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Breaking a 14-year-old state record in the Track and Field Open State Championships a season ago, Zalaya Dupre has burst onto the track and field scene for Copper Canyon.

Then a junior, Dupre’s 41-foot, 9-1/2 inch triple jump mark in the Open a season ago beat out former Chandler great Jasmine Todd for the state’s all-time record, which was 41-feet, 5 inches.

Now a senior, Dupre’s Chandler Rotary mark of 41-foot, 1-inch is likely just a warmup for state as the Division II Track and Field State Championships get underway May 8 at Red Mountain High School in Mesa.

Dupre, a former basketball standout who was encouraged by her former coach, Kendrick Felix, to give track and field a try, said breaking the record was “surreal.”

“I felt a rush of emotions, but most of all, I was proud of what I accomplished,” Dupre said.

The University of Oklahoma commit began her track and field career as a freshman and the triple jump didn’t come easy at first.

“My progress came quicker than expected, but my coaches always believed I had it in me,” Dupre said, adding that she played basketball for much of her life, but gave it up this year to focus on her craft on the track.

“I credit all my success to God, who guides me through every high and low,” Dupre said.

Dupre has other times to watch as well. Her 12.25 mark in the 100-meter dash at a district meet this season is good enough for seventh overall in state at the Division II level, while her best 200 time was 26.01. In the long jump, her 19-foot, 2-inch leap was best at the Chandler Rotary Invitational on March 22.

Dupre enjoys walking with her family, playing video games and reading the Bible.

“I love capturing photos and videos at sporting events, then editing them when I get home,” Dupre said. “I have an incredibly supportive family who encourages me to share my talents and passions with the world.”

The senior plans to study kinesiology at Oklahoma with a goal of becoming an athletic trainer while competing as a high-level athlete in track and field.

DIVISION II BOYS ATHLETE TO WATCH

Eastmark standout Bryson Nielsen holds to the top 800-meter run time this season with a 1:52.25 mark at the Arcadia Invitational back in April.

The senior isn’t far off from the top 1,600-meter run time either, with a 4:15.49 mark set at the Chandler Rotary Invitational in March, only .49 seconds behind Flagstaff junior Alex Bland’s 4:15 flat.

Nielsen said his favorite event is the 800 based on how “quick” the race is.

“It forces you to go almost all out for the entirety of the two laps,” Nielsen said. “It feels like an eternity when in reality it’s less than two minutes.”

The senior said his current top time for the 800 heading into the Division III Track and Field State Championships isn’t his fastest mark, but it felt like the Arcadia effort was his best “strategically.”

“It felt great knowing that was a top time for that kind of performance,” Nielsen said. “I can’t wait to see what I can do giving my all.”

Eastmark coach Joshua Tristan said Nielsen holds himself to an “extremely high” standard.

“He fully expects to win every race regardless of distance. When he doesn’t win a race, he is visibly upset,” Tristan said. “He isn’t just a competitor on invitational day, he is constantly grinding and putting in extra work beyond practice time to better his craft and become the best runner in the state of Arizona.”

In his spare time, Nielsen loves to go to the gym and swim. He’s also learning how to play the guitar and said he plays his fair share of video games.

“I just need to make sure I don’t overdo it,” Nielsen laughed.

His three brothers and family dog also keep him busy, but he attributed his success to coach Free Behrman at Eastmark and former coach Mike Roelofs at Skyline.

“Both of them opened the door for me in the sport and helped me get where I am today,” Nielsen said, adding later, “I love to run and travel to compete against some of the top guys in the nation.”

D-II BOYS TOP EVENT TIMES

100 meters: Logan Yackley, Desert Edge 10.47

200 meters: Logan Yackley, Desert Edge 21.35

400 meters: Nevaeh Anderson, Pueblo Magnet 48.23

800 meters: Eduardo Aviles, Vista Grand 1:55.53

1,600 meters: Andrew Fastrup, Sunrise Mountain 4:2386

3,200 meters: Andrew Fastrup, Sunrise Mountain 9:16.63

110 hurdles: Bellemy Amina-Harris, Desert Edge 13.91

300 hurdles: Bellemy Amina-Harris, Desert Edge 37.37

4x100: David Cabrera; Jonas Mitchell; Antonio Para; Logan Yackley, Desert Edge 41.39

4x400: Givon El-Amin; Benjamin Harris; Dominic Dampier; Javon Hearod, North Canyon 3:20.12

4x800: Charlie Heron; Connor McCarthy; Nathan Kraatz; Michael Bostrom, Desert Mountain 8:09.32

