Three Qualify for State

As the season progressed, FHS T&F saw several student-athletes with top finishes.

Lillian Hansen (JR) saw much success in the 400m, finishing 3rd in her first attempt at this event at the San Tan Foothills HS Meet on 3/9/22. Hansen even had 1st Place finishes at the San Tan Foothills Meet on 4/6/22, the Poston Butte HS Meet on 4/13/22, and at our Home Meet on 4/20/22.

Josh Jackson had Top-6 finishes in every 100m and 200m race he competed in. Jackson had 1st Place finishes in the 200m at the VCHS Non-Qualifier (our first competition of the season) on 3/2/22, and at the San Tan Foothills Meet on 4/6/22. He also had a 1st Place finish in the 100m at STFHS on 4/6/22.

Sean Prendergast had top finishes as well, including a 1st Place finish in the 400m at our Home Meet, 1st Place finishes in the Long Jump at the Poston Butte HS Meet, at STFHS on 4/6/22, and at our Home Meet. He even had a 1st Place finish on 4/6/22 in the Triple Jump.

Although these accomplishments are testaments to the athletic abilities of Hansen, Jackson, and Prendergast, they did not meet the standards set in their events to qualify for State Championships.

At the Sabercat Co-Ed Relays on 4/1/22, Wrangler Guilliams finished 2nd in the Shot Put. His 45' 0" mark set his new PR and met the automatic qualifying standard for State. Guilliams previously met the provisional standard at the Safford Bulldog Invitational on 3/11/22 with his 3rd Place finish (44' 8"). Guilliams also met the automatic qualifying standard in the Discus at the Safford Rotary Invitational on 4/22/22, where he finished 3rd Overall and set his new PR with his 132' 5" mark, after meeting the provisional standard at the Sabercat Co-Ed Relays on 4/1/22 with his 125' 2" throw and a 2nd Place finish.

Kendra Johnson proved to be a force all season long. Johnson had Top-3 finishes in all but one competition this season in both the 100m and 200m sprints. In that one race, she finished 4th at the East Valley Qualifier on 4/29/22. It was at the East Valley Qualifier where had statement races in the 100m Prelims and Finals. Johnson's 12.95 finish in the prelims not only earned her a spot in the finals later that day, but also punched her ticket to State as she met the automatic qualifying standard. In the 100m Finals, Johnson beat her own time from earlier that day and finished 1st Overall with her 12.84 finish. In similar fashion, Johnson met the 200m qualifying standard in during the prelims in the 200m at the East Valley Qualifier (27.43), and beat that time in the finals (27.26). Johnson met the provisional standard in the Long Jump, but did not make the final cut for State.

Ryan King was our boys' team's #2 thrower all season and had Top-6 finishes at multiple competitions in both the Shot Put and Discus. At the Safford Rotary Invitational, King punched his ticket to State with his PR-setting 44' 8.75" throw and a 5th Place finish that day. Although King did enjoy some success in the Discus, his PR setting mark of 111' 6" at the Sabercat Co-Ed Relays was a few feet short of the qualifying standard for State.

Congratulations to our Seniors, Kendra Johnson and Ryan King, and our Junior, Wrangler Guilliams, for earning their spots at the 2022 AIA Div III Track & Field State Championships.

*Photos courtesy of FHS Track & Field and King Photography AZ