Liberty takes over national lead, achieves meet record and elevates among top 20 programs in U.S. prep history following 1:30.23 effort, with Faith Lutheran lowering No. 2 all-time state girls mark to 1:47.42; Centaurus climbs Colorado boys DMR rankings with 10:40.32 performance, as New Mexico sweeps elite 3,200 races with Coombs and Rahmer

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

CHANDLER, Ariz. – One Nevada state record in the 800-sprint medley relay and another possibly on the horizon.

Two all-time New Mexico 3,200-meter performances.

And the second remarkable Colorado distance medley relay effort during the past month.

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The opening night of the 84th NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational produced several exceptional highlights Friday at Austin Field, especially in the boys 800 sprint medley relay, with the top three marks in the country this season, along with the fastest trio in meet history.

Liberty High smashed the Nevada all-time mark, with Brody Armani, Giovanni Criss, Peyton Caldwell and Ronnie Kendrick also eclipsing the meet record by clocking 1 minute, 30.23 seconds, elevating the Patriots among the top 20 programs in U.S. prep history.

Liberty took down the meet standard of 1:33.59 achieved last season by Trabuco Hills High from California, which finished second Friday in 1:31.64, ascending to No. 10 all-time in the state.

Los Alamos took third in 1:31.70, also producing a New Mexico state record, with Las Vegas Centennial placing fourth in 1:33.76. After Trabuco Hills and Long Beach Jordan became the first two schools to achieve sub-1:34 efforts last year, there are now six marks below that standard during the past two seasons.

Faith Lutheran improved on its own No. 2 all-time mark in Nevada in the girls 800 sprint medley relay, clocking 1:47.42 after producing a 1:47.45 performance last season. Only Las Vegas Centennial and its 1:45.82 effort from the 2019 Las Vegas Track Classic remains faster than Faith Lutheran.

Kennedy Benjamins, Josephina Catlett, Tamiah Harrison and Zakiya Hill, the lone returnee from last year’s quartet, improved on the Crusaders’ No. 3 mark in meet history.

Trabuco Hills was second in 1:47.54, now No. 5 all-time at the meet, with Long Beach Jordan taking third in 1:48.92, the seventh-fastest performance achieved in NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational history.

Although there were no sub-9 efforts in the marquee boys 3,200 for the third year in a row following three marks achieved in the 2021 race, New Mexico standouts Corbin Coombs from Organ Mountain and Rio Rancho’s Charlie Vause achieved the top two marks by athletes from their state in meet history.

Coombs surged late to surpass fellow junior Vause and clock a lifetime-best 9:01.95. Vause was runner-up in 9:02.68, with the athletes both elevating into the top 10 all-time in the state, along with the Nos. 5 and 6 competitors ever at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational.

Brady Hill from Rock Canyon High in Colorado took third in 9:06.79.

Gianna Rahmer of Eldorado High in New Mexico delivered another remarkable effort on Arizona soil, following her cross country victory in November at the Nike Southwest Regional, rallying to win the girls 3,200 in 10:45.69.

Lauren Raley from Cheyenne Mountain High had an impressive season opener by clocking 10:47.96 to secure second, holding off fellow Colorado prep standout Sarah DeLaCerda of Alamosa, who led entering the final lap before taking third in 10:49.86.

Jacoby Ennis, Manuel Schneeberger, Jesse Hatland and Jake Schwarting led Centaurus High from Colorado to victory in the boys distance medley relay in 10:40.32, holding off Faith Lutheran in 10:41.04.

Centaurus took over the state lead from Rock Canyon, which ran 10:40.54 on March 9 at the Continental League Relays. Both programs have ascended among the top seven schools in Colorado prep history.

Centaurus and Faith Lutheran also elevated to Nos. 3 and 4 all-time in the DMR at the meet.

Tatum Ford, Addison Bisceglie, Megan Collard and Ryley Nelson achieved a new program record for Gilbert Christian High of Arizona by prevailing in the girls distance medley relay in 13:16.16, with host Chandler earning second in 13:18.20.