By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Second-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional semifinal summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

WEST REGIONAL

Bentonville AR 80, Hamilton AZ 61

A year after the Bentonville girls made a deep run in the tournament, the boys from the traditional power in Arkansas have booked a spot in the national finals after knocking out the Arizona champions from Hamilton.

Distance running in a strength at Hamilton, but a once-in-lifetime combination of runners at Bentonville won th 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters by a combined score of 23-4. Brian Burns (1:49.43/4:04.8), Matthew Shelly, (4:04.12/8:48.76), Owen Kelley (8:48.41) and Carter Beasley (1:50.41) didn't beat Hamilton by themselves. Thrower Will Neumann, a junior, was an unsung hero as well, winning the shot put with 58-10 and sending the discus 183-9. 

Hamilton's effort included sweeps in the 400 meters, led by Ty Johnson's 46.91, and the triple jump, where Daniel-John Onwuamaegbu (48-10) led the team. Onwuamaegbu also paired with Maurice Cole to go 1-2 in the high jump. 

EAST REGIONAL

Bloomington North IN 71, Vestavia Hills AL 61

Perhaps it's fitting that teams from Indiana and Alabama met to decide the East region title. The two states, over the course of the John Dye Dual Meet Championship going back to 2016, have consistently been two of the strongest. Alabama has two national title wins - Auburn in 2016 and Hoover in 2018. Indiana has two wins as well - Carmel in 2021 and Brownsburg in 2023. In this matchup, Bloomington North followed a similar pattern to its previous wins. It overcame losses in the sprints with high quality distance running, hurdling and field events. 

Caleb Winders, who ran 1:46.85 for the No. 7 all-time in the 800 meters, was the brightest star in the meet and he also anchored his team to wins in the 4x400 and 4x800. Caelen D'Onofrio won the 1,600 (4:07.92) and Jacob Mitchell won the 3,200 in 8:57.95. All three of those guys are juniors. 

Bloomington North got a key 1-2-3 sweep of the discus with junior Adis Hamidovic (174-3) and freshmen William H Walters IV and Quinn Walters helping the team gain some separation in a close meet. 

Vestavia Hills won three of the five field events. Jack Stubbs and Nate Bradshaw both went well past 23 feet for a 1-2 finish in the long jump. Stubbs and Chase Webb dominated the 100 and 200.