The Arizona Republic's top boys' track and field performances: Week 3
The high school track and field season is finally upon us. The state is coming off a historic year in which seven records were broken. During the 2024 season, The Arizona Republic will be tracking the top performances each week as Arizona’s best athletes compete on the oval and in the field.
Here are the top five boys’ performances from the third week of the season.
1. Vance Nilsson, Gilbert, hurdles, Sr.: Nilsson, the No. 2 athlete in The Republic’s preseason Big 50 list, put together an incredible performance at the Devon Allen Invitational held at Phoenix Brophy Preparatory College, where he took down meet records in the 110-meter hurdles (13.87) and the 300-meter hurdles (36.87). It’s very early on in the season, but it should be noted that Nilsson is ranked first in the United States for the 300-meter hurdles. The state record of 36.24 from 2014 is in serious danger of falling.
2. Khalil Young, Surprise Shadow Ridge, jumps, Jr.: At his home meet (even though it was held at Willow Canyon High School due to construction), Young recorded a big improvement in the triple jump with his wind-legal mark of 48 feet, 2 inches at the Shadow Ridge Showcase. Young entered the season with a personal best of 46-6.25. He is the new state leader in the event.
3. Emanuel Hernandez, Phoenix North Canyon, throws, Sr.: Hernandez, No. 25 in the Big 50, threw 57-6 in the shot put at the Moretti Midweek meet held at Phoenix Pinnacle High School. With that throw, Hernandez just barely snatches away the state lead by one inch from Scottsdale Notre Dame Preparatory senior Diego Herrera-Vendrell, who was at 57-5. It’s a career-best throw for Hernandez.
4. Hayden Weaver, Surprise Shadow Ridge, throws, Sr.: Improved on his season-opening mark of 191-2 by throwing 192-9 at the Shadow Ridge Showcase. Weaver, No. 19 in the Big 50, was already the top athlete in the state for the event and extends his lead to nearly 13 feet.
5. Ryan Denhof, Peoria Liberty, distance, Sr.: Denhof, the 2023 Arizona Gatorade Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, ran 4:17.35 to win the 1,600 meters at the Devon Allen Invite. That makes Denhof, No. 36 in the Big 50, the new state leader by just a fine margin with Mesa Eastmark junior Bryson Nielsen at 4:17.94.
Other highlights
While Young jumped 48-2, the day before, American Leadership Academy Anthem South junior Trace White went 48-0.25 at the Ben Franklin Friday Night Lights meet. Those two are the only athletes to have gone over 48 feet in the triple jump so far.
Mesa Red Mountain senior Matthew Hamilton, a GCU commit, set the state lead in the 800 meters with his 1:54.80 at the Shadow Ridge Showcase, taking away the top spot from Scottsdale Horizon senior Donovan Bitticks.
Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Academy senior Myles Floyd ran a solo effort of 9:24.47 in the 3,200 meters at the Nighthawk Early Bird Invitational held at Ironwood Ridge High School — that time is the second-fastest in the state.
Queen Creek senior and Boise State football commit Eyitayo Omotinugbon, No. 5 in the Big 50, threw 174-3 in the discus for the second-best mark in the state this season.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Arizona Republic's top boys' track and field performances: Week 3
