Citizen Staff Writer
HS TRACK & FIELD
JESSIE VANDERSON
jvander@tucsoncitizen.com
DOUGLAS – Sylvia Gomez made the most of an opportunity to run against some of the best.
The senior at Benson High School went against several of the top Class 4A and 5A girls sprinters in southern Arizona at the 77th annual Ted James/Douglas Invitational.
Gomez moved from second place to first in the 400 meters with a time of 1 minute, 1.3 seconds after Rincon/University sprinter Tamara Pridgett was disqualified for running on the lane line.
“She (Pridgett) really pushed me. I ran my fastest time in the 400 so far this year,” Gomez said.
Pridgett sprinted to the meet title in the 100 (12.6) and 200 (26.6). She won 4A Division I state titles in both races last year.
“I think I can take my race to another level. I want to get faster,” Pridgett said.
Gomez dashed to fourth in the 100 (13.5), tied for third in the 200 (27.91), and teamed, as the third leg with ReBeca Ames, Katri Elsmore and Chelsea Bellmore to earn Benson third place in the 4×100 (53.53).
Jordan Davidson of Mountain View finished second in the 100 (13.2) and the 200 (27.6).
Mountain View had 105 points to win the girls title. Sahuaro (84) was second and Rincon (76) was third.
In the boys race, Mountain View clipped Flowing Wells 86.25-86 to take the title.
Donovant Grant won the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches), and finished second in the long jump (21-1) to lead Mountain View.
Flowing Wells sophomore Humberto Bravo won the 800 (2:03.8) and took second in the 1,600 (4:44.80).
“I like the 800 because it is fast. It has a fast pace,” Bravo said. “The person with the most guts wins.”
Rincon junior Brian Akpan won the 110-meter high hurdles (15.7) and the 300 hurdles (41.2).