By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Here are summaries of the first-round meets:

WEST REGIONAL

Chandler AZ 113, Newton KS 22

The defending dual-meet champion Wolves might have lost significant scorers Anaya Bailey, Tiana Poirier-Shelton and LaMeyah Charlton to graduation, in addition to Jayde Charlton transferring to Division 2 state champion North Canyon, but the Arizona Division 1 winners still entered the tournament as a legitimate threat to reach a third consecutive final thanks to versatile talent Jai Gruenwald, outstanding distance depth and a strong corps of throwers, led by senior Samantha Ponds. Newton scored 13 of its points in the sprints behind junior Kalli Anderson and senior Savannah Simmons.

Tahoma WA 74, Jesuit OR 62

For the past two years, the Northwest battle for bragging rights had gone in Oregon’s favor, with Summit defeating Issaquah in 2016 and Tahoma last year. But Washington got over the hump this year, with Tahoma relying on junior sprinter Aliya Wilson and the strength of juniors Bryana Rogers and Alisha Wilson in the jumps to prevail in a back-and-forth matchup. Junior Makenna Schumacher sparked a strong distance effort for Jesuit, which also received valuable points in the throws from junior Jordyn Turner.

Mountain View ID 80, Sentinel MT 56

The all-around strength on the track for Mountain View was too much for Sentinel to overcome in the field events. Sophomore Lexy Halladay sparked an impressive distance effort for the Mavericks, who received valuable contributions from senior Makenna Schuler and juniors Lizza Wallace and Melanie Marquis. Sentinel boasts one of the most impressive groups of senior throwers in the country with Madi Arneson, Emily Malone and Aaliyah Woods, in addition to talented sophomore hurdler/jumper Lauren Heggen, but they weren’t enough to overcome 64 track points from Mountain View.

Fargo Davies ND 80.2, Great Oak CA 55.1

Great Oak returned to the tournament field after reaching the 2016 quarterfinals, but it was a brief appearance for the Wolfpack. Fargo Davies is the first North Dakota girls team to make the field and the Eagles soared in their debut by countering Great Oak’s distance depth with impressive sprints, hurdles, relays and throws. Fatima Cortes, Tori Gaitan, Arianna Griffiths and Sandra Pflughoft led the way in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 for the Wolfpack, but Davies relied on senior twins Rose Gaye and Roseline Gaye in the sprints and relays, along with improved sophomores Michaela Hjelseth, A.J. Eberhardt and Sally Korgho to accumulate valuable points in the throws and hurdles.

Minnetonka MN 78, Santa Margarita CA 58

Santa Margarita reached last year’s quarterfinals, but the Eagles’ loss, along with Great Oak’s setback, meant for the first time a California girls team failed to win at least one first-round matchup. Minnetonka also became the first Minnesota girls team to advance, benefiting from 40 points in the field events, including sweeps in the long jump and triple jump, relying on juniors Annika Muller and Faith Robinson, in addition to senior Olivia O’Brien. Santa Margarita tried to maximize the versatility of Nikki Merritt, Gwyn George and Tessa Green, but the Eagles also couldn’t overcome the presence of senior throwers Sydney Handt and Zoe Hardwick for the Skippers.

Valor Christian CO 85, Las Vegas Centennial NV 51

Centennial made its third straight appearance, but couldn’t advance for the second year in a row against a Valor Christian team featuring the best all-around athlete in the country in national high school heptathlon record holder Anna Hall. The teams were evenly matched in the sprints and jumps, but Valor Christian’s edge came in the hurdles and distance events, along with a crucial sweep in the discus. Centennial has one of the country’s most promising sophomore classes with Quincy Bonds, Kennedy Brace, Kendall Hawkins and Ashley Moore, but Valor Christian also possesses a bright future with freshman Taylor Whitfield, sophomore Jane Powers, and juniors Keely Jones, Joy Gerow, Destiny Grimes, Lizzie Waters and Hall.

Mansfield Lake Ridge TX 75.1, Lee’s Summit West MO 60.2

This was the year for Mansfield Lake Ridge to take center stage instead of McKinney North at the Texas UIL 5A Championships, with senior sprinters Kelly Rowe, Asia Giles and Ariel Ford, senior thrower Faith Ette and freshman hurdler Maniah Williams providing the necessary support for the country’s best horizontal jumper in junior Jasmine Moore. Lee’s Summit West had won its first-round matchup the past two years, but despite the contributions of seniors Jana Shawver and Makayla Kelby, along with junior Jessica Haney, the Titans couldn’t advance for a third year in a row after losing both relays and being swept in the 100, 200 and 100 hurdles.

DeSoto TX 95, Edmond Memorial OK 31

Will this finally be the year that DeSoto breaks through and reaches the championship? After losing to Chandler AZ in the regional final the past two years, the Fighting Eagles have another strong group ready to challenge for national supremacy. Edmond Memorial made its second straight appearance, but the Bulldogs didn’t have an answer for DeSoto’s depth, especially in the track events. Aside from Alysheia Joseph prevailing in the 100, Edmond Memorial managed only two additional points on the track, plus victories in the discus from junior Erin Talbott and high jump from sophomore Katelyn Levings. Jada Laye, Ja’Era Griffin, Deandria Hart, Bryannia Murphy and Cierra Wash lead one of the elite sprint corps in the nation for DeSoto.

