By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 82nd NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational is scheduled for Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26 at Austin Field at Chandler High.

WATCH THE LIVE WEBCAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH RUNNERSPACE+PLUS

Here are 10 storylines to keep an eye on at one of the most prestigious high school meets in the country:

These throws might steal the show

If last year was any indication as to how promising the girls javelin competition could be Saturday, the three elite competitors from the meet all went on to finish in the top five in June at The Outdoor Nationals Presented by Nike at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Although national champion Kohana Nakato of Summit High is now at the University of Oregon and fourth-place finisher Jade Kwinn from Sabino High is competing as a freshman at Northern Arizona, the top prep performer in the U.S. this season is Basha sophomore Gabriella Garcia.

Following a runner-up performance at last year’s event with a mark of 134-5 (40.97), trailing Nakato’s meet record of 138-8 (42.26m), Garcia went on to conclude her freshman season by placing second in the Arizona Division 1 state final at 147-7 (44.98m) and finishing fifth at the national championships with a throw of 152-8 (46.54m).

She has already surpassed the Arizona sophomore all-time mark March 11 with her national-leading performance of 163-1 (49.70m) at The Arizona Open at Seton Catholic High, along with elevating to the No. 2 competitor in state history. It was also the best high school mark ever achieved on Arizona soil.

The Arizona record of 171-9 (52.34m) set by former Chandler standout and Texas Tech All-American Hannah Carson from 2010 in Arlington, Texas, is the next big target for Garcia, who will be joined in the competition by Aislin Martinez-Pompa of Cienega.

Martinez-Pompa took 16th at the national final in Oregon with a throw of 128 feet (39.02m) after winning the Arizona Division 2 title last year with a personal-best 130-6 (39.77m). Kimberlee Eich of Snowflake is also entered with a personal-best 123-9 (37.71m).

Standing in line for a chance at sub-9

Although it will be a tough act to follow to match the depth of last year’s boys 3,200-meter field, there is another impressive lineup assembled seeking sub-9 performances and possibly taking aim at the meet record of 8:57.51 achieved by Niwot standout and Stanford-bound Zane Bergen.

Like Bergen and fellow sub-9 performers James Overberg of Centaurus and Erik Le Roux of Cheyenne Mountain did last year, several Colorado athletes are looking to benefit from running closer to sea level and in favorable conditions under the lights Saturday night.

Ty Garrett of Valor Christian and Joey Hendershot of Niwot are looking to join the talented trio from last season among the group of sub-9 athletes in meet history, and possibly challenging Bergen’s record after he clocked 8:59.75 last year.

Jackson Keefer of Summit High has traveled from Oregon seeking strong competition from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona athletes, with the host state boasting Terrence Keyes from Gilbert, Nate Pestka of Shadow Mountain and Logan Marek representing Ironwood Ridge.

Marek demonstrated his impressive fitness Jan. 22 at the Sundown Track series event at Eastmark High by winning the 3,200 in 9:00.61.

Rendon Kuykendall of Hope Christian in New Mexico is also a legitimate contender to challenge the 9-minute barrier.

Magnificent Moorer seeks hurdling highlights

North Canyon senior Joy Moorer, a Texas A&M signee, has the potential to take down both the meet and Arizona state records with one memorable performance Saturday in the 300-meter hurdles.

Moorer, the reigning Division 2 state champion with her 41.69 effort last year, has both all-time marks in her sights at Chandler High.

The 2019 meet record of 41.58 was established by former Valor Christian High of Colorado star Anna Hall, the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor pentathlon champion at Florida.

The Arizona all-time mark was established by the athlete who finished second at the 2019 meet behind Hall, as Ma’Kayla Dickerson of Betty H. Fairfax, now competing at Arizona State, went on to run 41.38 later that season to capture the Division 2 state title.

Moorer showcased her impressive form March 18 by winning the Brophy AMDG Invitational in 42.38 at Brophy Prep, a mark that puts her among the top three prep athletes in the country this season.

She is also entered in the 100-meter hurdles, with opportunities to compete against Saira Prince of Williams Field and Neya Jamison of Chaparral, in addition to North Canyon being scheduled to run the 4x400 relay.

Prince prevailed against Moorer in the Division 2 state final last year by a 14.25 to 14.42 margin. Prince, a junior, won the 100 hurdles in 14.32 at Brophy Prep.

North Canyon boasts the top 4x400 effort in the state this year at 3:50.09 from Brophy Prep, with Moorer being joined by Naomi Malone, J’Neya Hill and Jaida Steward. The Rattlers prevailed by more than three seconds against Chandler, but could also face challenges from Roosevelt High in California and El Paso Franklin from Texas.

