State Track & Field Championships: Top 10 boys' performances, vote in our poll

This past weekend at the AIA State Track & Field Championships at Mesa Community College will forever be remembered for Gilbert senior Vance Nilsson breaking the U.S. high school national record in the 300-meter hurdles , running 34.83 to take down the old record of 35.02 set in 2009. Nilsson became the first U.S. prep athlete ever to run under 35 seconds in the event.

But with the whole state coming together for the state championships in the second year of the new format, Nilsson’s performance wasn’t the only one to rewrite the record books. There were two all-time efforts in the triple jump while a young hurdler made her mark on state history.

Here are The Republic’s top 10 boy’s performances from the AIA State Track & Field Championships. Scroll down to vote in our poll below, which will close on Friday at 6 p.m.

Vance Nilsson, Gilbert, hurdles, Sr.: He broke the national high school record in the 300-meter hurdles in a transcendent moment for the sport. Not much else needs to be said.

Augustine McCabe, Tolleson, jumps, Sr.: Provided the biggest surprise of the meet when he recorded a mark of 49-9.5 to win the triple jump. That is No. 4 in state history, which is impressive by itself. But considering McCabe had never competed in track and field before April 3 of this year, it makes the feat that much more impressive.

Eyitayo Omotinugbon, Queen Creek, throws, Sr.: Erupted for a massive personal best to win the shot put with a monster throw of 60-6 feet (tying the state lead) to bring home 10 vital points for the Bulldogs. Omotinugbon fouled on all three attempts last weekend at the Division I championship and came in with a best of 56-8. He also finished in third in the discus for a total of 16 points – scoring 37% of Queen Creek’s 43 points to help win the team title.

Tyler Mathews, Mesa Red Mountain, distance, Sr.: The 800-meter state record-holder finished his last races at the high school level in Arizona in style, winning the 800 in 1:49.74 and the 1,600 meters in 4:08.37. Both times are state leads and Mathews becomes the first athlete since Queen Creek Casteel’s Dayton Carlson in 2021 to run under 4:10 in the 1,600. He also ran the last leg of the first-place 4x800-meter relay, overcoming a deficit.

Sam Novak, Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School, jumps, Jr.: Even managed to stun himself when he went 17-0 to win the state title in the pole vault over American Leadership Academy Queen Creek senior and BYU commit Taylor Searle, who came in with a best of 17-6 and was trying to break the state record in the event himself. It’s a huge personal record for Novak. He had never managed to go over 16-6.75 before the weekend. With one season left, he too may make a run at the state record of 17-7.

Josiah Anderson, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, sprints, Sr.: Became the first Arizona athlete since Mountain Pointe’s Jayden Davis last June, the state record-holder in the 400 meters, to run faster than 47 seconds as he won the state title in 46.78. That time is very close to cracking the top-five list in state history. In races where points were scored this season, Anderson only lost one 400-meter race when he came in second at the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational. The only other race he didn’t win was the prelims of the Division III championships.

David Cabrera, Goodyear Desert Edge, sprints, Jr.: The two-way athlete, who also plays football , helped orchestrate a West Valley sweep in the 100 meters as he finished first in 10.612 with his star teammate, Texas A&M football commit Jamar Beal-Goines, in a close second at 10.615. The clock read 10.62 for both athletes, so officials had to go the milliseconds to determine the winner. Cabrera was also the first leg of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team (40.99).

Austin Taylor, Mesa Desert Ridge, throws, Sr.: Won the javelin with a personal best throw of 185-8 for his first-ever state championship. Taylor came into the weekend with a career-best of 179-11, which he threw just last week at the Division I championships to finish second.

William Feagles, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, jumps, Jr.: Sometimes athletes have the best days when it matters the most. Sometimes athletes have their worst days when it matters the most. Feagles was the former as he won the high jump at 6-8, which is a big improvement for the junior. He had never cleared higher than 6-3 entering the state championships.

Nathan Williams, Paradise Valley, jumps, Sr.: Pulled off the surprise win in the long jump with a mark of 23-9. It’s almost a one-foot jump in performance for Williams, who owned a best of 22-11.5 heading into the weekend. Overall, Williams has improved by two feet just since his junior season.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: State Track & Field Championships: Top 10 boys' performances, vote in our poll