Laura Fellows is the media advisor for Gilbert Christian's Student SID program that contributes content on behalf of the school to AZPreps365.com

Under head coach Logan Pinkerton and assistant coaches, Colton Gianiorio, Seth Lanzel and Jerry Pinkerton, Gilbert Christian High School’s Track and Field team participated in the Maricopa Invitational at RAM Track and Field Stadium on March 5, 2022. Twenty-One Girls’ teams and 22 Boys’ teams participated in the day’s events.

Athletes that placed in events within the top final eight:

• Emilie Follett (JR), 6th place, Girls High Jump, 4’ 9”
• Zach Hohmann (JR), 1st place, Boys High Jump, a new personal and school record, 6’ 3”
• David Carson (SR), 4th place, Boys 3200 Meter Run, 10:45.39
• Ryley Nelson (SO), 1st place, Girls 1600 Meter Run, 5:22.23
• Sierra Nielsen (SR), 5th place, Girls 400 Meter Dash, 1:07.04
• Ben Johnson (JR), 5th place, Boys 400 Meter Dash, 55.45
• Tatum Ford, Lizzie Biek, Savannah Blevins and Ryley Nelson, 7th place, Girls 4 x 800 Meter Relay, 11:22.52

Coach Pinkerton had this to say about the team after its first meet of the season:

"Saturday's meet was a huge success. With many athletes participating in their first ever track meet, there was an enormous learning curve to overcome and the athletes answered that call as best I could of hoped for. I am proud of each and every one of them for their performances, with multiple personal bests, first place overall finishes and school records - I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for the remainder of the season!"

Here are some photos of the athletes competing from the invitational:

 

Caden Dykstra, Prelims: 13.80, and Nolan McKay, Prelims: 12.88, 100 Meter Dash:

 

Ana Johnson, Prelims: 31.13, 200 Meter Dash:

 

Jenna Griswold, Prelims: 31.11, 200 Meter Dash:

 

Ben Johnson, Prelims: 25.19, 200 Meter Dash:

 

Emilie Follett, Girls Long Jump, 18th place, 7':

 

Zach Hohmann, Boys Long Jump, 23rd place, 8’:

 

Emilie Follett, 6th place, Girls High Jump. 4' 9”:

 

Ethan Tau, Prelims: 58.53, 400 Meter Dash:

 

Maccoy Villone, Prelims: 1:00.20, 400 Meter Dash:

 

Sierra Nielsen, Prelims: 1:06.09/Final: 1:07.04, 5th place, 400 Meter Dash:

 

Hailey Dawson, Prelims: 1:14.65 400 Meter Dash:

 

Hannah Essex, Prelims: 1:19.04, 400 Meter Dash:

 

Tatum Ford, Lizzie Biek, Savannah Blevins and Ryley Nelson, Girls 4 x 800 Meter Relay, 7th place, 11:22.52:

 

Josh Rich, Drew Carson, Sam Korinek, Sam Johnson, Boys 4 x 800 Meter Relay, 16th place, 10:09.35: