As we arrive at the eve of the 2021 NMAA A State Track and Field Championships, we look at some of the best matchups to see tomorrow. This will include a pair of sister duos, 8th, and 9th-grade newcomers, defending champions, and those multi-talented athletes of class A that seem to do it all and then some for their team.
Related:
Girls 100m/200m
This field includes a stacked field consisting of multi-talented athletes like Tanna Crisp who holds the top mark in class A, Logan's Sierra Horne while a newcomer in Kaylee Williams, Sofia De Groot, Natalie Smith and look out for Jemez Valley's Amyah Chosa who will be in the second-fastest heat for the 100m. These will be finals separated by three heats with the top 8 fastest scorings from the heats.
Girls Long Jump
How about a duo team matchup with Clovis Christian's Lola and Sofia De Groot taking on Logan's Sierra Horne and Kaylee Williams for the long jump title. The only certainty is that we can expect some major points to be gained by both squads for that team standings.
Boys and Girls Triple Jump
We come with a short turnaround to see a sister competition with the De Groot's as Lola will attempt to defend her 2019 title against her younger sister who placed fifth at the last championships. For the boys' matchup, Dawson Teune fresh off of high jump will go against Brandon Burkeen of Mountainair as both of them are the only ones to clear 40ft this season.
Girls 800m
Riley Clavel was 5th in 2019 while Hannah Lilley is the defending 1600m champion, expect a close race between them after Riley has completed the 100m and javelin while Hannah will have just ran a 400m final and also javelin.
Boys/Girls High Jump
Clovis Christian's Dawson Teune with ideal conditions could go on a hot streak and might be able to clear some new personal bests also with the competition from Kael Stephens and D'Shaun Vinyard of Magdalena could see the bar being raised all day. Girls high jump, we are talking about none other than the defending state champion and record holder Lola De Groot. At the time 5'3" is what claimed her record, her season-best going into state will be 5'5" and of course we are all hoping for more magic to shine once again this year.
Photo by Jaren Brooks
Multi-event athletes
This is why we love the small classifications that rely on a handful of athletes across numerous events to stack up those team scores. To name a few athletes to keep an eye on, Derek Tarman, Amyah Chosa, Noah Bugayong, Riley Clavel, Tanna Crisp, Lola De Groot, and Sofia De Groot. Also will see how these athletes fair with a single day of finals action with a short turnaround.
Relays! Relays! Relays!
How about some championship relay action that for the first time all season will be able to see more than three or four relay teams competing at once. Expect an exciting atmosphere and even an interesting first time ever seeing the 4x800m being contested for some hardware at the state meet.
Photo by Jaren Brooks
Other notes:
Cade Brazil is in a league of his own this season in the javelin (SB 160-4) and is closing in on the class A record set by Jude Segura in 2019 which stands at 165-7.
Riley Clavel has already thrown over the standing state record of 110-5 set by Valeri Overstreet from 2016 and let's hope she furthers the mark in her route to defending her title from 2019.
Paityn Nicholson is already the state record holder and defending champion in girls shot put but will attempt to capture a duel victory with the Discus and also aim for that state record as well.
2019 NMAA A Girls 1600m Final
Watch as Gateway Christian's then freshmen, Hannah Lilley captured a state title in the 1600m on a wet and breezy May afternoon in 5:50.65.
