Summerset captures long-awaited high jump title, a little more

MESA — Justice Summerset was instructed to stay atop the podium after he received his gold medal for winning the boys Division II 400-meter run during Saturday’s track and field state championships.

Meet officials handing out the awards had been waiting a little while to give out the medals for the high jump. In reality, Summerset was the one doing the waiting — four years’ worth.

The Mountain View senior put three years of misery to rest, clearing 6 feet 9 inches to capture his first high jump championship and then taking first in the 400 an hour later. Summerset, who is signed with the Arizona Wildcats, closed out his high school track career later in the night with a sixth-place finish in the 200.

“I’ve been up on the podium, but I’ve never been on the first-place box,” said Summerset, after his 48.93-second victory in the 400. “It was awesome to be able to stand there and have my family be able to take pictures, and having everyone clap for me and honor my achievements this year. It’s just been a great year all the way.”

No kidding.

Summerset cleared 7 feet three times this season, including two weeks ago, when he broke Arizona’s all-time high school record with a height of 7 feet 2½ inches. Even though he captured the long-awaited high jump title on Saturday, he stepped off the mat somewhat disappointed that he wasn’t able to beat his record. Summerset’s clearance at 6-9 locked up his win, but he stalled after the bar was moved to 7-1.

“Not many people see a 7-foot jumper, and I really wanted to get that for everybody, but it wasn’t meant to be,” Summerset said. “It wasn’t in God’s plans for me to jump over 7 feet today, but I’m still blessed that he was able to give me that win today. That’s all that matters.”

Summerset entered high school with some high expectations, and he didn’t disappoint, finishing as the Division I runner-up that spring. A year later, Summerset placed fifth in Division II before tying for second as a junior.

“After all the hard work I’ve put in for the past four years, it couldn’t have gone any better,” Summerset said. “Having that state record next to my name and that state championship finally, it feels great.”

Summerset was among the headliners on Saturday in Mesa, but he wasn’t the only Southern Arizona winner.

Allie Schadler anchored Rio Rico to a first-place finish in the girls 3,200 relay in 9:53.34, early in the afternoon.

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The junior also won the open 3,200 in 10:16.72 — the third-fastest time in state history — to win her third gold medal of the meet before running a speedy final leg in the 400 relay to power the Hawks to a first-place finish in 4:02.19.

Rio Rico’s team was the Division III girls runner-up, behind Fountain Hills.

“I never thought I would be a quadruple state champion, and I’ve wanted this relay with my team ever since I was a freshman,” said Schadler, who won her third straight 1,600 championship Friday. “We had always come up short, by less than a second, so it means a lot.”

Immaculate Heart senior Amity Brown was one of the first winners of the afternoon when she repeated as the girls Division IV high jump champ. Minutes after that, Sahuaro’s Brielle Sterns won her third straight championship in the girls Division II 100-meter hurdles in 14.58, and Walden Grove junior Jala Pinckney won the girls Division III hurdles (16.05).

Tucson High senior Tavian Ross was another local athlete to repeat as a state champion Saturday, winning the boys 400 in 48.28.

“I gave it my all, and my outcome is what I expected it to be,” Ross said. “It feels great to finish high school with two state championships in the 400 around my belt.”

Bisbee senior Tony Chavez, who won a pole vault title on Friday, earned a second gold medal with a first-place finish in the boys Division IV 300 hurdles (40.01) after he was second in the 110 hurdles to start the day.

Benson senior Lofton Thomas had similar luck in the pole vault Saturday, clearing 14-9 for the Division III crown after taking second in the event a year ago.

“It was great weather, and I was just pumped for it,” Thomas said. “The second-place finish made me want to work, and it made me want to put all my time and effort into pole vault, and it paid off.”

Pusch Ridge Christian also won a championship, taking first in the girls Division IV 400 relay in 51.64 after posting the fastest qualifying time Friday.

“It pumped us up more, being in the fast lane,” said Kacy Haynes, who ran anchor. “It’s so exciting, and I think it bonded all of us a lot together.”