Imani Galera-Young claimed the Arizona state record in the 300-meter hurdles in the Arizona Interscholastic Association state track and field team championships that were won by the Red Mountain boys and North Canyon girls Saturday at Mesa Community College. 

Galera-Young’s 40.65 performance – the fourth fastest in the nation for 2026 – gave her her second championship after winning the 100 hurdles (13.71). She also won the 4x100-meter relay (45.89) alongside her Chandler teammates. Her performance led the way for one of the best meets in Arizona girls track and field history. 

“I wasn’t doing that good in the beginning of the season. I was running like 43s, 42s, and I was losing confidence in myself,” said Galera-Young, who is signed to Arkansas for next season, where she will compete alongside Saira Prince, who held the previous Arizona record. “Until the divisionals race where I ran 41, I feel like I just have that confidence in myself and I had enough to beat it today.”

The moment brought tears to the eyes of both Galera-Young and her many supporters.

“Watching it happen is surreal, I feel so many emotions for her,” said her mother. “She earned it and she deserves it.”

The girls 400-meter event produced one of the best races in Arizona history, featuring Hamilton junior Aliyah Morrow winning the championship (53.52) over Mesquite freshman Aulani Gleason (53.56). 

Morrow claimed the second-fastest and Gleason the fourth-fastest times in state history. 

Lane 6 's Aliyah Morrow beats Lane 5's Aulani Gleason to the finish line by 0.04 seconds to win the girls 400-meter dash in the AIA state championship Saturday at Mesa Community College. (Andrew Wise photo/AZPreps365)

“I stayed grinding and I’m proud of myself,” said Morrow, who missed the previous year of track. “Not giving up on myself, I felt like my legs were getting very lactic and I was tired, but I kept on running through it.”

Queen Creek senior Nicole Ripperdan ended her storied high school career on the precipice of breaking the Arizona 800-meter record with a time of 2:06.05, just 0.04 seconds short of breaking Dominique Mustin’s 2019 record – who was in attendance cheering on Ripperdan. She will compete collegiately for Utah State University. 

Ripperdan’s finish was the second best in Arizona history and represented a group of girls who are putting Arizona at the forefront of track and field. 

“Our athletes in Arizona are exceptional,” said AIA Executive Director Dr. Jim Dean. “They just continue to perform over and over again. In Arizona we’re about education-based athletics and these kids represent themselves, and their schools, and their communities incredibly well.”

Girls Scoreboard 

North Canyon – 56 

Canyon View – 52 

Queen Creek – 46 

The North Canyon girls pose with the trophy and sign after winning the AIA state championship Saturday at Mesa Community College. (Hayden Hartigan photo/AZPreps365)

The North Canyon girls championship performance was highlighted by Addysan Prassas’ 100-meter victory (11.83) and second in the 4x400-meter relay (3:45.57), which clinched the meet championship despite placing behind Canyon View (3:43.86), which defended its relay championship while being the runner-ups, just four points shy of NCHS. 

Prassas, an Arizona University signee, showed off her versatility through both events, a skill that should transfer to the next level. 

“It’s awesome,” Prassas said. “I’m a senior, my goal was to just go out there, kick butt, run my fastest, and win state. I achieved that and I did it with my great teammates.” 

Despite a series of highs and lows, such as losing to 2025 100-meter hurdle champion Rebekah-Jhade Garrett of North Canyon during the season, Canyon View was focused on the title. 

“It feels amazing, this year especially,” said North Canyon head Coach Airabin Justin. “We had some adversity all year long and to come out with it is awesome. It’s one of the best feelings to get this one. I always believe in my kids and I figured if they can stay together and work together, they could come out on top.”

Gleason, Mesquite's only female representative, also finished second in the 200 with a time of 24.70, right behind Millennium's Ava Davis (24.06).  

Highland senior Audra Huempfner won the 1600-meter run (4:57.89), which was just 0.03 seconds ahead of Catalina Foothills’ Milanni Pedraza. Huempfner also helped Highland capture the 4x800-meter relay title with a time of 9:07.54 seconds. 

In the 3,200, Basha senior Taylor Drewry took home the title (10:44.60) and came back the next day to run the 1,600, where she placed fifth – her last high school race before representing Arizona State University next spring. 

The girls field events were highlighted by ALA Queen Creek Brailyn Clouse’s shot put victory (43 feet, 5 ¾ inches), Hamilton’s Kyana Williams' high jump (5 feet, 9 inches), and Seton Catholic’s Brooke Zuluaga javelin championship (148 feet, 10 inches).

Additional field championships were won by Desert Vista’s Tatum Lee in discus (144 feet, 9 inches) and Arizona College Prep pole vaulter McKenna Brown (12 feet, 1 inch). The triple jump was taken by Amphitheater senior Monica Verrett (38 feet, 3 ¾ inches), and the long jump went to Maricopa’s Makayla Armstrong (18 feet, 7 ½ inches). 

