In search of redemption after suffering an injury last spring that forced him out of competition at the Division IV Track and Field State Championships, Quenton Metz is ready to run for glory in 2024.

“It was very disappointing because I had to sit out the last half of track season. But after that, my spark for running came back,” Metz said.

The Chino Valley senior qualified for four state events May 3-4 at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, including the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run, and the 4x400- and 4-800-meter relays.

His 3,200 time of 9:25.62 is only a breath away from Page standout Symond Martin’s 9:16.13 mark this year, so making the podium isn’t out of the question for Metz.

“My focus before state is to fine tune my running. I want to stay healthy and prevent injuries,” Metz said, who added that breaking the 10-minute mark in the 3,200 is one of his favorite memories during his track career.

“I was super excited since this was a goal I had all of high school,” Metz said about his Distance in the Desert preseason event effort of 9:48.

And now, he’s clocked a 9:25.62 personal best, a new school record.

The cross-country runner, who has qualified for state in all four years as a Cougar in that sport, features a 4:23.52 time in the 1,600, and is part of a 4x400 team at 3:27.89, and has a 8:21.98 time in the 4x800.

With those marks, Metz could medal in four events come May 4 in Mesa.

Many of these times aren’t surprising to his father, Marc Metz, current head track and field coach for Chino Valley. After all, he and his wife Catherine met at Yavapai College where they ran cross-country together before running competitively for Grand Canyon University.

Catherine, of course, always has the upper hand in family arguments as to who the best runner of them all is. She claimed a 4A state title for Arcadia in the 3,200 in 1994.

Her son, Quenton, hopes to change that.

A four-year Superintendent’s List recipient with a 4.0 GPA and current vice president of Chino Valley’s National Honor Society, Metz said his dad is a great coach.

“He always pushes me to go run more and to run on weekends, when he rides his bike or even runs with me,” Metz said, adding his mom Catherine coached him in middle school.

“I have been coached by both of my parents my entire running career,” Metz said, begging his father to give him harder workout this year.

“I wanted my times to improve.”

Hopefully, all that work will pay off.

OTHER NOTES

Top D-IV Boys Seeds, 100 meters: William Spalding, Payson, 10.68; 200 meters: Justin Eltiste, Benjamin Franklin, 21.80; 110 meter hurdles: Tyler Drescher, Pusch Ridge, 15.61; 800 meter: Jack Kemling, ALA-West Foothills, 1:55.77; 4x100 meter relay: Benjamin Franklin, 43.27; San Tan Foothills, 43.82; 1,600 meter: Symond Martin, Page, 4:15.64; 400 meter: Donovan Davidson, Empire, 48.99; 4x400 meter relay: Empire, 3:25.37; 300 meter hurdles: Brody Ryan, Chino Valley, 38.36; 4x200 meter relay: Snowflake, 1:36.78; 3,200 meter: Symond Martin, Page, 9:16.13; 4x800 meter relay: Pusch Ridge Christian, 8:17.89; Discus: Carson Carrasco, ALA-Ironwood, 162’ 5.00; Shot put: Keian Evans, Fountain Hills, 46’ 7.00; Pole Vault: Finnley Roth, Valley Christian, 14’ 6.00; Long jump: Trace White, ALA-Anthem South, 48’ 3.00; Triple jump: Trace White, ALA-Anthem South, 48’ 3.00; High jump: Wyatt Nicholas, Thatcher, 6’ 6.00; Javelin: Grayson Walburn, Crismon, 160’ 7.00.

Top D-IV Girls Seeds, 300 meter hurdles: Jayci Ballard, Snowflake, 45.88; 800 meter: Addison Bisceglie, Gilbert Christian, 2:17.56; 200 meter: Taylor Tatum, Sabino, 25.76; 3,200 meter: Janessa Segay, Chinle, 11:13.38; 100 meter: Kaytlin LaDuke, Snowflake, 12.62; 400 meter: Sofia Cambridge, Page, 58.63; 100 meter hurdles: Taylor Oliver, Benjamin Franklin, 15.60; 1,600 meter: Addison Bisceglie, Gilbert Christian, 5:12.20; 4x100 meter relay: Snowflake, 48.88; 4x800 meter relay: Gilbert Christian, 9:56.89; Discus: Ranell West, 122’ 0.00; Triple jump: Adelin Flake, Snowflake, 36’ 2.00; High jump: Bryn Kupfer, Snowflake, 5’ 5.00; Long jump: Delin Peterson, Benjamin Franklin, 17’ 1.75; Shot put: Emma Green, Thatcher, 36’ 8.50; 4x400 meter relay: Snowflake, 4:05.70; Pole Vault: Alyssa Moronez, Crismon, 10’ 8.00; 4x200 meter relay: Snowflake, 1:56.40; Javelin: Caydence Cline, ALA-Ironwood, 118’ 10.00.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.