North Canyon junior runs fastest 800 time in meet history, elevates to No. 2 all-time in Arizona to lead parade of five girls records, including Burns, Fraley, Hall and Starkey

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

There were several potential elite matchups that either didn’t materialize or were put on hold, but that didn’t diminish one of the strongest all-around showcases by girls athletes in meet history at the 79th NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational.

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Four meet records were broken, another equaled and one just missed, with a personal best in the 800 meters by Dominique Mustin highlighting four victories for North Canyon AZ at Austin Field in Chandler, Ariz.

Although the anticipated showdown involving Mustin and state record-holder Morgan Foster didn’t develop in the 800 after the Chandler senior decided not to compete again following her victory in the Sally Meyerhoff mile earlier in the evening in a nation-leading 4 minutes, 49.01 seconds, it didn’t prevent the North Canyon junior from delivering the best race of her prep career.

Mustin clocked 2:06.99, elevating to No. 2 in Arizona history and second nationally this season, trailing only Foster’s 2:06.13 from March 7 at the Brophy Prep AMDG Invitational.

Mustin, whose previous best was 2:09.64, earned recognition as female track athlete of the meet.

Foster, whose 1,600 split was 4:47.03, elevated to No. 4 in meet history at both distances.

Although North Canyon junior Jadyn Mays didn’t eclipse a meet record, she was one of only two female athletes to win multiple individual events, along with West Ranch CA senior Natalie Ramirez sweeping the discus throw and shot put with marks of 148-8 (45.31m) and 44-2.50 (13.47m).

Mays clocked wind-legal efforts of 11.76 in the 100 and 23.99, although a potential matchup against Calabasas CA standout De’Anna Nowling in the latter didn’t unfold since the Miami (Florida) signee decided to rest a sore hamstring in preparation for trips to the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays and 52nd Arcadia Invitational in the next two weeks.

Mays and Mustin also teamed with Jayde Charlton and Athena Montgomery to win the 4x400 relay in 3:46.78, the third time in the past two seasons the Rattlers have run under 3:47.

Despite Nowling’s absence, Calabasas still won the 4x100 relay in 47.33, with Tierra Crockrell, Jade McDonald, Kyla Robinson-Hubbard and Bella Witt securing the victory for the Coyotes.

McDonald also prevailed in the triple jump with a leap of 38-9 (11.81m), with Witt finishing second in the 100 hurdles in 14.01 and third in the 200 in 24.73, in addition to Robinson-Hubbard taking third in the 300 hurdles in 43.47.

The 300 hurdles was one premier matchup that didn’t disappoint, with Valor Christian CO senior Anna Hall regrouping following frustrating performances in the javelin and high jump to set the meet record by clocking 41.58, holding off Arizona state record holder Ma’Kayla Dickerson of Betty H. Fairfax in 41.97.

Hall tied Highland AZ senior Cierra Tidwell in the high jump, with both athletes clearing 5-10 (1.77m). But Tidwell made the height on her first attempt, with Hall getting over the bar on her second try.

After neither individual cleared 6 feet (1.82m), Tidwell secured the victory on fewer attempts, both athletes just missing the 1995 meet record of 5-10.25 (1.78m) held by Jeanna McDowell of Highland AZ.

Hall also finished seventh in the javelin with a throw of 106-6 (32.46m), with Valley Christian AZ senior Chloe Fraley setting the meet record and elevating to No. 5 all-time in Arizona with a mark of 133-1 (40.56m).

Durango CO junior Madeleine Burns produced one of the most impressive highlights of the meet by not only winning the 3,200, but dropping nearly a minute off her previous-best performance to set the meet record.

Burns held off Chaparral AZ senior Abi Archer (10:38.05) to win in 10:36.96, significantly improving from her mark of 11:27.17 at last year’s Colorado 4A state final.

Casteel AZ junior Taylor Starkey equaled the pole vault meet record by clearing 13 feet (3.96m) and took attempts at an all-time Arizona record 13-5 (4.08m), securing female field event athlete of the meet honors. Her personal-best clearance remains 13-2.50 (4.03m) competing unattached indoors Feb. 9 at the Don Kirby Invitational in New Mexico.

After anchoring Grandview CO to victory in the 800-meter sprint medley relay Friday, junior Lily Williams returned to win the 400 in 54.89 and followed with a 2:20.22 to prevail in her section of the 800 and finish eighth overall.

Queen Creek senior Myreanna Bebe won the 100 hurdles in a wind-legal 13.81, fourth all-time at the meet and No. 6 in Arizona history.

St. Anthony CA sophomore Asjah Atkinson won the long jump with a leap of 18-7 (5.66m).