Desert Vista girls, Mtn. View boys win at HoHoKam Invite

May 1, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Depth was the key ingredient for the Desert Vista girls and  Mesa Mountain View boys track teams in winning team titles on Saturday of  the Mesa HoHoKam Track and Field Invitational at Westwood High.

Desert Vista's girls claimed one individual championship (Yasmine Yacut in the 800 meters) and won the 1,600-meter relay. Desert Vista finished with 99 points followed by Mountain View 87 3/4. Xavier 76, Hamilton 59 3/4 and Highland 47.

Mountain View's boys did not win an individual event or a relay and amassed 90 points to outdistance runner-up Desert Vista (65), Brophy (64),  Mountain Pointe (40) and Corona del Sol (39).

Most of the areas elite athletes either skipped the meet with state qualifying times already in hand or ran in the prelims only.

There were several athletes who stood out led by two Hamilton girls -- Destiny Lundy and Ashlee Moore. Lundy won two events (100 meters and 400 meters) and finished second in the 200. Moore, a freshman, came within  1/4 of an inch of setting a state record for a freshman in teh high jump. Moore cleared 5-8 1/2 inches. The record was 5-8 3/4.

For the boys Brophy sprinter Devon Allen was the lone multi-event winner, capturing the 100 meters and 200 meters titles. Basha pole vaulter Garrett Starkey won the event posting a season-best  with a vault of 15 feet, 8 inches.

Other boys event winners were: Desert Vista's Matt Smith (110 high hurdles) Eric Hernandez (300 intermediate hurdles) and Jarek Hilgers (long jump); Brophy's Thomas Williams (1,600 meters) and Will Firth (3,200 meters); Mountain Pointe's Martin Moriel (400 meters); Highland's David Graham (800 meters) and Josh Hamberlin (discus); Chandler's Eddie Wilcox (high jump); Casa Grande's Benjamin Ngonomo (triple jump) and Mesa High's Talaiasi Tauel (shot put). Dobson won the 3,200 relay; Marcos de Niza the 400 relay and Corona del Sol the 1,600 relay.

Other girls event winners were: Mountain View's Brianna Decker (3,200 meters); Chloe Richardson (triple jump); and Lindsey Pew (pole vault). Highland's Maleah McMullin tied Pew for fiirst in the pole vault at 11 feet; Chandler's Sherrelle Jordan (100 high hurdles) and Ky Westbrook (200 meters); Xavier's Katie Penney (1,600 meters); Hamilton's Victoria McArthur (300 low hurdles); Mountain Pointe's Shaman Bailey (long jump); Basha's McKayla Ferris (discus) and Dobson's Jessica Schmitt (shot put). Xavier won the 3,200 relay, Desert Edge won the 400 relay and Desert Vista took first in the 1,600 relay.