Hamilton's Martin breaks state record in 100-meter hurdles at Chandler Rotary

Last year as a junior, Chandler Hamilton’s Kori Martin took a backseat as one of her rivals, Gilbert Williams Field’s Saira Prince, rewrote the state high school record books in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.

Prince broke each of those records multiple times in a magical year, but Martin gave Prince her greatest challenges. And now, 283 days after Prince set the Arizona record in the 100-meter hurdles with her time of 13.33 seconds, Martin is the one doing the rewriting.

At the 84th Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational held at Austin Field on an unusually cold Saturday evening, the Kentucky-bound Martin ran 13.32 in the 100-meter hurdles to set a new state record.

“It’s a great feeling to know that after last year and all my animosity, I came out this year, and (in) my third race of the year, I was able to break her state record," Martin said. "It sets the bar really high for the rest of my season.”

As longtime track and field announcer Ron Smith said, he thought he had seen it all with Prince, then Martin came along.

Now the question is, how fast can Martin go with so much of the season left? She’s currently No. 2 in the nation for the event and could approach unchartered territory for an Arizona hurdler — running in the 12-second range. Only six high school athletes have ever run that fast.

Next up for Martin is to go after Prince’s state record in the 300-meter hurdles, 40.90. She’ll have stiff competition there, though, as Waddell Canyon View senior Annaleise Taylor is putting together a historic season.

Taylor won the 300-hurdles at Chandler Rotary, running 41.79. That time is fourth all-time in state history and is almost a second faster than Martin’s personal best. Martin didn’t run the race after competing in the 100 meters earlier. When these two meet, it could be a race to remember.

Not to be outdone by his peers in the hurdles, Gilbert senior Vance Nilsson is also turning in an all-time season. He already came into the meet ranked No. 1 in the country for the 300-meter hurdles, and he built on his national lead by winning in 36.43. That was after Nilsson won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.78 earlier in the day, although it was over the wind-legal limit at 3.1 meters per second.

From a historical perspective, Nilsson is inching closer to state records in both events. He’s .20 seconds away from setting the record in the 300-meter hurdles and is .29 seconds away in the 100-meter hurdles. Nilsson should have a good chance at going after those at the Arcadia Invitational, one of the most competitive track and field meets of the high school season, in southern California in the first week of April. Last year, four state records were set at the meet.

American Leadership Academy Queen Creek senior Taylor Searle made his first attempt at state history when he tried to clear 17 feet, 8 inches in the boys’ pole vault. Searle already went 17-2 before that to set the Chandler Rotary meet record but then tried to go after Surprise Valley Vista Cole Riddle’s state record of 17-7. Searle was unsuccessful on three attempts. He also has plans to attend the Arcadia Invitational, so he should get another opportunity there.

In the sprints, it was a headline-making night. Laveen Cesar Chavez super sophomore Mayen Usoro won both the girls’ 100 and 200 meters, running historic times. Usoro won the 100 in 11.50 to move closer to No. 3 all-time in state history.

Then a couple hours later, Usoro came back in the 200 and ran 23.48. That puts Usoro at No. 2 on the all-time list. She is now only behind Chandler’s Ky Westbrook, one of the best sprinters Arizona has ever seen. With about two and half seasons left of high school eligibility, it’s likely a question of when, not if, Usoro will break the state record.

For the boys’ 100 meters, Goodyear Desert Edge junior Jamar Beal-Goines made his claim to being the top two-way athlete in the state. The 6-0 cornerback was an integral member of Desert Edge’s run to the 5A state football championship game in the fall, piled up Division I offers over the winter and is now solidifying himself as the fastest sprinter in the spring.

Beal-Goines won the 100 meters in 10.43. While it was over the wind-legal limit, it’s still an elite time and puts Beal-Goines closer to his goal: the 1978 state record of 10.33 from El Mirage Dysart’s La Noris Marshall. In the 200 meters, Beal-Goines ran 21.41 to come in fourth overall.

Another Goodyear-based athlete, Millennium senior Diego Aguirre-Stewart, won the 200 in 21.21. Aguirre-Stewart, in his second season in the sport, is also making a claim as the fastest in the state. He's ranked No. 2 in the 100 and No. 1 in the 200.

The 200 meters, with five athletes at 21.50 or faster, is shaping up to be one of the deepest pools of runners that the state has produced.

Other Chandler Rotary meet highlights

• Phoenix Barry Goldwater senior Josiah Anderson came in second in the 400 meters in 47.14. At last year's Chandler Rotary, on his way to setting the state record, Mountain Pointe's Jayden Davis ran 47.04.

• Mesa Eastmark junior Bryson Nielsen set two new state leads in the 1,600 meters (4:14.99) and the 3,200 meters (9:08.72).

• Desert Edge boys' 4x100-meter relay set the state lead at 41.59.

• Vail Cienega senior Ari Dubin is the new state leader in the boys' long jump at 23-1.

• Surprise Shadow Ridge senior Hayden Weaver, the state leader, nearly cracked the 200-foot mark in the boys' javelin, throwing 198-1.

• Queen Creek sophomore Nicole Ripperdan ran 2:16.40 to set the state lead in the girls' 800 meters.

• Phoenix Desert Vista senior Brooklyn Hanania set a new state lead in the 1,600 meters (5:05.90) and Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School senior Kimi Cahoon set a state lead in the 3,200 meters (10:50.37).

• Hamilton girls' 4x100-meter relay set the state lead at 46.69.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hamilton's Martin breaks state record in 100-meter hurdles