-10), and the other by the Thatcher 4×800 relay (8:39.72a) of freshman Aiden Labrum, senior Brigham Palmer, sophomore Blake Bingham, and sophomore Nathan Retana.
Morenci, Pima, Safford, and Willcox are scheduled to participate in the Southern Arizona Championships at Marana Mountain View on Friday, April 24.
Safford Rotary Track Invitational (April 17)
Records:
Five records were re-set in 2026, four of the 11 set in 2025.
There were 11 records broken in 2025, three in the eight running events, five in the seven field events, and all three in the relays.
Individual running event record holders were Show Low senior Jacob Altop in the 100 (11.33a, 2024), Empire junior Donovan Davidson in the 200 (22.55a, 2024), Empire junior Khari Gurley-Yi in the 400 (50.04, 2024), Thatcher junior Gavin Reed in the 800 (2:01.95, 2025), Safford senior Kody Gluyas in the 1600 (4:37.54, 2024), Round Valley junior Gabriel James in the 3200 (10:41.43, 2024), Morenci senior Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda in the 110 hurdles (15.34a, 2025), and Safford junior Matthew Madrid in the 300 hurdles (42.24, 2025).
The field event record holders are Pima senior Brock Haws in the shot put (48-3, 2025) and discus (144-10, 2025), Safford junior Manuel Dawson in the javelin (156-57, 2024), Thatcher senior Wyatt Nicholas in the high jump (6-4, 2025) and long jump (21-10, 2025), Bisbee senior Spencer Anthony in the pole vault (13-6, 2025), and Safford sophomore Matthew Madrid in the triple jump (39-2, 2024).
Three different schools have records in the relays, Queen Creek in the 4×100 (43.32a PR, 2025) with freshman Maurice Wise, senior Trey Salanoa, junior Jayden Weingarten, and junior Kayden Kellogg; Safford in the 4×400 (3:29.42, 2025) with juniors Tristan Flores, Matthew Madrid, Noah Gonzales, and Grady Lackner; and Miami in the 4×800 (8:46.89, 2025) with sophomore Raejon Way, sophomore Ryder Guerrero, sophomore Rudy Dozal, and senior Aiden Falquez-Goss.
Thatcher had 18 Eagles, totaling 144 points, to place first among a dozen teams in scoring.
Junior Josh Jones (1st – TJ, 39-10; 2nd – 400R, 2nd – 1600R, 3:36.55a; 44.35a; 4th – javelin, 147-112) totaled 19 points, senior Ryan Jones (1st – 400, 51.49a; 2nd – 400R, 44.35a; 2nd – 1600R, 3:36.55a; 5th – javelin, 147-1 PR) 18, senior Tanner Smith (2nd – TJ, 39-7; 3rd – PV, 12-6; 5th – HJ, 5-11) 18, senior Braden Bryce (2nd – 300H, 42.24a PR; 2nd – 1600R, 3:36.55a; 3rd – 110H, 16.10a PR) 16, senior Bronson Stringfellow (1st – LJ, 21-1.5; 6th – HJ, 5-7) 13, sophomore Nathan Retana (1st – 3200, 10:44.07a; 1st – 3200R, 8:39.72a) 12.5, senior Brigham Palmer (1st – 3200R, 8:39.72a; 2nd – 1600R, 3:36.55a; 7th – 400, 54.75a PR) and freshman Aiden Labrum (1st – 3200R, 8:39.72a; 5th – 800, 2:14.14a) 6.5 apiece, sophomore Marco Martinez (6th – 110H, 16.86a PR; 6th – 300H, 44.17a PR) and freshman Jacob Montez (3rd – TJ, 38-9 PR) six each, senior Travis Larson (5th – SP, 41-8.5) and sophomore Ryker Romero (5th – TJ, 37-4) both four, junior Vincent Bejarano (6th – SP, 40-7) and junior Tufden Taylor (2nd – 400R, 44.35a; 8th – 400, 55.00a) three each, sophomore Blake Bingham (1st – 3200R, 8:39.72a) and senior Chad Johnson (2nd – 400R, 44.35a) both 2.5, junior Porter Nolan (7th – HJ, 5-7), and sophomore Jason Hansen (7th – 800, 2:17.62a) two apiece.
Safford had eleven Bulldogs compiling 112 points to place second.