This quarter could be pure gold

The boys 400 meters could feature the deepest field in meet history, with at least four competitors capable of challenging the 2017 meet record of 47.15 by North Canyon’s Tyrees Moulton and possibly dipping under the 47-second mark.

Only twice have there been three athletes running under 48 seconds in the same race at Chandler, with the feat achieved in 2009 and 2016, but Saturday’s lineup has plenty of potential to surpass that total.

Avaunt Ortiz, a junior at McClintock, won the Brophy AMDG Invitational in 47.26, ahead of Mountain Pointe junior Jayden Davis at 47.51.

Those athletes will have an opportunity to square off again, along with the presence of Maleik Pabon of Bishop Gorman High in Nevada, who ran 47.62 last year to win the 5A Southern Regional final. The fastest time achieved at the meet by an athlete outside of Arizona is a 47.27 effort in 2019 by Solomon Strader, a West Ranch High of California graduate now at the University of Miami.

Not to be overshadowed is reigning meet winner Jaedyn Carpenter of Millennium, who ran 47.96 to prevail last season.

Carpenter, Ortiz and Pabon are also scheduled to compete in the 200 meters. Pabon boasts the top entry mark with a wind-aided 21.19 from last year’s Nevada 5A Southern Regional.

Shults looks to shine again

The Sally Meyerhoff girls mile could provide a strong indication as to what the postseason picture might look like in Colorado come May, with several of the state’s top athletes taking center stage Saturday.

Madison Shults of Niwot, who produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in meet history last year to edge Riley Stewart of Cherry Creek by a 4:47.15 to 4:47.45 margin, returns to compete against Bethany Michalak of Air Academy, Brooke Wilson of Valor Christian, Katelyn Maley of Basalt, Maelynn Higgins of Broomfield and Niwot teammate Eva Klingbeil.

Shults trailed Stewart 4:45.77 to 4:45.81 at the 1,600-meter mark, before completing her rally to secure the victory and achieve the No. 4 mile performance in meet history.

The all-time Sally Meyerhoff mile mark of 4:46.17 by Dani Jones, a Desert Vista graduate and national champion at Colorado, has stood since 2015. Jones split 4:44.46 in the 1,600 in that race.

The fastest Colorado performance at Chandler belongs to Brie Oakley of Grandview, who went on to compete at Cal, with her 4:46.97 effort that edged Allie Schadler of Rio Rico in 4:46.98 in 2017. Jones, Oakley and Schadler, an All-American at Washington, remain the only competitors to run under 4:47 for the mile in meet history.

Along with the Colorado competitors, the additions of Ella Thorsett from Summit High and Addi Bruening of Herriman High in Utah provide even more excitement, as well as Arizona Division 3 state champion Kylie Wild of Salpointe Catholic seeking her first career sub-5 performance.

Another middle-distance masterpiece in store

The oldest individual boys track record in meet history could be challenged Saturday in the boys 800-meter showdown involving Jared Laverty of El Paso Americas from Texas and Connor McCormick of Longmont High in Colorado.

James Eichberger of Catalina High in Arizona established the all-time mark of 1:51.55 in 2008 in a quality matchup against John Kline of Desert Vista, who ran 1:52.33.

Only one athlete, Jericho Cleveland of Volcano Vista High in New Mexico, has run under 1:53 at the meet since then with his victorious 1:52.78 effort in 2018.

Laverty, an Incarnate Word commit, ran a program-record 1:52.68 at the Texas Distance Festival to finish behind Drew Costelow of Valor Christian, who clocked 1:51.94. Costelow is entered in the boys mile Saturday at Chandler.

McCormick, a Princeton-bound senior, ran 1:53.32 at last year’s Colorado 4A state final to finish second behind Niwot’s Zane Bergen in 1:51.26. McCormick could also be a significant factor Saturday in the mile with a 1,600 personal-best effort of 4:13.47 run in Colorado.

Logan Marek of Ironwood Ridge ran 1:55.63 on March 12 at the Nighthawk Early Bird Invite and could be dangerous with his strength in the 1,600 and 3,200. Marek is also entered in the mile, with the athletes chasing the 2014 meet record of 4:08 flat held by Cerake Geberkidane of Denver East. 

Henderson returns as a familiar face in a new place

After winning a combined six state titles for Chandler at the Arizona Division 1 championships in 2019 and 2021, senior Trinity Henderson transferred to Mountain Pointe during the offseason.

Henderson is scheduled to return to Chandler for the first time this year and is entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meters, along with being available for the Pride in the 4x100 relay.

She boasts personal-best marks of 11.75, 23.81 and 54.99 and is considered one of the most well-rounded sprinters in Arizona prep history.