EAST REGIONAL

Western Branch VA 96, Whitehaven TN 36

The Bruins sent coach Claude Toukene out in style with a 6A state title followed by a dominant performance at New Balance Nationals, making them a serious contender to challenge perennial Florida powers Miami Northwestern and St. Thomas Aquinas to reach the national championship. Western Branch won every event on the track in its first-round matchup, with Whitehaven only managing victories in the shot put with junior Michaela Brown and high jump with senior Ladasia Walton, along with an unopposed five points in the pole vault. Some of the most underrated contributors for Western Branch are junior Shardonnay Nichols in the middle distance and hurdle events, along with jumpers Jessica Tucker and Ltamra Weeks.

Hoover AL 95, Clinton MS 41

Following first-round losses in 2016 and 2017 against two-time national finalist Miami Northwestern FL, Hoover finally secured an opening-round win, relying on impressive performances in the hurdles, distance and jumping events to overcome a significant deficit in the sprints. Jayda Eckford, Trinity Williams and Olivia Womack helped contribute 27 points on the track for Clinton, but the Arrows managed only 12 points in the field events. Michelle Nkoudou and Chakiya Plummer were significant factors in the hurdles for Hoover, with Genesis Jones accounting for valuable points in the jumps.

Lincoln OH 78, Naperville North IL 58

A pair of programs making their first tournament appearances, resulted in an impressive sprint, middle-distance and relays showcase by Lincoln to establish a significant advantage that Naperville North couldn’t overcome. Amariah Thomas and Alexis Thigpen did their part for the Golden Lions in the sprints and relays, with juniors Madison Martinez and Shynae Deas providing a formidable duo in the 800. Freshman Faith Hunter was also a significant factor for Lincoln by winning the high jump. Naperville North received exceptional distance efforts from Sarah Schmitt and Alex Morris, in addition to junior Halle Bieber winning both hurdles races, along with a discus and shot put sweep from senior Sarah Wastek, but those performances weren’t enough to rally the Huskies.

St. Thomas Aquinas FL 65, Hamilton Southeastern IN 62

The most exciting first-round matchup witnessed Hamilton Southeastern make its first appearance representing Indiana and nearly stun Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas in a matchup that came down to the 4x400 relay. The Raiders benefited from sweeping the hurdles events and winning both relays to combat Hamilton Southeastern’s dominance of the distance races and producing an edge in the field events. Sophomores Zatoria Thompson and Jermecia Brown were stellar in the sprints for St. Thomas Aquinas, but it was senior Imani Christian, freshman Eddiyah Frye and sophomores Nikia Smith and Emelia Chatfield who delivered the hurdles sweep for the Raiders. Junior Lulu Black, sophomore Ellie Pedersen and junior Maddie Mirro kept the Royals within reach in the distance events, but even the efforts of Tierra Sydnor in the long jump and Valerie Obear in the discus throw weren’t enough for Hamilton Southeastern.

Marietta 85, Panther Creek NC 51

Marietta becomes the third Georgia school in as many years to prevail in a first-round matchup, winning every event on the track to overcome Panther Creek’s prowess in the field events. The meet highlighted two of the most versatile athletes in the country in Marietta’s Sterling Lester and Panther Creek’s Morgan Smalls. But the supporting cast of the Blue Devils wound up being the difference, with juniors Ani Henderson and Ellie Hall excelling in the distance events and freshmen Zoe Adams and McKenzie Waller rising to the occasion in the sprints. Even Smalls delivering a sweep of the jumps and Susanna Truitt winning the pole vault couldn’t propel the Catamounts to victory.

Union Catholic NJ 88.5, Rush-Henrietta NY 47.5

Despite the graduation of Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic still won its opening-round matchup for the third straight year and did so by relying on strength in the hurdles, plus valuable points in the high jump, pole vault and triple jump to offset the exceptional efforts of Rush-Henrietta’s Lanae-Tava Thomas. Amaya Chadwick, Felicia Quainoo and Brianna Ewing swept the 100 hurdles for the Vikings, who received significant field points from Alexandra Kwasnik, Tyler Scott and Asiah Cooper. Seniors Lindsay Johnson and Katey Ringo helped Rush-Henrietta win both throwing competitions, but even Thomas securing victories in three individual events and contributing to a relay triumph couldn’t lift the Royal Comets.  

Bullis School MD 83, Padua Academy DE 53

Bullis is back following a quarterfinal run last year and boasts an even better version, featuring an elite combination of sprinters, hurdlers and relays capable of competing with any team in the country. Padua is the first Delaware girls team to make the field, relying on senior Lydia Olivere and junior Elizabeth Bader in the distance events, along with Chioma Njoku and Ursula Dzik in the throwing competitions. But Bullis’ depth in the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and two relays outscored the Pandas in those seven events alone, with the Bulldogs benefiting from the veteran presence of Masai Russell, Sierra Leonard, Cierra Pyles, Ashley Seymour, Lauryn Harris, Leah Phillips and Kasey Ebb to handle whatever challenges that were placed in front of them.

Miami Northwestern FL 106, Waukesha West WI 30

On a mission to reclaim a championship after a narrow setback in last year’s final to Chandler AZ, Miami Northwestern might not be as deep this season following the graduation of Twanisha Terry, De’Andreah Young, Kaylah Clark and Taranique Alexander, but the Bulls still feature Ulani Toussaint, Ayoola Gbolade, Markalah Hart, Chanel Dawson, Alyssa Richard and Dascha Robinson, more than enough firepower to cruise past Waukesha West, the first Wisconsin girls team to make the tournament field. The Wolverines remained competitive in the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 thanks to the efforts of seniors Maddie Frey and Becca Langer, along with junior Allyssa Reeves, but only managed their remaining points in the high jump and pole vault.