Future Wildcats quarterback Jamarye Joiner wins state title in 110-meter hurdles

MESA — Jamarye Joiner crossed the finish line, shook his head and screamed an expletive. He was visibly upset.

The Cienega High School senior had knocked over three hurdles during his 110-meter run. The at-times-ugly performance was more than good enough, however: Joiner’s time of 14.41 seconds was enough to earn him a Division II title at the state championships, held Saturday at Mesa Community College.

Given a little time, Joiner — a senior who has signed to play quarterback at the University of Arizona this fall — could appreciate Saturday’s accomplishment.

“It means a lot,” he said, “because hard work does pay off.”

Joiner admitted the past week had been hectic. Teacher walkouts shut down Cienega’s classes and affected Joiner’s schedule. He said, however, that the adversity helped him focus on his race and what he needed to do.

“In practice, I was working on my start. Just attacking my first hurdle, trying to work it,” Joiner said.

After winning a state title in hurdles, Joiner returned to the starting area to compete for the 100-meter race. That time, Joiner came in the opposite side of the results – in last place.

Joiner wasn’t bothered by his time.

“This isn’t my main event,” Joiner said. “I just ran the one meet, qualified and came out here.”

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Joiner also competed in the long jump during Saturday’s finals, finishing third with a distance of 23 feet 1.25 inches.

Salpointe Catholic’s Cyanna LaVetter won the Division III 100-meter dash with a time of 12.36 seconds, and Tucson’s Neysia Howard captured the Division I 100-meter title in 12.07 seconds.

Salpointe’s Andrew Ference won the Division III pole vault with a distance of 15 feet 3 inches.

Tucson High’s girls 4x100-meter relay team, comprised of Dejanae Wilmore, Onome Ugbisien, Jenica Bosko and Neysia Howard, won the state title with a time of 46.86 seconds.

Other top finishers included Sahuarita’s Hannah Barney, who came in second in the Division III javelin throw (116-09); Salpointe’s Annie Kosinski, who finished in second in the Division III 100-meter hurdles (15.61); Catalina’s Rastow Gasore finished second in the Division III 100-meter dash (10.50).

Sahuaro’s Nikita Sampson finished in third in the Division II shot put with a distance of 39 feet 0.25 inches. Pusch Ridge Christian’s Angel Addleman finished in third in the Division IV 400-meter dash with a time of 1:01.24.

Five relay teams also made it to the podium. Pusch Ridge’s girls 4x100-meter team of Addleman, Summer McDonough, Lauren Corral and Kacy Hayes finished in second with a time of 50.98 seconds. Salpointe’s group of Eleanor Tuck, Jackeline Walldez, Leslie Valenzuela and Cyanna LaVetter came in second (50.92) in the Division III 4X100-meter relay.

In the boys Division II 4x100-meter relay, Cienega’s Frankie Ciampa, Rodney Rodgers, Kavaan Whaples and Joiner finished in second (41.67).

Alexia Grant, Kyrstein Forkl-Hall, Leisey Trevillyan and Jacquelyn Candito came in third (51.19) in the 4x100-meter for Empire and Salpointe’s Katelyn Kelly, Alexis Lambert, Zoey Delgado and Ana Alvarez Tostado finished in third (10:21.86) for Salpointe in the 4x800-meter relay.