Meet draws five EAJHA schools
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD—The 2025 Eastern Arizona Junior High Association Safford Rotary Track and Field meet was held May 1. Morenci placed first with 151 points, Thatcher was second (111.67), Safford was third (81), Pima was fourth (45.33), and San Simon was fifth (1).
The Greenlee County school placed first of 18 in the 400 (1:04.96a) with 8th grader Arris Hooper, first of 15 in the 1600 (6:32.49a) with 6th grader Annalaya Munoz, and of 16 in the 100 hurdles (17.78a) with 8th grader Justine Tartaglia.
Morenci also finished first in two relays, the 4×100 (54.30a) of four with 7th grader Nakesa Wilson, 8th grader Kendall Merrill, 7th grader Jazmin Williamson, and Tartaglia, and the 4×400 (12:04.09a) of three with Hooper, Tartaglia, Merrill, and 7th grader Zoey Adams.
Other event winners were Thatcher 8th grader Zoe Ochoa in the 100 (13:71a) of 18, Safford 8th grader Alayna Klouchek in the 200 (28:02a) of 16, Pima 8th grader Ella Ashby in the 800 (2:51.58a) of 15, Safford 8th grader Jurzey Aguilar in the shot put (30-6) of 15, Thatcher 8th grader Kasidee Swyers in the discus (74-6) of 16, Thatcher 7th grader Allianah Henry in the high jump (4-6) of 12, Thatcher 8th grader Izabella Cruz in the long jump (14-4) of 14, and the Safford 4×200 relay (2:00.02a) with 8th grader Bria Klajda, 7th grader Liberty Brinkley, 8th grader Scarlett Laude, and Klouchek.
Morenci Wildcats (21 placers, 2-8)
The Wildcats were second in the 200 (28.42a) with 8th grader Kendall Merrill, in the 400 (1:07.94a) with Adams, in the 800 (2:56. 64a) with Munoz, in the 100 hurdles (17.78a) with 7th grader Sophia Davis, and the 4×200 relay (2:01.26a) with 6th grader Lovie Gaethje, Davis, Williamson, and Wilson; tied for second in the high jump (4-4) with 8th grader Luisabella Benitaz; third in the 100 (13.91a) with Hooper, in the 1600 (6:48.84a) with 7th grader Lauren Merrill, and in the shot put (26-5.5) with 7th grader Kloiie Kidd; fourth in the 100 (14.05a) with Tartaglia, in the 800 (3:07.79a) with 7th grader Raeleigh Lucero, and in the discus (61-9) with Kidd; fifth in the 200 (30.10a) with Williamson, in the 800 (3:10.67a) with 6th grader Adrianne Aguilar, in the 1600 (6:54.03a) with 7th grader Danielle Ellington, in the 100 hurdles (17.78a) with Lucero; tied for fifth in the 100 (14.10a) with Kendall Merrill and Wilson; sixth in the 200 (30.14a) with Wilson, in the 100 hurdles (17.78a) with Benitaz; seventh in the 400 (1:12.02a) with Benitaz; and eighth in the shot put (26-5.5) with 7th grader Payton Wiltbank.
Thatcher Eagles (22 placers, 2-8)
The Eagles were second in the 1600 (6:37.30a) with 7th grader Kinslee Dorr, in the shot put (28-0.5) with 7th grader Holly Hancock, and in the discus (72-8) with 8th grader Delani Mullenaux; third in the 800 (3:03.01a) with 8th grader Paige Layton, in the 100 hurdles (18.67a) with 7th grader Presley Taylor, the 4×100 relay (51.26a) with 7th grader Kate Gibson, 8th grader Meara Patton, Cruz, and Ochoa, and the 4×200 relay (2:07.07a) with Taylor plus 8th grader Lydia Jones, 8th grader Channing Soto, and 7th grader Lily Moore; fourth in the 200 (30.05a) with Taylor, in the 400 (1:08.49a) with Ochoa, and in the shot put (25-3.5) with Mullenaux; tied for fifth in the in the long jump (11-9) with 8th grader Mia Brown and Gibson; sixth in the 800 (3:10.85a) with 8th grader Alannah Simoneaux and in the discus (51-0) with 8th grader Bella Moffett; tied for sixth in the high jump (4-0) with Marble and 7th grader Penny Cummard; seventh in the 200 (30.76a) with Ochoa, in the 800 (3:10.85a) with 8th grader DeAnna Cox, in the 1600 (7:19.65a) with 7th grader Phoebe Marble, and in the 100 hurdles (19.31a) with Dorr; and eighth in the 1600 (7:19.75a) with 8th grader Kali Hunt and in the 100 hurdles (19.61a) with Gibson.
Safford Bulldogs (16 placers, 2-8)
The Bulldogs were second in the 100 (13.81a) with Klouchek and the 4×100 relay (56.82a) with Klajda, Brinkley, 6th grader Jayde Gaines, and Klouchek; tied for second in the high jump (4-4) with 7th grader Aurora Crum; third in the 200 (28.09a) with 8th grader Bria Klajda, in the discus (72-0) with 7th grader Caydence Gable, and the 4×400 relay (12:34.10a) with 8th grader Charity Dalton, 8th grader Scarlett Laude, 7th grader Sabella Sanchez, and 7th grader Katelynn Rhodes; fourth in the long jump (12-0) with 8th grader Anistyn Bright; fifth in the 400 (1:09.00a) with 8th grader Alaya Acosta, in the discus (59-8) with Aguilar, and in the high jump (4-2) with 7th grader Kryslyn Anderson; sixth in the 1600 (6:57.25a) with Dalton; seventh in the 200 (28.09a) with Sanchez and in the shot put (21-6) with 8th grader Kailyn Richasdon; tied for seventh in the 100 (14.16a) with Klajda; and eighth in the 400 (1:15.05a) with 6th grader Lily Wood and in the long jump (12-0) with Dalton.
Pima Roughriders (12 placers, 2-8)
The Roughriders were second in then the 4×400 relay (12:18.55a) with 7th grader Ivie Smith, 7th grader Audri Palomino, 6th grader Sadie Pace, and 7th grader Macie Nelson; tied for second in the high jump (4-4) with 8th grader Rylin Cluff; third in the 400 (1:08.03a) with Nelson; fourth in the 100 hurdles (18.73a) with Smith, the 4×100 relay (1:06.35a) with 8th grader Avalon Johnson, Nelson, Palomino, and 7th grader Kailyn Taylor, and the 4×200 relay (2:14.14a) with Ashby, 8th grader Charlotte Cluff, 8th grader Tess Finch, and Johnson; fifth in the shot put (25-2.5) with 6th grader Savannah Richardson; sixth in the 400 (1:11.48a) with Palomino; tied for sixth in the high jump (4-0) with Johnson; seventh in the long jump (11-5) with 6th grader Jackie Click; tied for seventh in the 100 (14.16a) with Taylor and in the discus (49-8) with Richardson.
San Simon Longhorns (2 placers, 2-8)
The Longhorns were sixth in the shot put (24.6) with 6th grader Kylie Perkins and seventh in the discus (50-3).
