Record haul: Page captures six crowns at AIA division championships

MESA, Ariz.

A determined Page track team left the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division IV Championships with an impressive haul.

The Sand Devils claimed six individual crowns at the conclusion of the two-day divisional meet at Red Mountain High School in Mesa.

“I think it’s a record,” Page coach Tim Martin said. “It really comes down to the coaching staff setting standards and expectations for our kids. We did that from the beginning and these kids just came together.

“The mentality at practice was to get better every day, every week,” he added. “It showed for every kid at the end of the season. The kids were running new PRs trying to get here.”

Page captured half of its total haul on the second and final day of the divisional meet, led by senior Sofia Cambridge. The Sand Devil sprinter was a double winner, fetching gold in the 200 and 400 races.

In one of the most exciting races Saturday, Cambridge nudged Sabino’s Taylor Tatum by the slimmest of margins for the 200 title.

Just seven-thousandths of a second separated the Page senior from the Tucson teenager as Cambridge leaned in for the win, which was confirmed by the automatic timing system used by the AIA.

Cambridge won the race in 26.101 second while Tatum clocked in at 26.108.

“I’m actually pretty surprised that I won this race,” Cambridge said. “I just had to get out strong because I have a pretty good finish.”

Cambridge appreciated the effort turned in by Tatum as the two athletes competed in the same prelims on Friday to qualify for the finals. In that race, Tatum edged Cambridge to win that heat.

“I like having those kinds of races because it helps with my PRs,” Cambridge said. “It just motivates me when I see someone in front of me.”

In the open 400, Cambridge finished out strong en route to a win in a time of 57.98. Not too far behind Cambridge was Mila Russo of Gilbert Christian, placing second in 58.64.

Cambridge credited her racing form for her strong finish.

“It’s all in your arms,” she said. “That is what my coach is really big on, pumping your arms and using good form. You could really tell with winners, they use their arms, keep a level head and they move like crazy.”

Like Cambridge, sophomore Symond Martin earned two division crowns as he won the 3200-meter race on Saturday after winning the 1600 on Friday.

Martin cruised to the win on Saturday at 9:22.87 as he separated from the field on the fifth lap.

Tanque Verde’s Andrew Smith placed second at 9:28.90.

“In that first mile I was just cruising and on that last mile I wanted to kick it up,” Martin said. “And then I started to kick it in the last two laps so I went faster and faster. I just put some distance on those guys.

“Last year I got second in this race, but I think it’s great to win two races this year,” he added. “I just had more confidence this year than last year.”

For complete coverage of the AIA track meet pick up Thursday’s Navajo Times.

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