By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

WEST REGIONAL

Desert Vista AZ 72.66, Westmoore OK 54.33

For all of its success on the track, and Westmoore of Oklahoma had tons of it this spring, the field events didn't measure up to the Arizona champions from Desert Vista. Oklahoma only contests five field events and Desert Vista outscored Westmoore in those, 40.66 to 4.33. David Nation and Derek Staples were part of sweeps in the shot put and discus and Brayden Mauser led a sweep in the pole vault. Westmoore racked up 165 points along the way to the Oklahoma Class 6A title and took a mid-season trip to Penn Relays to show off its sprint corps, led by Angel Duarte Hedrick, Kevion Williams, Kolton Bennett and hurdler Xavier Simpkins. But Desert Vista's powerful distance lineup, led by Noah Jodon and Gabe Parham, canceled out some of Westmoore's advantages elsewhere. A year after bowing out in the first round, Westmoore made it to the second for the first time. 

Orem UT 73, Dowling Catholic IA 45

The Bryant brothers, Mark and Erik, gave Orem a powerful set of throwers who both went past 60 feet and were separated by just two inches at the Utah state championships. Their older brother Danny throws for BYU and their younger brother Matthew is already making waves before entering high school. In the second-round matchup with Iowa champions Dowling Catholic, Orem had a 34-2 advantage in the four field events, which cracked open a meet that was competitive on the track. (Iowa only contests four field events). Dowling Catholic sprinter Mikey McClain cruised to victories in the 100 and 200 and anchored the winning 4x100 relay. DC's depth in the distance events was blunted somewhat by Tayson Echohawk's presence in the 800 through the 3,200.  

Fresno Central CA 72, Rock Bridge MO 57

Rock Bridge proved to be a capable matchup for Fresno Central in the sprints, where Chris Giles and Casey Hood went 1-3 in the 100 and managed to keep things close in the 200 and 400 against the California state champs. Rock Bridge even wins a high-quality showdown in the 4x200, 1:24.90 (Missouri's all-time record) to 1:24.99. It was the field events where Fresno Central gained separation from the Missouri champions and advanced to the regional semifinals. Colin Garrett was a double winner in the shot put and discus, Kamoni Reams led a sweep in the high jump and Jabari King won the long and triple jumps. Fresno Central outscored Rock Bridge 43-11 across the six field events, making up for its losses in the distance events. Andrew Hauser, Ian Kemey, Weston Jokerst and Hudson Summerall did their part for Rock Bridge, sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. 

Humble Summer Creek TX 97, Century ND 39

The Texas 6A champions showed off their superiority in the sprints, hurdles, relays and field events as they dispatched the 2021 West Region champions from North Dakota. Century's highlights came in the distance events, where Griffin House led sweeps of the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters. In most cases, even where Century was strong, Summer Creek was stronger. In the shot put, Century had four throwers over 50 feet. Summer Creek also had four, including the two best in Justin Craft (60-6.75) and Jaylen Mayes (55-11). Darius Cook won the high jump (6-6), edging out Century's Brooks Turner and Ryan Brynjolfson, both at 6-5. Darius Rainey led a Summer Creek sweep of the 400 and Donovan Bradley swept the hurdles events. Summer Creek advances to the regional semifinal for the second straight year. 

EAST REGIONAL

Hoover AL 97, Shenendehowa Central NY 39

Field event supremacy has become a theme for teams advancing out of the second round of the tournament. Hoover, the 7A champion from Alabama, has been revealed as a championship contender and used its depth to make this matchup with the New York co-champions a rout. Carter Cukerstein won the 100 and 200 and Nathan Brimhall pulled out wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Shenendehowa also won the 4x100 relay and Jason Colindres won a hurdles race. Hoover won everything else and posted 1-2-3 sweeps in four field events. That included wins by Jay Avery in the long jump (23-1.50) and triple jump (49-1.50w). Avery and teammate Jordan Woolen led a sweep in the high jump, both clearing 6-2. 

St. Thomas Aquinas FL 74, South Lakes VA 62

 A dual meet between these two schools would bring together nine boys who ran under two minutes for 800 meters this year, including six for South Lakes, the Virginia Class 6A champion. Gavin Anthony's victory (1:54.81) over STA's Anthony Herrera (1:55.28) was one of the highlights for South Lakes, who also got a victory from Spencer Line in the 3,200 and a 1-2-3 sweep in that event plus the 1,600. But the Florida Class 3A champions used King Mack and superior sprint power in the relays to gain a decisive advantage and advance to the next round. Without the two relays wins, it's a two-point win for St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Shiloh GA 84, Batavia IL 52

The Georgia state champs won 11 of the 16 events contested against the Illinois Class 3A champions and the Generals from Snellville, Ga. didn't take a single zero, demonstrating depth across the board. Nathan Solomon led the way with victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and Bryce Southerland and Christian Barker won the hurdles races. Batavia got 1-2 finishes in the discus and the pole vault, with Nicholas Fortino (15-5.75) and Gabriel Benkers (14-0). In the six field events, Batavia held a 34-20 advantage, but it wasn't enough to overcome Shiloh's depth and speed on the track. 

Butler Area PA 74, Salesianum DE 67

In a clash of Mid-Atlantic heavyweights, the Pennsylvania champions edged out the Delaware champs. Because the 4x800 is a strength for both teams, it was scored: Butler won it 7:49.02 to 7:59.10 and those five points make the outcome look a bit wider than it really was. Without the 4x800 scored, Butler Area wins by two. It was a close meet throughout, with Michael Portale and the Sallies' sprinters factoring in for big points in the 100, 200 and 4x100. CJ Singleton led the Butler distance group to victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 to balance out Salesianum's sprints. Jacob Pomykata got a big win for Butler Area in the discus and Tyler Rekich led a sweep in the long jump to push the Tornados into the third round.