Katie Rainsberger, Lucy Biles, and Dani Jones have a history of meeting in Arizona. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.
Word has gotten around about the Chandler Rotary Invitational. Now in it's 75th edition, it's become the out-of-state spring break meet of choice for top Colorado talent.
There's not enough pixels on your screen to list all the Colorado athletes headed down, but suffice it to say that ThunderRidge, Highlands Ranch, Air Academy, The Classical Academy, Palmer Ridge, Cheyenne Mountain, Cherokee Trail, Durango, D'Evelyn, Rampart, Vail Christian, and possibly one or two schools I may have missed in a skim of the start lists, are sending athletes down.
What they get in return is outstanding competition. The meet draws from California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and occasionally beyond. And, where in the United States would you rather be on March 21 than the Valley of the Sun?
One particularly tantalizing match-up reprises an NXR-SW showdown between Katie Rainsberger, Lucy Biles, and Dani Jones. Only this time, the distance is shorter--one mile as opposed to 3.1. Can Rainsberger prevail again? This time, though, the stakes are a little higher, as Makena Morley joins Saturday evening's field.
Lexi Reed also represents Colorado in the top heat.
Cheyenne Mountain's William Mayhew, having done in the Colorado competition to date, takes on the mile and--perhaps in a bit of a surprise--the 3200. There's no doubt Mayhew can go to 3200 meters, but he certainly does not have a long history of running the event. Teammate Thomas Staines will have Mayhew's back in the 1600, but Mayhew will be running uncovered in the 32. For the record, Mayhew is also entered in the 800, so it could be that something gives on Saturday evening. Or it could be we find out Mayhew is pretty nearly invincible at any distance. Stay tuned on that score.
If Taylor Alexander has been waiting for warmer weather to warm up her pole, she should have plenty of it in Arizona.
Shayna Yon takes aim at some very speedy competition in the 100. Kiara Kearney and Alli Davis join the high jump fray. Kamryn Hart gets to take on some very speedy Arizona girls in the 400.
Each of these athletes gives up a weekend of rankings-eligible marks to take part in the event. All of Colorado wishes them well.