Shot Put: John-Alexander Lopez, Copper Canyon, 52-11

Discus: Trig Riefkohl, Verrado, 179-10

Javelin: Drew Pollard, Campo Verde 178-1

High Jump: William Feagles, Notre Dame Prep 6-6

Pole Vault: Hudson Kerby, Campo Verde 14-2

Long Jump: Aaron Gomez, Verrado 23-1

Triple Jump: Dayvon Standard, Buckeye Union 46-1.25

D-II GIRLS TOP EVENT TIMES

100 meters: Amerah Richardson, Arizona College Prep 11.78

200 meters: Devyn Henderson, North Canyon 23.93

400 meters: Saylor McMillon, North Canyon 55.59

800 meters: Bianca Hurtado, Campo Verde 2:12.38

1,600 meters: Katherine McNulty, Catalina Foothills 5:02.50

3,200 meters: Katherine McNulty, Catalina Foothills 10:50.57

100 hurdles: Rebekah-Jhade Garrett, North Canyon 14.27

300 hurdles: Aliyah Akinbile, Catalina Foothills 42.64

4x100: North Canyon, 46.45

4x400: Ryane Ast; Aaliyah Rogers; Peyton-Rae Isaac; Aniya Smith, Canyon View 3:48.17

4x800: Isabella Valazquez; Ryane Ast; Taelyn Janssen; Peyton-Rae Isaac, Canyon View 9:25.31

Shot Put: Rylee Fields, Canyon View 36-7.25

Discus: Cate Novy, Lake Havasu 133-0

Javelin: Nora Fincher, McClintock 131-8

High Jump: Lanaya McCloud, North Canyon 5-4

Pole Vault: Jazmyn Kinzel, Notre Dame Prep 11-7

Long Jump: Amerah Richardson, Arizona College Prep 19-5.5

Triple Jump: Zalaya Dupre, Copper Canyon 41-1

D-III BOYS TOP EVENT TIMES

100 meters: Tyree Evans, Mica Mountain 10.72

200 meters: Jett Merrill, Ironwood Ridge 21.84

400 meters: Cristiano Morales, Salpointe Catholic 48.84

800 meters: Bryson Nielsen, Eastmark 1:52.25

1,600 meters: Alex Bland, Flagstaff 4:15

3,200 meters: Yohanes VanMeerten, Flagstaff 9:23.22

110 hurdles: Jett Merrill, Ironwood Ridge 14.02

300 hurdles: Jett Merrill, Ironwood Ridge 37.86

4x100: Isaac Rhonehouse; Jett Merrill; Jayden Barrett; Matthew Kroner, Ironwood Ridge 41.40

4x400: Alex Bland; Jacob Medina; Yohanes VanMeerten; Elijah Talkalai, Flagstaff 8:01.73

4x800: Alex Bland; Jacob Medina; Yohanes VanMeerten; Elijah Talkalai, Flagstaff 8:01.73

Shot Put: Keiton Blake, Eastmark 53-8

Discus: Keiton Blake, Eastmark 167-6

Javelin: Isaac Moyle, Salpointe Catholic 192-11

High Jump: Nathaniel Bryant, Mica Mountain 6-6

Pole Vault: Kadyn Hysong, Shadow Mountain, 16-9

Long Jump: Nathaniel Bryant, Mica Mountain 23-2

Triple Jump: Ryan Kavalami, Thunderbird, 43-6

D-III GIRLS TOP EVENT TIMES

100 meters: Violet Williams, Prescott 12.03

200 meters: Violet Williams, Prescott 24.80

400 meters: Violet Williams, Prescott 55.82

800 meters: Violet Williams, Prescott 2:16.69

1,600 meters: Hailey Burke, Mica Mountain 5:09.81

3,200 meters: Olivia Baker, Flagstaff 11:03.09

100 hurdles: Sophia Bryant, St. Mary’s Catholic 15.15

300 hurdles: Kenzie Blanchard, Prescott 44.72

4x100: Aubrey Kitahata; Wylie Monnett; Kenzie Blanchard; Violet Williams, Prescott 47.87

4x400: Aubrey Kitahata; Wylie Monnett, Kenzie Blanchard; Violet Williams, Prescott 4:00.08

4x800: Madison Vigil; Mia Parker; Hailey Burke; Alana Alva, Mica Mountain 9:45.70

Shot Put: Liz Ugwu, Sahuaro 41-9

Discus: Liz Ugwu, Sahuaro 133-4

Javelin: Camila Villalobos, Sahuarita 119-3

High Jump: Kyana Williams, ALA-Queen Creek 5-9

Pole Vault: Ashlyn Powell, ALA-Gilbert North, 12-1

Long Jump: Violet Williams, Prescott 18-9.75

Triple Jump: Sophronia Okpara, Mica Mountain 37-8.25

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.