Day 1 of the state divisional track and field championships on Friday night featured some stellar performance, though no victories, for Flagstaff area distance runners.
In the Division 3 boys 1,600 meters, Flagstaff High sophomore Alex Bland finished a close second to Eastmark’s Bryson Nielsen, 4:19.60 to 4:19.85. Bland’s teammate, Elijah Talkalai placed sixth (4:26.92) and Coconino’s Laine Davis was 13th (4:32.51).
The time for Bland was good enough to land in the top 18 over all divisions and advance him to the next weekend’s “Super State” meet.
In the girls 3,200 meters, Basis Flagstaff senior Emily Mullaney, competing in Division 5, had the top local time, placing fourth in 11:29.96. That looks to be the 19th fastest time among all divisions, meaning she just missed qualifying for next week’s meet.
In the Division 3 race, Flagstaff High’s Olivia Baker and Taylor Biggambler finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with Baker, a junior, recording a time of 11:32.25 and Biggambler, a sophomore, 11:33.88. The top Coconino High finisher was Sara McCabe in 12th (12:18.72).
In the 800 meters, Bland was the top Division 3 boy, placing 10th in 1:59.36. Coconino’s Clayton Rhoton was 14th in 2:00.68. In Division 5, Basis’ Macabe Wood was 12th in 2:05.35, and Northland Prep’s Henry Wilder 15th in 2:06.42.
Today’s distance events include the boys 3,200 meters and the girls’ 1,600 and 800 meters.
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