Senior Matthew Madrid (1st – 200, 22.04a PR; 1st – 300H, 40.90a; 1st – 1600R, 3:30.29a; 3rd – 100, (11.71) had 28.5 points, senior Dane Jacobson (2nd – 100, 11.62a; 4th – 300H, 42.86a; 4th – 400R, 45.10a) 14.25, junior Hayden Farar (2nd – 110H, 16.03a PR; 3rd – 300H, 42.31a PR) 14, senior Grady Lackner (1st – 1600R, 3:30.29a; 2nd – 400, 52.63a; 4th – 400R, 45.10a; 7th – 200, 23.53a SB) 13.75, junior Justin Hanchett (1st – PV, 14-6 PR) 10, senior Noah Gonzales (1st – 1600R, 3:30.29a; 5th – 400, 53.94a SB; 6th – 800, 2:16.67a) 9.5, junior Drew McBride (2nd – PV, 14-0) eight, junior Lamar Ellis (4th – 400R, 45.10a, 45.10; 6th – 200, 23.47a) 4.25, senior Sawyer Layton (6th – D, 122-8; 8th – SP, 39-2) four, senior Tristan Flores in the 400 (1st – 1600R, 3:30.29a; 3rd – 400R, 45.10a) 3.75, and senior Avery Gallaway (7th – D, 121-0.5 PR) two.
Pima had seven Roughriders netting 72.33 points to place fifth.
Junior Adam Bryce (1st – 110H, 15.38a; 4th – 200, 23.05a PR; 3T-5th – LJ, 19-6) totaled 16.33 points, junior Stratton McRae (2nd – LJ, 20-0.5; 3rd – SP, 43-5.5; 7th – 110H, 17.18a) 16, senior Charles Richardson (1st – javelin, 153-7; 5th – 110H, 16.53a PR) 14, junior Joel Mattice (1st – HJ, 6-0 SB) 10, senior Dante McCray (3rd – SP, 43-5.5; 6+ 8th – D, 118-3.5) seven, junior Hollen Hoopes (4th – SP, 43-2 PR) five, and junior Hayden Dixon (6th – 100, 11.80a; 8th – 200, 24.27a PR) four.
Morenci had six Wildcats getting 43 points to place seventh.
Freshman Keston Armstrong (1st – 100, 11.39a; 2nd – 200, 23.79a; 3rd – 400R, 44.43a; 4th – 1600R, 3:41.91a) tallied 20.75 points, senior Lyndale Waterhouse (3rd – 400R, 44.43a; 4th – 1600R, 3:41.91a; 4th – LJ, 19-11; 8th – 100, 11.84a) 8.75, senior Derick Lytle (2nd – javelin, 150-1 PR) eight, sophomore Sunny Gobert (3rd – 400R, 44.43a; 4th – 1600R, 3:41.91a;) 2.75, senior Aundre McCauley (3rd – 400R, 44.43a) 1.5, and freshman Damian Paz (4th – 1600R, 3:41.91a) 1.25.
Willcox had 10 Cowboys tally 27 points, placing ninth.
Junior Carder Wyatt (3rd – 3200R, 9:00.21a; 3rd – 800, 2:11.01a; 7th – 1600R, 3:51.32a) had eight points, senior Sawyer Thompson (3rd – LJ, 19-11 PR) 6, sophomore Ryan Burchett (3rd – 3200R, 9:00.21a; 8th – 1600, 5:18.14a PR; 8th – 3200, 12.17.25a PR) 3.5, junior Nathan Riggs (6th – TJ, 37-1) and junior Jean Whetten (3rd – 3200R, 9:00.21a; 7th – 1600R, 3:51.32a; 8th – 800, 2:18.95a) both three, freshman Zander Klump (3rd – 3200R, 9:00.21a; 7th – 1600R, 3:51.32a) two, freshman Colt Todd (7th – 1600R, 3:51.32a) 0.5, and sophomores Hezikiah Gatson (8th – 400R, 49.48a), David Izazaga Sarmiento (8th – 400R, 49.48a), Saul Medina (8th – 400R, 49.48a), and Jose Ramirez (8th – 400R, 49.48a) 0.25 apiece.
Team Placements
Division IV Thatcher was first with 144 points, Division IV Safford second (112), Division III Sahuarita third (98), Division IV Payson fourth (74), Division V Pima fifth (68), Division V Benson sixth (66.5), Division V Morenci seventh (43), Division IV Douglas eighth (40.5), Division V Willcox ninth (27), Division V Bisbee 10th (11),
Division V Tucson Desert Christian was 11th (9), and Division V Saint David was 12th (4).
Division IV Globe, along with Division V San Simon and San Carlos, did not score.
