Liberty’s Kendrick eclipses 2006 Nevada state 400-meter record by clocking 46.57, Gilbert’s Nilsson sweeps 110 and 300 hurdles, running 36.43 in latter, with Searle of American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) enjoying big meet debut with 17-2 (5.23m) pole vault clearance; Shadow Ridge’s Weaver throws 198-1 (60.38m) in javelin and Faith Lutheran’s Beery doubles up in shot put and discus with 63-3 (19.27m)/174-2 (53.08m) efforts

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Taylor Searle reached new heights Saturday at the 84th NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational, even if it caused him to overcome a mid-air collision with the pole vault standards.

Ronnie Kendrick realized a new level of potential at Austin Field, making his run to a Nevada all-time mark in the 400 meters look all too routine for an athlete who only started competing in elite track and field in high school.

And Vance Nilsson reminded everyone who braved the wind and rain for more than 12 hours at Chandler High that the Arizona prep record in the 300 hurdles is on borrowed time following his performance in the elite session.

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All three competitors produced meet records Saturday, with Nilsson – a senior at Gilbert High – clocking 36.43 seconds to elevate to No. 5 in Arizona prep history, continuing to close in on the 2014 mark of 36.24 established by former Brophy Prep star Bobby Grant.

Nilsson, selected boys track outstanding performer of the meet, added a victory in the 110 hurdles in a wind-aided 13.78, with Josiah Johnson from Immanuel Christian in Texas placing second in both hurdling competitions in 14.18 and 37.31, respectively.

Kendrick, who led Liberty High to a Nevada all-time performance Friday by clocking 1:30.23 in the 800-meter sprint medley relay to take over the nation lead this season, delivered a spectacular showcase Saturday in the 400 by clocking 46.57.

Josiah Anderson from Barry Goldwater High in Arizona was runner-up in 47.14.

Kendrick took down the 2022 meet record of 46.69 achieved by Avaunt Ortiz from McClintock High in Arizona, continuing his impressive journey from an athlete who had yet to break the 50-second barrier during his sophomore year to a competitor that could produce a sub-46 effort before the conclusion of his prep career.

Kendrick also lowered the Nevada all-time performance of 46.60 held since 2006 by Del Guy of Western High.

Searle, a senior at American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek), surpassed the pole vault meet record with a first-attempt clearance at 17-2 (5.23m), eclipsing the 17-1 (5.20m) efforts achieved by both Garrett Brown from La Costa Canyon High in California and Max Manson of Monarch High in Colorado.

Searle had three attempts at the Arizona all-time mark of 17-8 (5.40m), with a wind gust during his final try causing the transfer from Hamilton High in Montana to be directed into the metal standard on the right side of the pit.

Searle, who improved to the No. 4 all-time Arizona prep athlete in the pole vault, shook off the mid-air collision and remained encouraged about his performance, resulting in him being honored as the top boys field event competitor of the meet. Sam Novak from Phoenix Country Day cleared 16-3 (4.95m) to finish second.

Wind also had a profound effect on the sprint races, with Jamar Beal-Goines from Desert Edge High in Arizona matching the all-conditions best 100-meter dash performance in meet history by clocking 10.43.

Beal-Goines equaled the wind-legal effort of 10.43 achieved in 2019 by Kelee Ringo from Saguaro High in Arizona. He also placed fourth in the 200 in a wind-legal 21.41, with Diego Aguirre-Stewart from Millennium High in Arizona prevailing in 21.21.

Aguirre-Stewart also secured second place in the 100 in a wind-aided 10.46.

Preston Beery, a senior at Faith Lutheran High in Nevada, matched the success of former Desert Edge standout Tyson Jones in 2017-18 with his performances in the shot put and discus.

Beery produced a lifetime-best 63-3 (19.27m) in the shot put to become the first male competitor since Jones to secure back-to-back victories at the NIKE Chandler Rotary Invitational.

Beery also achieved a 174-2 (53.08m) effort in the discus to duplicate the sweep achieved in 2018 by Jones.

Hayden Weaver from Shadow Ridge High and junior Darius Alberty of Brophy Prep took the top two spots for the second year in a row in the javelin throw competition, but both Arizona standouts elevated their performances significantly Saturday.

Weaver, a senior, had a personal-best 198-1 (60.38m), ascending to the No. 2 competitor in meet history, and Alberty also improved on his top career mark to achieve runner-up honors at 181-2 (55.22m). In their showdown last season, Weaver won with a mark of 169 feet (51.53m) and Alberty took second at 167-5 (51.02m).

Austin Taylor of Desert Ridge High in Arizona took third with a personal-best 177-1 (53.97m) effort in the sixth round, also snagging the program record from fellow senior John Farthing and his 173-2 (52.79m) performance March 1 at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic.

For only the second time in meet history, there were a pair of 48-foot triple jump efforts in the same year, with junior Trace White of American Leadership Academy (Anthem) emerging victorious with a mark of 48-3 (14.70m), holding off Nathan Moreno from Mountain Ridge High at 48-1 (14.65m).

New Mexico distance standouts Corbin Coombs from Organ Mountain and Charlie Vause of Rio Rancho produced the same order Saturday in the 1,600 as they did Friday in the 3,200.

Coombs prevailed in 4:09.13, with fellow junior Vause clocking 4:10.99, as sophomore Rocco Culpepper from Niwot High in Colorado took third in 4:14.45.

Braylen Singleton from host Chandler cleared 6-8 (2.04m) to triumph in the high jump, with the Wolves’ quartet of Geramiah Flunder, Darius Cade, Calil Valentine and Sammie Hunter joining forces to win the 4x100 relay in 41.45.

Las Vegas Centennial prevailed in the 4x400 relay, with Nick Kotero, Rufus Dismuke, Taylor Brown and Ja’Shon Wright clocking 3:20.43.

Caymn Hahn, Jack Bradley, Seth Nyagaka and Sheamus Dike secured the 4x800 victory in 8:09.56 for Williams Field.

Zuri Glenn from Corona del Sol High in Arizona triumphed in the boys long jump with a leap of 22-8 (6.91m).

Mark Barajas of Pebble Hills in El Paso, Texas, captured the boys 800 gold medal in 1:55.56.