The 84th annual Chandler Rotary Track and Field meet did not disappoint over the weekend. Held at Chandler High's Austin Field, the event has become recognized as one of the nation's best, attracting top athletes from all over the Southwest. Save from some light rain showers later in the evening, the meet was a great showcase for Arizona's top track and field athletes, who broke state and meet records.

"We've really seen some great performances this year," longtime event director Dave Shapiro said Saturday evening. "It's really a testament to the quality growth our state has seen and the high level of athletes and coaches in our state." 

Among some of the best performers:

Kori Martin The Hamilton senior blazed her way to the top of the Arizona record book by clocking a 13.32 in the 100 meter hurdles. Martin nipped the record of 13.33 set last year by Williams Field’s Saira Prince.

"I knew I ran well but I didn't know right away that I'd set the record," said the Kentucky bound Martin. "I knew by the reaction of the crowd and by loooking at my coach it was a great time, but when I realized I set the record it was an amazing feeling. I have to give glory to God. I've been able to stay persistent in my training and race progressions and things have gone well."

Hamilton's Kori Martin clears a hurdle during her record breaking finish (13.39) in the 100 meter hurdles as Canyon View's Annaleise Taylor (left) finished second (13.96). Photo by Austin Pestka

 

Annaleise Taylor A senior from Canyon View, Taylor set a unique meet mark despite falling to Martin in the 100 meter hurdles with a 13.96 time. Taylor later won the 300 metter hurdles with a time of 41.79. It was signifigant as Taylor became the first athlete in meet history to run the 100 meter hurdles in under 14 seconds and the 300 under 42 seconds. 

"I'm really proud of myself and I'm so grateful for my teammates and coaches," Taylor said of her performance. "I'm exhausted but this has been a great day."

Canyon View’s Annaleise Taylor (center) became the first athlete in meet history to finish under 14 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles and under 42 in the 300 hurdles. Other top finishers in the 300 hurdles from left to right: Canyon View's Brooklyn Grizzell (4th), Xavier's Eleanor Borchard (2nd), Chandler's Imani Galera-Young (3rd), Sunnyslope's Aniyah Martin (5th). Photo by Ben Stapley

Mayen Uroso The Cesar Chavez super sophomore recorded the second fastest time in 200 meter state history with a 23.48 finish. Uroso also set the Chandler Rotary meet record in the 100 meters by running a 11.50.

Gabriella Garcia The Basha senior is headed to Oklahoma on a softball scholarship, but she's also the state's best javelin thrower. She became the  first athlete in Chandler Rotary history to win her event four years in a row, Garcia took first again with a distance of 159 feet and 2 inches. Garcia officially owns the second longest throw in Arizona history at 165-6. 

Taylor Searle It was almost a foregone conclusion that the senior from ALA-Queen Creek would take the pole vault competition. The question was how high the Montana native would set the bar--pun intended. After clearing 17-2 and setting the meet's all-time record, Searle decided to give the big crowd at Austin Field a show by attempting to break the all-time state record of 17 feet, seven inches. That was set by Cole Riddle of Valley Vista in 2017, and he was attending the event, along with other pole vault greats, and a standing room only crowd in the east bleachers.

  

Just as a light rain began, Searle had the bar raised to 18-8. Searle cleared 17-3 earlier in the season at the Aztect invitational, but he had yet to attempt 17-8 even in practice. He wasn't able to eclipse the mark, but Searle cherished the moment.

"The atmosphere was incredible," said Searle, who moved from Montana over the summer. I've never competed in front of a crowd like that. It was so fun getting them all involved with the clap. Between jumping at night, the crowd, Cole Riddle, Dean Starkey and Tray Oates and lots of my teammates from Arizona Pole Vault Academy all being there to watch made that my favorite meet I’ve ever jumped at."

ALA Queen Creek's Taylor Searle acknowledes fans after breaking the meet record by clearing 17 feet and two inches. Photo by Ben Stapley

Defending Open pole vault champions Sam Novak of Phoenix Country made another strong showing as he reached 16-3.

Vance Nilsson The Gilbert senior is ranked No. 1 in the country in the 300 meter hurdles and keeps getting better. Saturday's victory was no surprise, but he broke his own personal record with a time of 36.43 seconds.  Nilsson was nearly a full second ahead of Josiah Johnson out of El Paso, Texas (Immanuel Christian High). The closest Arizona competitor was Westwood's Legend Stewart (38.16). Nilsson is getting closer to the state record of 36.24, set by Brophy's Robert Grant. 

Nilsson also broke his own record in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 13.78.

Desert Edge This school is a speed factory and not just on the football field. Jamar Beal-Goines won the 100 meter dash by clocking a 10.43 while  while teammate David Cabrera finished fourth with a 10.54 time. Beal Goines also fifinished 4th in the 200 meters at 21.41. The juniors were also a part of Desert Edge's 4 by 100 meter relay team, which wowed spectators with a time of 41.49. Seniors Jonathan Kamara and Saviour Torue and made up the other half of the relay team.

 

For all meet results, go to: https://az.milesplit.com/meets/595418-chandler-rotary-invitational-2024/results