By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

WEST REGIONAL

Duncanville TX 71, Minnetonka MN 65

With the teams splitting the six field events at 27 points apiece, Duncanville relied on its strengths in the sprints, hurdles and relays to overcome a sweep by Minnetonka in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 to advance to the elite eight for the first time. The Panthers, the UIL 6A state champions, were impressive in both relays with a 45.55 effort in the 4x100 and 3:45.60 performance in the 4x400 to secure the victory. Aaliyah Gipson, Sanyah Keeton, De’Kayla Simpson and Ashley Lister combined to sweep the 100 and 200 for Duncanville. Evie Malec, Ella Graham, Bridget Koller, Avery Marasco-Johnson, Kailey Lai and Meredith Gilles combined to produce 27 points in the distance events for the Skippers, who also received a 400 victory from Zeal Kuku. Indyia Walton came through with a pair of significant wins in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles for Duncanville, with Lister prevailing in the long jump, in addition to Ariyonna Edmond taking the top spot in the shot put and Alana Butler emerging victorious in the discus throw. Lucy Hiller triumphed in the triple jump, with Mya Folken and Winona Stone sharing the spotlight in the high jump with 5-6 clearances for Minnetonka, which also benefited from nine points in the pole vault since Duncanville did not field any entries.

Boise ID 72, Long Beach Wilson CA 64

The Brave relied on 44 points in the six field events, along with victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 to overcome the California state champions dominating the sprints, hurdles and relays, as Boise advanced to the regional semifinals for the second time in three years. Although Loren Webster won the long jump and Daqari Hampton prevailed in the triple jump for Long Beach Wilson, Boise grabbed all the remaining field-event points, including sweeps in the discus, shot put, high jump and pole vault. Suzi Woodall was victorious in the pole vault, Alexandra Gustavel took the high jump, Aurora Kyle won the discus and Alexis DeAlba was successful in the shot put for Boise, the Idaho 5A state champion. Allie Bruce also doubled up in the 1,600 and 3,200, with Lydia Nance winning the 800 for the Brave. Long Beach Wilson won the 4x100 and 4x400 in impressive fashion, in addition to finishing first and second in the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles to keep the pressure on Boise throughout the event. Aujane Luckey, Brooke Blue, Tarynn Maroney, Kaylin Edwards, Ma’Nia Tidwell and Webster all contributed valuable points on the track for the Bruins.

Cardinal Ritter College Prep MO 85, Niwot CO 50

Although Niwot accumulated 27 points from sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, in addition to winning the discus throw and shot put, Cardinal Ritter College Prep responded with victories in both the 4x100 and 4x400, along with sweeps in the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump to earn its first appearance in the elite eight in tournament history. Niwot, the Colorado 4A winner, endured a third consecutive second-round loss. Jade West triumphed in the discus and shot put for the Cougars, who had Madison Shults, Olivia Alessandrini, Addison Ritzenhein and Mia Prok combine to sweep the distance events. Charlye Moody emerged victorious against Shults in the 400, as well as contributing to the Lions’ sweeping the 100 and 200, joining forces with Aniyah Brown, Alexis Taylor, Brooklyn Brady and Kyndall Spain, who also took the top spot for Cardinal Ritter College Prep in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Taylor doubled in the long jump and triple jump, with Jordan Davis capturing the high jump and javelin throw for the Lions, with both teams contesting the latter event instead of only Niwot participating in the pole vault.

Bentonville AR 77.67, Lake Oswego OR 58.33

Lake Oswego enjoyed a memorable run to the regional final last year, but Arkansas 6A state winner Bentonville has continued to make the most of its tournament debut with another strong field-event showcase to overcome only two victories on the track against the Oregon 6A co-champion Lakers. Paisley Hight and Hannah Hanson led four Bentonville high jumpers with clearances of 5 feet or better, and were supported by sweeps in the long jump and triple jump, led by senior Emelia Thurston. Hight added a win in the 100 hurdles and Nadia Clark produced a shot put victory for the Tigers, edging Lake Oswego discus winner Casey Moran. Berit Ballew also captured the pole vault win for the Lakers. Although Lake Oswego relied heavily on Mia Brahe-Pedersen and Josie Donelson to accumulate 45 points on the track, including a sweep of both relays, Madison Galindo and Devyn O’Daniel were instrumental in Bentonville’s success in the distance events. O’Daniel won the 800 and Galindo emerged victorious in the 3,200 against Ana Peters, who won the mile distance for the Lakers.

