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Here are The Arizona Republic's picks for the top 10 high school girls track and field athletes from the eleventh week of the 2026 season (May 4-9). Vote in our poll for the player you think had the best week. The poll closes on Friday, May 15, 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 were considered.
1. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, sprints/mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 400 (53.54 seconds) and 800-meter state titles (2:13.86) and finished second in the 4x400 (3:52.97) and seventh in the 4x800-meter relay (9:52.35) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 2 all-time in Arizona for the 400.
2. Aliyah Morrow, Chandler Hamilton, sprints, Jr.
She finished second in the 400 (53.64), sixth in the 200 (25.05), third in the 4x100-meter (47.36) and won the 4x400-meter relay (3:46.36) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 3 all-time in Arizona for the 400 and helping lead Hamilton to the team championship.
3. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.
She won the pole vault at the Division I championships on May 9, clearing 12 feet, 9 inches to set the state lead.
4. Amerah Richardson, Chandler Arizona College Prep, jumps/sprints, Sr.
She won the long jump (19-10.25) state title and finished third in the 100 (11.96) at the Division II championships on May 9, moving up to No. 7 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
5. Avery Cowden, Scottsdale Horizon, jumps, Jr.
She won the triple jump state title at the Division II championships on May 9, hitting 39-3 (+2.6 wind), setting the all-conditions state lead in the event.
6. Imani Galera-Young, Chandler, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 100 (13.73) and 300-meter hurdle state titles (41.54) at the Division I championships on May 9, setting the state lead in the 300-hurdles.
7. Jaiden Ware, Chandler, jumps, Sr.
She won the long jump (19-7.5) and 4x100-meter relay state titles (46.46) and finished fifth in the 100 (12.26) and 200 (25.03) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
8. Gabbie Banning, Scottsdale Chaparral, jumps/hurdles, Sr.
She came in second for the long jump (19-7.5) and third for the 100-hurdles (14.26) at the Division II championships on May 9, moving up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
9. Faith Gentry, Phoenix South Mountain, throws, Sr.
She won the javelin at the Division I championships on May 9, throwing 143-5 to move up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the javelin.
10. Taleya Freeman, Chandler Hamilton, sprints, Sr.
She finished second in the 200 (24.38), third in the 100 (12.10) and 400 (55.65) and was on the winning 4x400-relay team (3:46.39) and third-place 4x100-relay team (47.36), helping lead Hamilton to the team championship.
11. Ryane Ast, Waddell Canyon View, sprints/mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 400 (54.76) state title, finished fourth in the 100 (12.16) and 800 (2:18.77) and was on the winning 4x400 (3:48.95) and 4x800-relay teams (9:41.09) at the Division II championships on May 9, helping lead Canyon View to the team championship.
12. Tally Call, ALA Queen Creek, distance, Jr.
She finished second in the 3,200 (11:20.43) and third in the 800 (2:17.90) and 1,600 (5:14.21) at the Division III championships on May 9, helping lead ALA Queen Creek to the team championship.
13. Jayci Ballard, Snowflake, hurdles/jumps, Sr.
She won the 110 (15.30) and 300-meter hurdles (44.36) and the long jump (17-4) at the Division IV championships on May 9, helping lead Snowflake to the team championship.
14. Abby Roth, Phoenix Country Day School, sprints, Jr.
She won the 200 (25.99) and 400 (57.68) state titles and was fourth in the 100 (12.95) at the Division V championships on May 9, helping lead Phoenix Country Day to the team championship.
15. Karsten Lewis, Oro Valley Canyon Del Oro, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 110-hurdles (13.75) state title and finished second in the 300-hurdles (44.79), moving up to No. 3 in the state for the 300-hurdles.
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: The Republic's top girls track and field athletes, May 4-9
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Both wind-legal and non-wind-legal marks were considered.
Top Arizona girls track and field athletes
1. Nicole Ripperdan, Queen Creek, sprints/mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 400 (53.54 seconds) and 800-meter state titles (2:13.86) and finished second in the 4x400 (3:52.97) and seventh in the 4x800-meter relay (9:52.35) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 2 all-time in Arizona for the 400.
2. Aliyah Morrow, Chandler Hamilton, sprints, Jr.
She finished second in the 400 (53.64), sixth in the 200 (25.05), third in the 4x100-meter (47.36) and won the 4x400-meter relay (3:46.36) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 3 all-time in Arizona for the 400 and helping lead Hamilton to the team championship.
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3. Kyra Hogarth, Chandler, jumps, Jr.
She won the pole vault at the Division I championships on May 9, clearing 12 feet, 9 inches to set the state lead.
4. Amerah Richardson, Chandler Arizona College Prep, jumps/sprints, Sr.
She won the long jump (19-10.25) state title and finished third in the 100 (11.96) at the Division II championships on May 9, moving up to No. 7 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
5. Avery Cowden, Scottsdale Horizon, jumps, Jr.
She won the triple jump state title at the Division II championships on May 9, hitting 39-3 (+2.6 wind), setting the all-conditions state lead in the event.
6. Imani Galera-Young, Chandler, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 100 (13.73) and 300-meter hurdle state titles (41.54) at the Division I championships on May 9, setting the state lead in the 300-hurdles.
7. Jaiden Ware, Chandler, jumps, Sr.
She won the long jump (19-7.5) and 4x100-meter relay state titles (46.46) and finished fifth in the 100 (12.26) and 200 (25.03) at the Division I championships on May 9, moving up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
8. Gabbie Banning, Scottsdale Chaparral, jumps/hurdles, Sr.
She came in second for the long jump (19-7.5) and third for the 100-hurdles (14.26) at the Division II championships on May 9, moving up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the long jump.
9. Faith Gentry, Phoenix South Mountain, throws, Sr.
She won the javelin at the Division I championships on May 9, throwing 143-5 to move up to No. 9 all-time in Arizona for the javelin.
10. Taleya Freeman, Chandler Hamilton, sprints, Sr.
She finished second in the 200 (24.38), third in the 100 (12.10) and 400 (55.65) and was on the winning 4x400-relay team (3:46.39) and third-place 4x100-relay team (47.36), helping lead Hamilton to the team championship.
11. Ryane Ast, Waddell Canyon View, sprints/mid-distance, Sr.
She won the 400 (54.76) state title, finished fourth in the 100 (12.16) and 800 (2:18.77) and was on the winning 4x400 (3:48.95) and 4x800-relay teams (9:41.09) at the Division II championships on May 9, helping lead Canyon View to the team championship.
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12. Tally Call, ALA Queen Creek, distance, Jr.
She finished second in the 3,200 (11:20.43) and third in the 800 (2:17.90) and 1,600 (5:14.21) at the Division III championships on May 9, helping lead ALA Queen Creek to the team championship.
13. Jayci Ballard, Snowflake, hurdles/jumps, Sr.
She won the 110 (15.30) and 300-meter hurdles (44.36) and the long jump (17-4) at the Division IV championships on May 9, helping lead Snowflake to the team championship.
14. Abby Roth, Phoenix Country Day School, sprints, Jr.
She won the 200 (25.99) and 400 (57.68) state titles and was fourth in the 100 (12.95) at the Division V championships on May 9, helping lead Phoenix Country Day to the team championship.
15. Karsten Lewis, Oro Valley Canyon Del Oro, hurdles, Sr.
She won the 110-hurdles (13.75) state title and finished second in the 300-hurdles (44.79), moving up to No. 3 in the state for the 300-hurdles.
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: The Republic's top girls track and field athletes, May 4-9
Continue reading...