Individual Champions
Individual running event champions were Morenci freshman Keston Armstrong in the 100 (11.39a), Safford senior Matthew Madrid in the 200 (20.04a), Thatcher senior Ryan Jones in the 400 (51.49a SB), Sahuarita sophomore Brindon Desrochers in the 800 (2:07.36a PR), Benson freshman Brody Upshaw Brody Upshaw in the 1600 (4:53.54a PR), Thatcher sophomore Nathan Retana in the 3200 (10:44.07a PR), Pima junior Adam Bryce in the 110 hurdles (15.38a), and Madrid in the 300 hurdles (40.90a).
The field event champions were Sahuarita senior Quinn Boveington in the shot put (47-9 PR), Payson senior Easton White in the discus (140-3), Pima senior Charles Richardson in the javelin (153-7), Pima junior Joel Mattice in the high jump (5-11), Safford junior Justin Hanchett in the pole vault (14-6 PR), Thatcher senior Bronson Stringfellow in the long jump (21-1.5), and Thatcher junior Josh Jones in the triple jump (39-10).
Three different schools placed first in the relays, Sahuarita in the 4×100 (44.23a) of eight finishing with sophomore Efrain Corral, senior Lukas Kimbley, senior Gary Acosta, and sophomore Javier Alvarez; Safford in the 4×400 (3:30.29a) of eight with seniors Tristan Flores, Matthew Madrid, Noah Gonzales, and Grady Lackner; and Thatcher in the 4×800 (8:39.72a) of six with freshman Aiden Labrum, senior Brigham Palmer, sophomore Blake Bingham, and sophomore Nathan Retana.
Jerry Lee Invitational (April 11)
Thatcher had 23 Eagles combined for 172 points to place first.
Senior Tanner Smith (1st – PV, 13-3 PR; 2nd – HJ, 6-0 PR; 2nd – TJ, 39-9) landed 26 points, senior Ryan Jones (2nd – 200, 23.04a; 2nd – 400, 50.68a; 2nd – 400R, 44.01a; 5th – javelin, 131-10) 22, junior Josh Jones (2nd – 400R, 44.01a; 3rd – 400, 52.29a PR; 4th – javelin, 137-0 -5; 4th – TJ, 38-2) 18, senior Bronson Stringfellow (1st – 5th – LJ, 20-11.75; 3rd – HJ, 5-10) 16, senior Brigham Palmer (2nd – 800, 2:11.48a; 2nd – 1600R, 3:39.69a) 10, senior Chad Johnson (2nd – 400R, 44.01a; 2nd – 1600R, 3:39.69a; 6th – 200, 24.35a; 7th – 100, 11.91a) nine, senior Braden Bryce (2nd – 110H, 16.44a PR), senior Braden Bryce (2nd – 110H, 16.44a PR), and junior Tufden Taylor (2nd – 1600R, 3:39.69a; 5th – LJ, 18-7; 7th – 400, 54.40a) eight apiece, junior Vincent Bejarano (4th – SP, 40-11 PR) five, sophomore Blake Bingham (4th – 3200R, 9:16.58a; 6th – 1600, 5:08.19a) 4.25, senior Travis Larson (5th – SP, 40-8), senior Luke Marble (2nd – 400R, 44.01a; 2nd – 1600R, 3:39.69a), and sophomore Ryker Romero (5th – TJ, 38-1) four apiece, sophomore Jason Hansen (4th – 3200R, 9:16.58a; 7th – 800, 2:22.04a) 3.25, junior Leo Simpson (6th – PV, 10-0), sophomore Marco Martinez (6th – 300H, 45.69a), and freshman Easton Baker (6th – 3200, 12:25.64a) three apiece, sophomore Ryan Griffin (4th – 3200R, 9:16.58a; 8th – 3200, 12:32.69a), 2.25, junior Tommy Chidester (7th – SP, 40-5.5) and sophomore Clancy Mullenaux (7th – javelin, 118-8) both two, junior Hudson Gibson (4th – 3200R, 9:16.58a) 1.25, and junior Porter Nolan (8th – 100, 11.95a) one.
Pima had eight Roughriders compile 112 points, placing second.
Junior Adam Bryce (1st – 110H, 15.62a; 1st – 300H, 42.10a; 3rd – TJ, 38-7; 4th – 200, 23.47a) earned 31 points, junior Joel Mattice (1st – HJ, 6-0 SB; 1st – TJ, 43-8.5 PR) 20, senior Charles Richardson (1st – javelin, 157-5 PR; 3rd – 110H, 16.78a; 7th – 300H, 46.17a) 18, junior Stratton McRae (4th – 300H, 44.29a; 4th – LJ, 19-5.25; 5th – 110H, 17.18a) 14, senior Dante McCray (1st – SP, 43-11; 8th – D, 109-3) 11, junior Hayden Dixon (4th – 100, 11.95a; 7th – 200, 24.48a PR) and junior Hollen Hoopes (5th – D, 112-5 PR; 6th – SP, 40-6.5) seven apiece, and sophomore Van Papa (6th – HJ, 5-4; 8th – LJ, 17-9.25) four.
