So will Gilbert Williams Field hurdler Saira Prince, Red Mountain 800-meter runner Tyler Mathews and Mountain Pointe 400-meter runner Jayden Davis, who all set state records within an hour of each other at the Arcadia Invitational, be running in this week's divisional championships and preserve their energy for state with chances to go even faster than their state records? Justin said all of his top athletes will compete in both the divisional and state meets. More: Four Arizona HS track records fall during magical Saturday at Arcadia Invitational The top-six ranked athletes in each event automatically qualify for the state championships, but they need to be entered with the AIA by May 8 in order to participate. Years ago, I would have loved to have seen Chandler, Salpointe and North Canyon girls go head to head.'īut North Canyon coach Airabin Justin, who has built a girls track dynasty, wonders if some of the top athletes will skip divisionals to focus only on state next week. 'California with over 2,000 high schools has only one classification for state. 'It keeps the divisional meet that many coaches wanted and also creates the best versus the best, regardless of school size. 'I think it's great for the sport and the fans,' said longtime track and field expert David Shapiro, who helps the AIA put on meets. There will be teams scoring both the divisions and the state championships, so a team that doesn't win the division title still has a chance to win the state title.

The top 18 athletes in each event will advance to the state championships the following week at Mesa Community College in what in essence is the first Open state track and field championships, pitting the best from each of the five divisions into one meet.

This week, starting Thursday and finishing Saturday, are the divisional track and field championships, being held at Mesa Red Mountain (Divisions I, IV and V) and Glendale Deer Valley (Divisions II and III). The Arizona Interscholastic Association is entering a new world on the track in the next two weeks.

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