SUNRISE REGION: Surprising Thummel helps Falcons to title

People may not remember Foothill junior distance runner Alysse Thummel for her contribution during Friday’s Sunrise Region track meet at Del Sol.

No, Thummel didn’t win an event.

But her surprising second-place finish in the 800-meter run sealed the deal for the Falcons girls’ squad as Foothill won the regional crown for the first time since 2004.

On the boys’ side, Green Valley held its lead and got a huge boost from junior Julius Kim in the 1,600 as the Gators took the title, ending a six-year drought.

Foothill earned 118 points to edge Coronado, which finished with 112½ points. Canyon Springs, which had tough fortune in a pair of relays, took third with 76 points.

In the 800, Coronado’s Michaelanne Laurent set an all-time zone record (2 minutes, 17.38 seconds), more than six seconds faster than the second-place Thummel. But Thummel edged a pair of Valley runners for the second spot, and those all-important eight points that gave Foothill breathing room.

“That race by Alysse was huge,” Foothill coach Jim Yamka said. “She ran a big race and those points really came in handy. All of the runners today, sprint and distance, really ran well and that made the difference.”

Foothill’s McCall Sidner opened the day on the right foot for the Falcons by winning the 100 hurdles (16.24). Two races later, the Falcons foursome of Allie Suarez, Alyse Nelson, Sidner and Na’koie Wilbon won the 800 relay (1:49.13) to help the team take control.

Laurent was one of two area runners who won a pair of races Friday. Rancho junior Aisha Momodu won the 100 meters (12.03) and the 200 in a new regional mark of 24.92.

Rancho, which finished fifth in the team standings, won two relays — the 400 (49.30) and 1,600 (4:02.09). Other winners included a pair of Canyon Springs’ runners: sophomore Jamila Pullum in the 400 (1:00.22), and senior Marica King in the 300 hurdles (46.81).

In the boys competition, Green Valley totaled 103 points, six more than second-place Canyon Springs. Chaparral took third with 86.

“It’s an awesome feeling to win regionals,” Green Valley coach Blaine Thompson said. “We knew what kind of day it was going to be after the first four races. Those races set the tone for us, and then Kim put us over the top.”

Kim won the 1,600 (4:26.61) and, at the time, it gave the Gators an 18-point lead.

“He (Kim) gave us more points than I expected,” Thompson said. “With his performance, that gave us a 10- to 12-point swing that gave us plenty of momentum. At that point, we were able to relax, knowing we were in control of the meet.”

Las Vegas senior Aaron Adkins showed the most emotion, winning the 800 in an all-time zone record of 1:53.23.

“I wanted to make a name for myself before leaving high school,” said Adkins, who has been running since age 9. “I know records come and go, but it feels great to set a mark in my senior year.”

The Sunrise Region meet also saw a duel between a pair of talented sprinters, Valley junior Garic Wharton and Chaparral senior Joeal Hotchkins. Wharton (10.66), the defending champion in the 100, beat Hotchkins Friday by .03 seconds.

Later in the meet, Hotchkins got a measure of revenge by successfully defending his title in the 200. Hotchkins hit the tape in an all-time zone mark of 21.06, with Liberty’s Shaun Murray second (21.07) and Wharton third (21.13).

Other regional winners included Eldorado’s Bobby Webb in the 110 hurdles (14.56), Silverado sophomore Ladale Jackson in the 400 (49.50) and Canyon Springs’ Gabriel Washington in the 300 hurdles (39.61).

The top two finishers in each event qualified for next week’s 4A state meet at Del Sol. The faster of the two third-place finishers in the Sunrise and Sunset also advanced to state.