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Top girl's Arizona high school track and field performances: Week 7

Logan Stanley, Arizona Republic
·3 min read

The high school track and field season is here and in full swing. The state is coming off a historic year in which seven Arizona Interscholastic Association 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 girl’s performances from the seventh week of the season as some athletes made the trip west to compete in the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California.

Erika Grossman, Goodyear Millennium, throws, Sr.: She threw 43-6.5 feet in the shot put at the Arcadia Invitational in California to finish second overall in the invitational section. It’s a new state lead for Grossman, who was already the state leader heading into the meet. The senior is on a roll – she has improved in distance for the last four consecutive meets.

Millennium High School’s Erika Grossman competes in the shot put during the Shadow Ridge Showcase at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise on March 9, 2024.
Millennium High School’s Erika Grossman competes in the shot put during the Shadow Ridge Showcase at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise on March 9, 2024.

Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, distance, So.: Ran 2:13.64 in the 800 meters at the Arcadia Invitational to finish second overall in her heat. The time takes away the state lead from Gilbert Campo Verde sophomore Bianca Hurtado. Queen Creek coach Shaun Hardt said he thought his young sophomore was a dark horse candidate to win the Open Division state title in the event – those words are proving to be more prescient by the day.

Queen Creek sophomore Nicole Ripperdan (left) and Basha junior Kayla Lark (right) embrace after running in the 800 meters at the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia, Calif. on April, 6, 2024.
Queen Creek sophomore Nicole Ripperdan (left) and Basha junior Kayla Lark (right) embrace after running in the 800 meters at the Arcadia Invitational in Arcadia, Calif. on April, 6, 2024.

Kimi Cahoon, Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School, distance, Sr.: Recorded a big new personal best in the 3,200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational, where she ran 10:37.53 to come in seventh in her heat. Cahoon, an Air Force commit and one of the most decorated runners in state history, snatches away the state lead from Goodyear Millennium senior and Oregon commit Landen LeBlond.

Phoenix Country Day Eagle Kimi Cahoon crosses the line to win the Girls D4 5k with an official time of 19:13.9 during the AIA Cross Country State Championships on Nov 4, 2023, at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix. Alex Gould/Special for The Republic
Phoenix Country Day Eagle Kimi Cahoon crosses the line to win the Girls D4 5k with an official time of 19:13.9 during the AIA Cross Country State Championships on Nov 4, 2023, at Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix. Alex Gould/Special for The Republic

Bryn Kupfer, Snowflake, jumps, Fr.: Won the high jump at the Blue Ridge Invitational held at Lakeside Blue Ridge High School at 5-5. That moves Kupfer up to No. 2 state and also places her name in state history: It’s one of the best ever jumps from a freshman.

Mayen Usoro, Laveen Cesar Chavez, sprints, So.: In her first time leaving the state for a race as a high schooler at the Arcadia Invitational, the super sophomore shined as she finished in second in both the 100 meters (11.63) and 200 meters (24.19) in the invitational sections.

Kori Martin from Hamilton High School leads in hurdles at Chandler Rotary Invitational at Chandler High School on March 23, 2024.
Kori Martin from Hamilton High School leads in hurdles at Chandler Rotary Invitational at Chandler High School on March 23, 2024.

Other highlights

  • Chandler Basha junior Kayla Lark was just behind Ripperdan in the 800, running 2:13.87 to finish .23 seconds off Ripperdan.

  • Chandler Hamilton senior Kori Martin, the 100-meter state record holder, won the event at the Arcadia Invitational in 13.67.

  • Waddell Canyon View senior Annaleise Taylor came in third in the 300-meter hurdles at the Arcadia Invitational in 42.30.

  • Phoenix Xavier Preparatory senior Marley Stoller ran 57.19 in the 400 meters at the Arcadia Invitational, the No. 5 time in the state this season.

  • Phoenix Desert Vista senior Brooklyn Hanania ran 10:55.13 in the 3,200 meters and Xavier Prep senior Julia Russo ran 10:57.12 at the Arcadia Invitational, the No. 3 and No. 4 times in the state this season.

  • Gilbert Highland senior Jea Genet improved on her No. 2 state ranking in the javelin with a throw of 152-10 at the Pioneer Invitational held at Phoenix Pinnacle High School; she’s currently ranked No. 6 in the country.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best girl's high school track and field performances from Week 7