O'Georgia soars to new heights in AZ: 7-2.50

State Meet Highlights

 
The Arizona meet is split into four divisions, with 1 and 2 being the biggest. The meet is held at Mesa Community College. Sprinters Paul Lucas and Ky Westbrook went into the meet as the biggest stars in the state, and rightfully so. But it was a trio of others who broke, or matched, state records.

Top Performances:

 
- Bryant O'Georgia of North Canyon (Phoenix) produced a US#1 in the high jump with 7-2.50, taking the top away from Randall Cunningham Jr. O'Georgia will be a wide receiver next fall at Northern Arizona.

 
- Danielle Jones of Desert Vista took down a 15-year-old state meet record with her victory in the 1,600 (4:48.73). The all-time Arizona best in the mile is 4:39.4 by the great Kathy Gibbons in 1972 (more on her in a moment). She also won the 3,200.

 
- Ky Westbrook of Chandler was dominant in winning four state titles and pushing her career total to 11. Westbrook will go down as one of the state's all-time greatest female athletes and her curtain call included wins in the 100 (11.69 with 2.9 headwind ), 200 (24.33 into 3.7 headwind), 14.17 100 hurdles and 45-7.75 shot put.

 
- Paul Lucas, a junior from Mountain Pointe, doubled up the 100 (10.42) and long jump (24-4.50w) but had to abandon two other events after he apparently injured a hamstring in the long jump. He had run prelim times of 21.05 in the 200 (and event where he is US#1) and 46.90 in the 400.

 
- Lauren Ellsworth of Highland, only a junior, essentially tied the 43-year-old all-time state record in the 800 meters when she ran 2:07.61 (US#3). The long-standing record of 2:07.6 was set by Kathy Gibbons of Alhambra in 1971. Now, they are co-owners of this record. (Gibbons was a 1972 Olympian straight out of high school in 1972 and once held the WR in the women's 10,000).

- Jasmine Stauffacher-Gray of North Canyon, another junior, ran US#7 54.12 to win the 400 meters and also won the 300 hurdles. (43.13 in the prelims was her best time).

- Nathan Rodriguez of Corona de Sol, an Iowa State recruit, basically took over from Bernie Montoya as the top mid and long distance runner in Arizona this year. He won the 800 in 1:52.97, the 1600 in 4:11.75 and the 3200 in 9:25.50.

- Robert Grant of Brophy Prep won state titles in the 200 (21.30 was fastest time, in prelims), 300 hurdles (36.33) and was third in the 100 hurdles.

Top Teams:

Chandler got a the 4x400 relay nailed down and won its ninth consecutive Division I girls championship. Westbrook's 40 points had a little something to do with it as well. Still, it took 129 points to top Desert Vista, which scored 123.5.

Corona del Sol, with a big push from Rodriguez's 30 points, won the boys Division I title and knocked Brophy Prep from the top spot with 89.50. Again, Desert Vista was second.

Top Competition: The races with Dani Jones and Lauren Ellsworth were especially compelling and begain with the 4x800 relay. Ellsworth, anchoring Highland, brought her team home first in US#9:03.90. She edged Jones, and Desert Vista, which finished in US#4 9:03.94. Jones ran 2:10.69 while pushing Ellsworth to the 800-meter title. And in the 1600, won by Jones, Ellsworth was second in 4:56.69.

Record-breakers: O'Georgia became the first jumper in Arizona to clear a bar higher than 7-2 and it took a big PR to get there. He had jumped 6-10 to win the D1 title last year but had not cleared anything higher than 6-8 all season.

Results:
http://parser.dyestat.com/meets.jsp?state=AZ