A state record fell and history was made at the 2026 AIA Divisional State Track and Field Championships, held at Red Mountain and Shadow Mountain High from May 7-9.
Tempe Corona del Sol junior Kelson Hogan continued his record-breaking season in the javelin, besting his official state record with a throw of 214 feet, 9 inches to win the Division I title. Hogan,a former baseball player, broke the record earlier this season and has now moved to No. 6 in the United States for the event.
“To be honest, I wanted 220 (feet),” Hogan said. “But my coach told me that might not be possible on the grass. I’m happy with what I had, but I wish it could have been a little farther. It means a lot. Just really grateful.”
On the girls side, Queen Creek senior Nicole Ripperdan and Chandler Hamilton junior Aliyah Morrow produced the fastest 400-meter race in Arizona high school history.
Ripperdan ran 53.54 seconds to win it, with Morrow second at 53.64. Ripperdan, a Utah State commit, moves up to No. 2 all-time in Arizona for the 400 and Morrow is No. 3. What makes this race historic is that before the race, only two girls from Arizona (Safford’s Eureka Hall and Gilbert Highland’s Gabby Taylor) had ever run under 54 seconds in the event.
Now, two girls did so in one race.
“It shows how competitive Arizona can be and really is,” Ripperdan said. “Especially in the 400. I think it really represents Arizona. We are, as a whole, getting faster over the years. That’s really exciting to think about.”
Ripperdan also unknowingly played a role in the Division I team championship being decided. She passed a Chandler athlete in the final meters of the 4x400-meter relay to finish second overall, taking away two critical points from Chandler.
The AIA State Track and Field Championships are May 15-16 at Mesa Community College.
Hamilton won the relay, giving the Huskies the team title – 92-91 over Chandler. The Battle of Arizona Avenue carries over to the track.
The Huskies were led by Morrow (200, 400), senior Kyana Williams (high jump), senior Taleya Freeman (200, 400) and senior Peyton Taylor (pole vault). It is the second title for Hamilton under coach E.J. Martin after winning the Open in 2024.
“It’s all about the hard work and dedication,” Martin said. “When I did take over, building the culture here, where not being surprised — you expect to be there, to compete for championships. Don’t be shocked. Just getting the kids to buy into the culture here. It’s been coming and it’s showing in the results.”
For the boys, Mesa Red Mountain dominated on its way to the team title, beating Hamilton 97-64.66. The Mountain Lions were led by junior Crew Comish (800, 1,600 and 3,200), junior Dameon Brender (200), senior Amare Holley (200, long jump), senior Joshua Lee (shot put) and senior Matthew Heitz (300-meter hurdles).
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Red Mountain has won two state titles in the past four seasons after taking the Open in 2023.
“We’ve had a really good run the last few years,” coach Josh Barge said. “It goes to our kids, the culture. All these kids grew up in Red Mountain. They bleed Red Mountain. They’re all in it together. We’ve built it through culture and trusting the process. Ten years ago, when we started this program, we were excited for 10 points at this meet.”
In Division II, Gilbert Campo Verde repeated as boys state champions for the second year in a row, beating Arizona College Prep 116.5 to 88.5. It is the fourth state title in school history. The Coyotes were led by senior Ryker Montgomery (shot put, discus), senior Drew Pollard (javelin), senior Brigham Burnham (hurdles, long jump) and senior Luke Ahles (800, 1,600).
The Waddell Canyon View girls have officially established themselves as a dynasty, winning their third consecutive state championship under coach Muhammad Oliver. Canyon View beat Phoenix North Canyon 131.5 to 107. The Jaguars were led by senior Ryane Ast (100, 400, 800), sophomore Taelyn Janssen (3,200) and senior Rylee Fields (shot put, discus).
In Division V, it came down to the wire for the boys. Glendale Prep just edged out St. Johns 74 to 73, winning in the final stretch of the 4x400-relay to secure the title. It is the first boys state title in school history for Glendale Prep. The Griffins were led by senior Julian Henao (100, 200), senior Zack Rich (400, 800) and senior Logan Hartman (1,600).
For the girls, Phoenix Country Day School ran away with it, beating Scottsdale Christian Academy 81.5-57. It is the first-ever state title in school history for Phoenix Country Day. The Eagles were led by junior Abby Roth (100, 200, 400), sophomore Emerson Butler (1,600, 3,200) and sophomore Jacey-Mae Sellers (pole vault).
Over at Shadow Mountain, where Division III and IV were competing, Flagstaff star junior Yohanes van Meerten showed why he’s one of the best distance runners in state history. The Oregon commit won with ease in the Division III 1,600 with a 4:15.29 and jogged his way to a 9:02.92 in the 3,200.
ALA Queen Creek swept the team championships for boys and girls, a huge sign of the growth of the program under coach Duerk Brewer, who wasThe Republic’s cross-country coach of the yearin 2025.
The Patriots were led by seniors Beckham Goodman (100, 200), Troy Haymore (400, 800) and sophomore Jeremy Smith (1,600) on the boys side, beating Tucson Salpointe Catholic 74-71.
For the girls, junior Tally Call (800, 1,600, 3,200), senior Brailyn Clouse (shot put, discus) and senior Alyson Small (pole vault) led the way, beating Gilbert Mesquite 80.5-59.
In Division IV, Snowflake put on a display of dominance for another year. Snowflake swept both titles to add to its legendary run of titles.
The boys were led by senior decathlete Ryder Hall (110-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump), junior Jacob LaDuke (100, 200), senior Conovor Pitts (300-hurdles) and junior Cody Potter (javelin), beating Chandler Valley Christian 112-80. It is the sixth consecutive title and 13th overall for Snowflake, just one from tying the state record held by Phoenix Union and Tucson for most consecutive titles.
The girls were led by seniors Jayci Ballard (100, 300-hurdles, long jump), Hailey Jones (400, 300-hurdles) and Ranell West (discus) and junior Bryn Kupfer (100-hurdles, high jump, javelin), beating Waddell ALA West Foothills 153-102. It is the fourth consecutive title for Snowflake.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic:State record, historic 400m race at AIA Divisional State Track Finals
A state record fell and history was made at the 2026 AIA Divisional State Track and Field Championships, held at Red Mountain and Shado...
