Maricopa track and field team heads to state

Members of the Maricopa High Schools boys and girls track and field teams will compete in the state championships Friday and Saturday.

It is the final event of the year and the culmination of a successful season for the team.

“This was the first year we have competed in the 3A division and I feel we did very well given our circumstances,” said girls coach Stephanie Walkely.

Those circumstances included a lack of a practice facility and a young team, according to school athletic director Mike Larson.

Ten members of the team qualified for the state tournament in a series of events.

Qualifying for the 100 and 200-meter dash is sophomore Brittany Parks.

Parks is ranked number one in the division in both events and finished in first in both events in regional.

“Brittany is very fast. She is almost an entire second ahead of the competition,” Walkely said.

In addition to qualifying for the 100- and 200-meter dash, Parks is a member of the qualifying girls 4-by-1 relay, which is ranked third going into the competition.

The other three members of the team are sophomores Jalissa Bell and Khrystal Neal, and freshman Angelique Olivas.

“This team is very good and has a chance of winning it all,” Walkely said.

The 4-by-8 team also qualified for the tournament.

On this team are three freshmen, Sandin Mitchell, Karissa Browning and Angelica Martinez; and one sophomore, Alyssa Joaquin.

The 4-by one team is ranked No. 16.

In other singles events are Alexis Hugez, who is competing in the triple jump, Khrystal Neal, who is competing in the high jump, Dee Streety, who is competing in the shot put, and Matt Farnan, who is competing in the discus throw.

Any team or individual to finish in first place will be invited to the Meet of Champions May 24 at Sandra Day O’Conner High School in Phoenix.

If you go:
What: State track and field championships
Where: Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Ave., Mesa 85204
When: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: $5 per day

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