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Here are The Arizona Republic's picks for the top 10 high school girls track and field athletes from the second week of the 2026 season (March 2-7). Vote in our poll for the athlete you think had the best week. The poll closes on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
Both wind-legal and non-wind-legal marks are included.
1. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 800 meters at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, running a state-leading time of 2:13.83.
2. Taylor Drewry, Chandler Basha, distance, Sr.
She won the 3,200 meters at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, running a state-leading time of 10:47.97 to become the first runner to go under 11 minutes this season.
3. Aliyah Akinbile, Tucson Catalina Foothills, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 300-meter hurdles at the Levi Wallace Foundation Tucson High T&F Invitational on March 7, running a state-leading time of 43.24 seconds. She also ran 14.55 (+2.2 wind) to win the 100-hurdles, moving up to No. 3 all-conditions in Arizona.
4. Faith Gentry, Phoenix South Mountain, throws, Sr.
She won the javelin at the Rattler Booster on March 7, throwing a state-leading mark of 142 feet, 4 inches.
5. Tziporah Korto, Waddell ALA West Foothills, sprints, So.
She won the 200 meters at the Rattler Booster on March 7, running a state-leading time of 24.41.
6. Makayla Armstrong, Maricopa, jumps, Sr.
She won the long jump at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, hitting a state-leading mark of 19-0. Also won the triple jump with an all-conditions state-leading mark of 38-7.25 (+3.0 wind).
7. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.
She won the pole vault at the Rattler Booster on March 7, clearing 12-0 to tie the state lead.
8. McKenna Brown, Chandler Arizona College Prep, jumps, Sr.
She won the pole vault at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, clearing 12-0 to tie the state lead.
9. Avery Luke, Glendale Mountain Ridge, throws, Jr.
She won the shot put at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, throwing 40-10 to build on her existing state lead.
10. Aliyah Tomegah, Phoenix North Canyon, jumps, Jr.
She won the triple jump at the Rattler Booster on March 7, hitting 36-10 to set the state lead for wind-legal marks.
11. Milanni Pedraza, Tucson Catalina Foothills, distance, Jr.
She won the 1,600 at the Levi Wallace Foundation Tucson High T&F Invitational on March 7, running a state-leading time of 5:09.82.
12. Aulani Gleason, Gilbert Mesquite, sprints, Fr.
The star freshman continues to impress early on, running 56.31 to win the 400 meters at the Rattler Booster on March 7 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona. She also won the 100 in 12.17, No. 4 in Arizona.
13. Mikaela Lett, Gilbert Williams Field, throws, Jr.
She won the discus at the Rattler Booster on March 7, throwing 128-3 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona.
14. Caitlyn Wendell, Tempe Corona del Sol, jumps, Jr.
She won the long jump at the Aztec Invitational on March 7, hitting 18-7.25 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona.
15. Ryane Ast, Waddell Canyon View, mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 800 at the Jaguar Kickback Invitational, running 2:15.05 to move up to No. 3 in Arizona.
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at [email protected] or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote for top Arizona HS girls track and field athlete, March 2-7
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Both wind-legal and non-wind-legal marks are included.
Top Arizona girls track and field athletes
1. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 800 meters at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, running a state-leading time of 2:13.83.
2. Taylor Drewry, Chandler Basha, distance, Sr.
She won the 3,200 meters at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, running a state-leading time of 10:47.97 to become the first runner to go under 11 minutes this season.
3. Aliyah Akinbile, Tucson Catalina Foothills, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 300-meter hurdles at the Levi Wallace Foundation Tucson High T&F Invitational on March 7, running a state-leading time of 43.24 seconds. She also ran 14.55 (+2.2 wind) to win the 100-hurdles, moving up to No. 3 all-conditions in Arizona.
4. Faith Gentry, Phoenix South Mountain, throws, Sr.
She won the javelin at the Rattler Booster on March 7, throwing a state-leading mark of 142 feet, 4 inches.
5. Tziporah Korto, Waddell ALA West Foothills, sprints, So.
She won the 200 meters at the Rattler Booster on March 7, running a state-leading time of 24.41.
6. Makayla Armstrong, Maricopa, jumps, Sr.
She won the long jump at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, hitting a state-leading mark of 19-0. Also won the triple jump with an all-conditions state-leading mark of 38-7.25 (+3.0 wind).
7. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.
She won the pole vault at the Rattler Booster on March 7, clearing 12-0 to tie the state lead.
8. McKenna Brown, Chandler Arizona College Prep, jumps, Sr.
She won the pole vault at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, clearing 12-0 to tie the state lead.
9. Avery Luke, Glendale Mountain Ridge, throws, Jr.
She won the shot put at the Saunders Montague Desert Classic Invite on March 6, throwing 40-10 to build on her existing state lead.
10. Aliyah Tomegah, Phoenix North Canyon, jumps, Jr.
She won the triple jump at the Rattler Booster on March 7, hitting 36-10 to set the state lead for wind-legal marks.
11. Milanni Pedraza, Tucson Catalina Foothills, distance, Jr.
She won the 1,600 at the Levi Wallace Foundation Tucson High T&F Invitational on March 7, running a state-leading time of 5:09.82.
12. Aulani Gleason, Gilbert Mesquite, sprints, Fr.
The star freshman continues to impress early on, running 56.31 to win the 400 meters at the Rattler Booster on March 7 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona. She also won the 100 in 12.17, No. 4 in Arizona.
13. Mikaela Lett, Gilbert Williams Field, throws, Jr.
She won the discus at the Rattler Booster on March 7, throwing 128-3 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona.
14. Caitlyn Wendell, Tempe Corona del Sol, jumps, Jr.
She won the long jump at the Aztec Invitational on March 7, hitting 18-7.25 to move up to No. 2 in Arizona.
15. Ryane Ast, Waddell Canyon View, mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 800 at the Jaguar Kickback Invitational, running 2:15.05 to move up to No. 3 in Arizona.
Vote: Who's No. 1?
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at [email protected] or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vote for top Arizona HS girls track and field athlete, March 2-7
Continue reading...