Boys Scoreboard 

Red Mountain – 58 

Basha – 37

Hamilton – 36.5 

Crew Comish lifts the trophy and celebrates alongside the Red Mountain boys track team after winning the AIA state championship Saturday at Mesa Community College. (Andrew Wise photo/AZPreps365)

Red Mountain became the first school to win two team state championships since the release of the new format in 2023 – where RMHS won. In last year’s meet, Red Mountain was a heartbreaking one point away from winning. 

“Their work ethic was unreal,” Red Mountain head coach Josh Barge said. “Last year when we got beat by a point by Basha in this same meet, from there on out, these guys have been on another level to not let that happen again. We had a complete team this year and I couldn’t be more proud than I am of these guys.”

The Mountain Lions were led Saturday night by two juniors and a supporting cast of depth across the board.

Sprinter Dameon Brender, who did not start competing until his sophomore season, won the 100-meter dash (10.74) while also placing second in the 200-meter (21.66), and distance runner Crew Comish won the 1,600 (4:12.94) plus anchored the 4x800-meter championship relay (7:47.87). 

“We’re a really good team,” Brender said. “We went out there and won divisionals, came out here and won state in a good fashion. We definitely deserved it. The guys out here worked so hard.”

Barge said the culture and work ethic reflected through senior Amare Holley, who set the tone every day at practice and raised the competitiveness of the team.

Red Mountain will be primed to repeat and win their third open state championship with a group that will be returning many key pieces next season. 

Hamilton won the boys 4x400-meter relay (3:15.21) – the fourth fastest time in state history – featuring 5-star cornerback Keaton Fields, 4-star USC wide receiver commit Roye Oliver III, wide receiver Christian Riley, who holds an offer from Drake, and Christian Hinton, who is the sixth best 400-m dash runner in Arizona. 

While Red Mountain and Hamilton continued their historical dominance, small schools such as Division III ALA Queen Creek, Ironwood Ridge and Division IV Snowflake arrived at the state championship to make a statement. 

ALA Queen Creek's Beckham Goodman took home the 200-meter dash (21.57) and was part of the 4x100-meter relay championship team (40.91) – the seventh-fastest time in state history.

“It puts us on the map,” Goodman said. “We’re a small charter school, so just coming out here and showing that these small D-III schools can do everything that D-I and D-II schools can do, and I love putting on a show for my school.”

Ironwood Ridge junior Jett Merrill won the 110-meter hurdles (13.91), long jump (23 feet, 8 inches) and was just 0.01 seconds away from a 100-meter dash state championship (10.75). Merrill credited his consistency across multiple events to his coaches who push him at practice along with his attentiveness to training and diet. 

Snowflake all-around star Ryder Hall showcased his versatility through a high jump (6 feet, 10 inches) and triple jump (48 feet, 7 ¾ inches) championship performances. The senior capped his legacy as one of Arizona’s most well-rounded athletes, recording the state’s No. 1 decathlon spot, No. 2 long jump, and No. 3 110-meter hurdles season placements along with his two championships this season. 

“I’m just dedicated to everything I do in track,” said Hall. “I’ve been lifting every day in the weight room, so I’ve prepared for this well.”

With Hall moving on to compete collegiately, Merrill will look to be an even larger standout in 2027. 

The additional boys field events were highlighted by Williams Field senior Malachi Joyner winning the shot put (61 feet, 2 inches), Desert Vista’s Trenton Busher-Stanislas' discus title (178 feet, 5 inches), and an upset javelin victory from Brophy freshman Hudson Hensley (191 feet, 5 inches) – beating the current Arizona state record holder Kelson Hogan – who threw more than 35 feet below his record.

Queen Creek senior Dash Wasson won the pole vault (17 feet, 2 inches) to cap off the boys field events.

On the track, the 300-meter hurdles title went to Mountain Ridge senior Sanel Eminovic (37.24), who won by nearly a full second. The 400-meter dash title went to Salpointe Catholic’s Cristiano Morales (47.01), and the 800 was won by O’Connor sophomore Brecken Bellows at 1:51.91 seconds.

Flagstaff distance runner and current Arizona state record holder Yohannes vanMeerten claimed the 3200-meter championship (8:57.17) – winning the race by nearly 15 seconds. The junior is committed to Oregon heading into his senior season. 

With many state champions returning on both the boys and girls sides for 2027, and Galera-Young breaking the 300-m hurdle record, as well as multiple records nearly being broken – Arizona continues to be a state on the rise.

The AIA’s change to hosting the state championships in 2023 has proven to be a good decision, with competition being at an all-time high, represented with schools of all sizes and history from across Arizona. 

“We continue to see student-athletes keep pushing themselves to better marks,” said AIA Executive Director Dr. Jim Dean. “It shows what a great state we have and how great our student-athletes are.”