Morenci had 10 Wildcats tally 72 points to place fourth.
Freshman Keston Armstrong (1st – 400R, 43.60a; 2nd – 100, 11.44a; 3rd – 200, 23.19a) tallied 16.5 points, sophomore Ryder Nelson (2nd – 3200, 11:09.26a; 5th – 1600, 5:08.14a; 6th – 3200R, 10:04.89a) 12.75, sophomore Sunny Gobert (1st – 100, 11.33a; 1st – 400R, 43.60a;) 12.5, senior Lyndale Waterhouse (1st – 400R, 43.60a; 3rd – LJ, 19-10.25; 6th – 100, 11.84a) 11.5, senior Aundre McCauley (1st – 400R, 43.60a; 3rd – 100, 11.65a; 7th – LJ, 17-9.75) 10.5, senior Dean Chee (6th – D-3, 111-7) three, senior Samuel Kitcheyan (6th – 3200R, 10:04.89a; 8th – HJ, 5-4 PR) 1.75, freshman Eli Laney (8th – 300H, 46.66a) and freshman Marcus Najar (8th – TJ-1, 34-11) one each, and senior Maxwell Clancy (6th – 3200R, 10:04.89a) and freshman Yanuel Gigante (6th – 3200R, 10:04.89a) 0.75 apiece.
Willcox had eight Cowboys earn 40 points, placing seventh.
Junior Carder Wyatt (1st – 800, 2:09.24a; 3rd – 3200R, 9:16.00a; 4th – 1600R, 3:50.66a; 6th – TJ, 36-11.25 PR) contributed 15.75 points, freshman Zander Klump (3rd – 3200R, 9:16.00a; 4th – 1600R, 3:50.66a; 5th – 300H, 45.68a; 7th – 110H, 18.16a) 9.75, freshman Colt Todd (4th – 1600R, 3:50.66a; 6th – 110, 18.11a PR) 4.25, junior Eli Nelson (7th – TJ, 36-0; 8th – 200, 24.71a PR) three, sophomore Ryan Burchett (3rd – 3200R, 9:16.00a; 8th – 1600, 5:21.64a) 2.5, junior DaMarion Jackson (7th – HJ, 5-4 PR) two, junior Jean Whetten (3rd – 3200R, 9:16.00a; 4th – 1600R, 3:50.66a) 1.75, and junior Anthony Aguilera (8th – SP, 38-10.5 PR) one.
Team Placements
Division IV Thatcher was first with 172 points, Division V Pima second (112), Division V Benson third (105), Division V Morenci Union fourth (72), Division V Tombstone fifth (64), Division IV Douglas sixth (43), Division V Willcox seventh (40), Division V Bisbee eighth (28), Division V Tucson Saint Augustine ninth (23), and Division V Saint David 10th (19).
Division V Eloy Santa Cruz Union did not score.
Individual Champions
Individual running event champions were Morenci sophomore Sunny Gobert in the 100 (11.33a), Saint Augustine junior Jonathan Ochoa in the 200 (22.95a) and 400 (50.35a SB), Willcox junior Carter Wyatt in the 800 (2:09.24a), Benson freshman Brody Upshaw Brody Upshaw in the 1600 (4:54.16a PR) and 3200 (11:08.33a PR), Pima junior Adam Bryce in the 110 hurdles (15.62a) and 300 hurdles (42.10a).
The field event champions were Pima senior Dante McCray in the shot put (43-11), and Tombstone senior Robert Carney in the discus (148-7), Pima senior Charles Richardson in the javelin (157-5), Pima junior Joel Mattice in the high jump (6-0 SB), Thatcher senior Tanner Smith in the pole vault (13-3 PR), Thatcher senior Bronson Stringfellow in the long jump (20-11.75), and Mattice in the triple jump (43-8.5 PR). Two different schools placed first in the relays, Morenci in the 4×100 (43.60a) of three finishing with senior Aundre McCauley, Gobert, senior Lyndale Waterhouse, and freshman Keston Armstrong; and Benson in the 4×400 (3:38.66a) of five with senior Andrew Workman, junior Wayne Stark, senior Deagan Pettinger, and junior Ethan Green and in the 4×800 (9:06.17a) of six with junior Jace Myatt, Upshaw, sophomore David Pratt, and freshman Jacob Rubio.
