By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here are summaries of the quarterfinal meets:

WEST REGIONAL

Chandler AZ 82, McKinney North TX 54

Although the Arizona Division 1 champions held only a four-point edge on the track, they scored an impressive 39 points in the six field events to return to the regional final. Jai Gruenwald and Tiana Poirier-Shelton sparked a sweep of both the long jump and triple jump for the Wolves, who also received wins in the shot put and discus from Samantha Ponds. Gruenwald also sparked Chandler’s sweep of both the 100 and 300 hurdles. After being edged by Chandler sophomore Morgan Foster in the 800, freshman London Culbreath won the 1,600 and 3,200 for McKinney North, which swept both relays and also received significant points in the sprints from Jania Martin.

DeSoto TX 78.5, Santa Margarita CA 57.5

The Texas UIL 6A champions relied on their speed and relay depth to advance to another regional championship. Jada Laye, Rosaline Effiong, Bryannia Murphy, Taylor Armstrong and Cierra Wash helped DeSoto establish a 25-point advantage in the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. Kate Thomas led a pole vault sweep and Mallory Barnes won the triple jump for Southern Section Division 3 winner Santa Margarita, but Samone Turner, Brianna Washington and Nhkiyah James-Salter combined for 18 crucial points by sweeping the shot put and discus for the Fighting Eagles.

EAST REGIONAL

Miami Northwestern FL 69, Union Catholic NJ 66

The New Jersey Non-Public A winners had the defending national champions on the verge of an early exit for the second straight year, accumulating a 12-point advantage on the track. But as it did so many times during last year’s run to the title, Miami Northwestern relied on an exceptional group of athletes in the jumps and throws to outscore Union Catholic 34-19 in the six field events to rally for the victory. Sydney McLaughlin came through with four victories for the Vikings, including anchoring the 4x400 relay, but her exceptional performances were overcome by Taranique Alexander and Dascha Robinson placing first and second in the long jump and triple jump, as well as Chanel Dawson, Kaylah Clark and Alyssa Richard combining to sweep the shot put and discus for the Bulls, who defeated Union Catholic 70-62 in last year’s quarterfinals.

Western Branch VA 85.33, Bullis MD 41.67

After falling to Cheltenham PA in the regional semifinals last year, Western Branch had too much depth for Bullis, which swept both relays but managed to win only four additional events. Western Branch relied on Martina Smalls, Devonya Brown and Sara Belamarich to produce a 27-point advantage in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, in addition to Jada Terrell winning the long jump and triple jump, along with Eryn Byrd and Zoe Shenton leading sweeps in the shot put and discus. Bullis, the ISL/MAC champions, has one of the best young sprints corps in the country and should be a factor again in the coming years after sophomore Ashley Seymour won the 100 and freshman Shaniya Hall prevailed in the 400.