Garcia, the top thrower in the country, enjoys strong series highlighted by 159-4 (48.56m), with Roosevelt’s Johnson, Chandler’s Cade and Niwot’s Klingbeil all earning multiple victories; Moorer edges Jamison in 300 hurdles, Littlewood repeats in long jump and Highland holds on for 4x400 win

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it was an ambitious freshman sprinter from the host school or a consistent veteran from one of the top distance programs in the country, there were plenty of highlights Saturday night at the 82nd NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational.

But the marquee attractions came from the country’s top prep javelin thrower and a UCLA-bound athlete who enjoyed a meaningful return to Austin Field for the first time since her freshman season in 2019.

RESULTS | RACE VIDEOS | INTERVIEWS

Sophomore Gabriella Garcia of Basha High in Arizona followed her nation-leading effort March 11 at The Arizona Open with the most impressive series of her career, producing four throws over 154 feet, including the meet-record 159-4 (48.56m) in the third round to earn top field event athlete honors, setting the stage for an exceptional night of female competition inside the adjacent stadium.

Naomi Johnson of Eastvale Roosevelt High in California secured the top girls track competitor of the meet by clocking a lifetime-best 54.17 seconds in the 400 meters, elevating to No. 2 in meet history, trailing only Texas A&M standout and Bishop O’Dowd of California graduate Tierra Robinson-Jones and her 54.11 performance in 2018.

Johnson, a UCLA commit, ascended to No. 3 in the country this season after fellow California standout Takiya Cenci of Clovis North clocked 53.77 on Saturday at the Central Valley Classic.

Johnson also joined Dakota Minor, Kaia Burns and Krystal Harrell in winning the 4x100 relay in 46.78, in addition to contributing to a third-place finish in the 4x400 relay in 3:59.58.

The sprinting showcase wasn’t limited to Johnson and Roosevelt, as Chandler freshman S’Niyah Cade made a big impact in her debut at the meet by clocking 11.98 and 24.29 to sweep the 100-meter dash and 200.

Trinity Henderson, a six-time Arizona Division 1 state champion during the past three years with Chandler before transferring to Mountain Pointe, placed second in the 200 in her return to Austin Field in 24.48 and finished fourth in the 100 in 12.19.

Eva Klingbeil, a North Carolina-bound senior at Niwot High in Colorado, doubled in the Sally Meyerhoff mile and the 3,200 meters, setting a meet record in the latter.

Klingbeil made a big surge on the third lap of the mile to pull away from the field following a conservative early pace and prevail in 4:49.34 to ascend to No. 7 in meet history. Brooke Wilson of Valor Christian in Colorado placed second in 4:55.98.

Klingbeil dominated the 3,200 to triumph in 10:17.82, with Valor Christian freshman Keeghan Edwards securing second in 10:33.72, as five competitors produced sub-11 performances. Klingbeil eclipsed the mark of 10:20.49 achieved last year by Ella Borsheim of Bellarmine Prep High in Washington.

The most thrilling finish of the night came in the girls 300-meter hurdles as a pair of Arizona state champions battled all the way to the line, with North Canyon’s Joy Moorer, a Texas A&M signee, holding off Chaparral’s Neya Jamison by a 42.52 to 42.56 margin, producing the Nos. 7 and 8 all-time meet performances.

Saira Prince of Williams Field, who took third in the 300 hurdles in 43.26, won the 100 hurdles in 14.18. Jamison also finished second in the 100 hurdles in 14.63.

Gabriella Chiara of Pinnacle High in Arizona prevailed in the 800 in 2:13.90, with reigning Division 2 state cross country champion Casteel showcasing its distance depth again to win the 4x800 relay in 9:57.20.

Highland High of Arizona rallied to secure the 4x400 victory over host Chandler by a 3:54.43 to 3:54.73 margin.

Catherine Littlewood of Queen Creek High in Arizona became the lone female athlete to repeat as champion from last year, securing back-to-back long jump titles with a leap of 18-10 (5.74m), one inch further than her winning effort last season.

Brenna Rodriguez of Perry High prevailed in the triple jump with a mark of 39-5 (12.01m), North Canyon’s Gloriah Hussey cleared 5-6 (1.67m) in the high jump and her former teammate at Cactus Shadows, pole vaulter Karli Neff, cleared a personal-best 12-6 (3.91m) to emerge victorious.

Logan Blutreich of Hamilton won the shot put with a 40-6.50 (12.35m) effort and Roosevelt added another victory with Karyssa Owens capturing the discus throw following a 133-9 (40.76m) effort.

Along with Garcia’s meet record, Aislin Martinez-Pompa of Cienega and Kimberlee Eich enjoyed personal-best performances in the javelin competition.

Martinez-Pompa had a throw of 135-3 (41.22m) and Eich took third with a mark of 124-8 (37.99m), elevating to the Nos. 3 and 10 performances in meet history.