SUNSET REGION: Hartle spurs Centennial to victory in boys meet
Nick Hartle had every reason to be tired before his anchor leg of the 1,600-meter relay Friday.
The Centennial junior had already won three races and was asked to catch two other runners when he took the baton for the final lap.
No problem.
Hartle found something in reserve and ran the anchor leg in an unofficial time of a little more than 46 seconds to complete a perfect day and lead the Bulldogs to a Sunset Region title at Del Sol.
“Nick was amazing today, but he’s been doing this all year,” Centennial boys coach Roy Sessions said.
Hartle captured the 400 in 48.56, the 800 in 1:56.93 and the 1,600 in 4:22.33 — all in the span of five races, but he saved his best for the relay. His unofficial time has been matched or beaten by fewer than five high school runners in the nation this year.
Centennial’s team score of 155 easily outdistanced runner-up Arbor View (95).
Bonanza freshman Jayveon Taylor was the only other Sunset boy to win multiple events Friday.
Taylor took the 100 in 11.94 and the 200 in 21.99. He also anchored the Bengals’ 400 and 800 relay teams, which qualified for state.
“When his maturity kicks in, he’s got a world of potential,” Bonanza coach Chad Robertus said.
In the girls meet, Centennial captured its fourth straight region title, riding a pair of wins by Sidney Badger to score 195 points, more than double the total of second-place Palo Verde (89).
“We had a group of about six freshman girls that really stepped it up and scored a ton of points for us,” Centennial girls coach Jessica Scobell said. “We got a lot of points from our older kids, but we were shocked to get three qualifiers in both hurdles and three girls in the 800, plus the regional champion in the 16 and 32. We really exceeded our expectations.”
Badger outkicked Arbor View’s Andrea Gonzalez and Palo Verde’s Katie Gorczyca to win a fast and exciting 1,600 in 5:15.82.
Badger, who won the 3,200 on May 6, also took the 800 in 2:22.86
The Centennial girls also won the 800 and 1,600 relays. The 1,600 relay team comprised four freshmen.
One of the most entertaining races of the day was the 300 hurdles. Legacy’s Candice McFarland and Centennial’s Karli Johonnot broke the zone and regional records and moved into the top 10 in the country, according to athletic.net.
McFarland won in 42.46. Johonnot finished in 43.0.
“I love her,” McFarland said of Johonnot. “She really pushes me.”
McFarland also won the 100 hurdles in a regional-record time of 14.27 and anchored Legacy’s 400 relay team to a first-place finish.
“Today was just about breaking records,” McFarland said. “That was my main goal for today.”
Johonnot didn’t actually win any races Friday, but she added a state-qualifying third place in the 200 to her two seconds in the hurdles. The Centennial senior had already qualified for state in the high jump last week.
100–Taylor, Bon, 10.94; Matlock, Palo, 11.03; McMorris, Leg, 11.27. 200–Taylor, Bon, 21.99; Matlock, Palo, 22.25; Rusch, Wes, 22.61. 400–Hartle, Cen, 48.56; Hicks, FL, 49.66; Lawrynowicz, Wes, 50.4. 800–Hartle, Cen, 1:56.93; Jalani, Gor, 1:58.37; Lopez, Cen, 1:59.54. 1600–Hartle, Cen, 4:22.33; Bahati, Cla, 4:24.7; Merritt, Cen, 4:24.72. 110 hurdles–Stearns, Pahr, 14.77; Matlock, Cen, 14.82; Lewis, Cen, 14.94. 300 hurdles–Matlock, Cen, 39.48; Price, Cim, 40.65; Murphy, SVis, 41.33. 400 relay–Legacy 42.66; Western 43.14; Bonanza 43.17. 800 relay–Bonanza 1:28.44; Arbor View
100–Banks, Leg, 12.38; Williams, Cen, 12.63; Goynes, FL, 12.69. 200–Williams, Cen, 25.49; Goynes, FL, 25.56; Johonnot, Cen, 25.58. 400–Scull, FL, 59.23; Bryan, Palo, 59.26; Bryant, Palo, 59.32. 800–Badger, Cen, 2:22.86; Simmons, Cen, 2:23.56; Roll, Cen, 2:23.7. 1600–Badger, Cen, 5:15.82; Gonzalez, AV, 5:17.19; Gorczyca, Palo, 5:21.61. 100 hurdles–McFarland, Leg, 14.27; Johonnot, Cen, 14.91; Bonds, Cen, 14.94. 300 hurdles–McFarland, Leg, 42.46; Johonnot, Cen, 43.0; Bonds, Cen, 45.25. 400 relay–Legacy 49.25; Shadow Ridge 49.26; Cheyenne 49.39. 800 relay–Centennial 1:43.49; Faith Lutheran 1:45.12; Cheyenne 1:45.64. 1600 relay–Centennial 4:04.95; Palo Verde 4:07.49; Shadow Ridge 4:08.92.