EAST REGIONAL

Bullis School MD 84.5, Clinton MS 51.5

Following back-to-back second-round losses to Miami Northwestern High from Florida in 2018 and 2019, Bullis School has now advanced to the regional semifinals for the second year in a row and the third time overall in tournament history. Meagan Womack, Kaitlyn Walker and Ruby Romig swept the discus and shot put for Mississippi 6A state champion Clinton, which also took the top three spots in the 1,600 and 3,200, led by Evelyn Mata-O’Dwyer. Aside from the Arrows accumulating nine additional points in the pole vault, since the Bulldogs didn’t field any entries, the rest of the matchup belonged to Bullis. As if their 44.67 performance in the 4x100 and 3:36.25 effort in the 4x400 weren’t impressive enough, the Bulldogs swept the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, with Myla Greene factoring into both relays as well as winning both hurdling events. Sydney Sutton shined in the 200 and 400, with Jade Ofotan the catalyst for Bullis in the 100 and Lauren Leath demonstrating her versatility in the 800. Morgan Bridges was victorious in the high jump and triple jump, along with placing second in the long jump behind teammate Reagan Schwartz for the Bulldogs, the reigning tournament champion.

Gahanna Lincoln OH 70, Miami Northwestern FL 66

For the first time in the tournament’s seven-year existence, the Florida 3A state champion Bulls won’t be competing in the elite eight, with Lincoln handing Miami Northwestern its first second-round loss. The Golden Lions, the Ohio Division 1 title holder, also achieved a breakthrough by reaching the regional semifinals for the first time after losing to Bullis School from Maryland in the second round last year and another Florida power in St. Thomas Aquinas in 2018. Although neither team competed in the pole vault, even the addition of the javelin and nine uncontested points for Miami Northwestern wasn’t enough to propel the Bulls to victory. Shakynah Tresvant, Natyia Alexandre and Tamary Lee swept the triple jump for Miami Northwestern, which also received a win in the long jump from freshman Nyla Christian, as well as Jaiya Burchell helping the Bulls sweep the discus. But the usually reliable track performances for Miami Northwestern weren’t enough to keep pace with the Golden Lions, who won all eight individual events and split the relays against the Bulls. Camden Bentley doubled in the hurdling events, Ava Tominack was victorious in the 800 and 1,600, with Ayanna Stafford prevailing in the 100, Keena Sanders taking the 200, Amryne Chilton prevailing in the 400 and Ruby Lewis capturing the 3,200 for Lincoln, which also had Anna Sergio and Daisha Decree share the top spot in the high jump.

Miami Southridge FL 73, Hoover AL 63

Despite the loss by Miami Northwestern, Florida will still be represented in the regional semifinals thanks to 4A state winner Miami Southridge earning its first trip to the elite eight. Hoover, the Alabama 7A state champion, suffered a second-round loss in back-to-back years after reaching the regional semifinal in 2021. The Spartans benefited from winning both relays, along with taking the top two spots in the 100, 200, long jump and both hurdling events to overcome Hoover’s 38 points in the six field events. McKenzie Blackledge, Catherine Wallace and Lila Hunter earned important distance victories for the Buccaneers, who also had Laurin Mack triumph in the triple jump, Sydney Durban secure a javelin win, freshman Nyel Settles soar to the top spot in the high jump and Nicolette Lewis double up in the discus and shot put. Amaya Pleas and Shanaii Gamble finished first and second in the long jump for Miami Southridge, with Cynteria James and Somiyah Braggs contributing valuable points in the 100, 200 and 400 for the Spartans. Takiyah Ferguson, a junior, was victorious in both hurdling events for Miami Southridge, which also received significant contributions in the 800 from Leandra Ferrell and Pleas.

Union Catholic NJ 75, Padua Academy DE 61

The Vikings secured their fourth consecutive appearance in the regional semifinals and sixth in tournament history, the only blemish in the early rounds for Union Catholic coming in a 2018 setback in the Sweet 16 to Marietta High from Georgia. Although Padua Academy, the Delaware Division 1 state champion, was more competitive in the rematch following an 82.5-53.5 loss last year to Union Catholic, there wasn’t enough depth for the Pandas to prevail. The event was an outstanding showcase of two of the most well-rounded prep standouts in the country in Union Catholic sophomore Taylor Cox and Padua Academy junior Juliana Balon. Cox prevailed in the 100 against Balon, who earned victories in the 200, 400 and long jump in a showdown of 19-foot performers with Union Catholic’s Vonya Gould. Cox also swept both hurdling events for the Vikings, the eight-time New Jersey Non-Public A Group winner. Sophia Holgado triumphed in the 3,200 for Padua Academy, but Peyton Hollis and Kaleigh Gunsiorowski produced valuable points for Union Catholic in the 800 and 1,600. Alexa Frick edged the Vikings’ Emma Muir in the discus, with Mary Mancini taking the shot put and Elce Walsh earning the pole vault win for the Pandas. Alexandra Bonn was victorious in the triple jump and Ebony Turner captured the high jump for Union Catholic, which also swept the 4x100 and 4x400 en route to advancing again.