Henderson is expected to square off against former Chandler teammate Jocelyn Johnson, but will also be challenged in the 100-meter dash by Lainey Jones of Highland High in Arizona. Also entered is Chandler freshman S’Niyah Cade, who has already run 11.97 in the 100 and 24.63 in the 200.

Exciting matchups could develop in the 200 and 400 for Henderson against Naomi Johnson of Roosevelt Hgh in California, who boasts a personal-best 54.38 from 2019.

Stacey Onyepunuka of Agua Fria High, the reigning meet champion in the 200 and Division 2 state winner in the event, is also scheduled to compete with a personal-best 24.07.

Vazquez ready to showcase versatility

Yan Vazquez, a senior at Red Mountain High and the reigning Arizona Division 1 champion in the 300-meter hurdles, has the potential to achieve success Saturday in both the hurdling events and the high jump.

Vazquez ranks No. 5 all-time in state history in the 300 hurdles with his 36.68 performance at last year’s state final and has the potential to challenge the 2018 meet record of 36.58 established by Westwood graduate and Texas A&M standout James Smith, Jr.

The 2014 state all-time mark of 36.24 achieved by Bobby Grant of Brophy Prep is also providing motivation for Vazquez, who swept both hurdling events at the Brophy AMDG Invitational by clocking 14.29 and 37.44.

A showdown with Ryan Trane of Weber High in Utah, who ran 13.95 seconds last year, should be a good opportunity for Vazquez in preparation for the 300 hurdles later Saturday. Trane took third in the 60-meter hurdles at the adidas indoor nationals in Virginia Beach.

Vazquez is also the top entry in the high jump, following his 6-7 (2.00m) clearance March 5 at the Aztec Invitational at Corona del Sol High.

Kwabena Banahene of Rancho Cucamonga High in California enters the high jump competition with momentum following a personal-best 6-6 (1.98m) clearance March 12 at the team’s own Kickoff Classic.

Littlewood primed to join long jump elite

Catherine Littlewood of Queen Creek is the returning long jump champion following an 18-9 (5.71m) performance last year, but the junior has since developed into a consistent 19-foot performer, including a wind-aided 19-6.25 (5.94m) in May at the Arizona state multis competition.

Littlewood won the Willie Williams Classic event March 19 with a wind-legal best of 19-1 (5.81m) and has the potential to become only the fourth female competitor in meet history to surpass 19 feet, joining U.S. Olympian and collegiate record holder Tara Davis of Agoura High in California in 2017 and a pair of Chandler standouts in Jasmine Todd and Jai Gruenwald.

Littlewood won’t be alone in her quest, as the long jump boasts the deepest group of competitors among the girls field events, with North Canyon’s Gloriah Hussey, Tolleson Union’s Nyjah Green, Perry’s Brenna Rodriguez, Pinnacle’s Alexa Hamilton, Chaparral’s Clare Palin and Salpointe Catholic’s Paris Mikinski all capable of jumping beyond 18 feet.

Mikinski also prevailed in the high jump last year by clearing 5-6 (1.67m), but produced a personal-best 5-7.75 (1.72m) in May at the Arizona state multis competition.

A proper name pursuing a profound debut

Sir-Jonathan Sims, a transfer from Hermitage High in Virginia, will make his first appearance at the Chandler Rotary meet for the host Wolves and is looking to leave a lasting impression.

Sims triumphed at the Rattler Booster event March 12 at North Canyon with a personal-best 47-4 (14.42m), but has produced much bigger jumps in practice already this season.

There has not been a 48-foot triple jump achieved at the meet since 2014, with Chandler’s Imani Lee just missing the barrier with his victorious 47-11.50 (14.61m) effort in 2017.

The two greatest prep triple jumpers in Arizona prep history, Chandler’s Bryce Lamb and Mountain Pointe’s Will Claye, also boast the top two all-time meet performances. Claye has secured multiple global medals for the U.S., along with being an NCAA Division 1 champion at Florida, with Lamb also capturing an NCAA title at Texas Tech.

KeAndre Bates of El Paso Burgess, a  three-time NCAA Division 1 champion at Florida, is the only other athlete to soar past 49 feet at the Chandler Rotary event.

Sims is looking to become the seventh male competitor in meet history to achieve at least 48 feet. Teammate Jamere Haskell along with Kayden Gonzalez of Farmington High are both looking to produce 46-foot performances.

Sims is also entered in the long jump, primed for a showdown with reigning champion Quinton Patterson of Desert Mountain, who achieved a leap of 23-9.50 (7.25m) last year, as well as Jacques Jones of Mountain Pointe.