This is The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona boys' track and field team and coach of the year for the 2024 season. Twelve athletes have been selected. They also are the nominees for boys' high school track athlete of the year (listed alphabetically) along with honorable mentions and the boys' coach of the year.
The athletes of the year will be announced at the Arizona High School Sports Awards, presented by Diamond Kitchen & Bath, event on June 17 at Arizona Financial Theater in downtown Phoenix along with players of the year in other high school sports for the 2023-24 school year. The show is produced in partnership with Western States Home Services. Followthis linkto learn more about the event, or visit azcentral.com.
The 2024 All-Arizona boys’ track and field team
Diego Aguirre-Stewart, Goodyear Millennium, sprints, Sr.: Ran 21.21 in the 200 meters at the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational, one of the top times in state history for the event, in just his second year of the sport. Won the AIA state championship in the 200 and came in third for the 100. Ran 10.50 in the 100, the No. 2 time in the state this season. Also ran 37.89 in the 300-meter hurdles, No. 3 in Arizona.
Josiah Anderson, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, sprints, Sr.: Ran 46.78 to win the 400 meters at the AIA state championship. Anderson is the first athlete since Mountain Pointe’s Jayden Davis, who set the state record last year, to run in the 46-second range. Anderson went undefeated against in-state competition and nobody else ran faster than 47.38 this season.
Jamar Beal-Goines, Goodyear Desert Edge, sprints, Jr.: Has the official title of Arizona’s fastest high school athlete with his state-leading time of 10.46 in the 100 meters, which he ran at the AIA Division II championships. Ran 21.41 in the 200 meters as well. Was the anchor leg of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team at the AIA state championships. His future is in football as he is committed to Texas A&M, but he’s a stellar athlete on the track.
Ari Dubin, Vail Cienega, jumps, Sr.: Had the top long jump in the state this season when he went 23-9.25 to win the AIA Division II state championship. He went 10 for 11 in long jump competitions this season, with his only loss coming at the AIA state championships, where he came in fourth.
Diego Herrera-Vendrell, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, throws, Sr.: Won the discus at the AIA state championships with a throw of 177-7. He was the state’s best discus thrower the whole season, starting the season with a personal best of 182-3. That ended up being the state-leading mark for the entire spring. Also came in sixth in the shot put at the AIA state championships.
Tyler Mathews, Mesa Red Mountain, distance, Sr.: Won the 800 meters (1:49.73) and 1,600 meters (4:08.36) at the AIA state championships. Also ran the final anchor leg of the first-place 4x800-meter relay team. Mathews, a BYU commit and the state record-holder in the 800, became the first Arizona runner since 2021 to run under 4:10 in the 1,600. His 1:49.73 is currently No. 4 in the U.S.
Augustine McCabe, Tolleson, jumps, Sr.: After trying on a track and field uniform for the first time on April 3, McCabe won the AIA state championship in the triple jump on May 10 with a jump of 49-9.5. That jump is No. 4 in state history. A remarkable turnaround from the newcomer.
Bryson Nielsen, Mesa Eastmark, distance, Jr.: Won the 3,200 meters at the AIA state championships and came in third in both the 800 meters and 1,600 meters. He came close to running under nine minutes in the 3,200 when he went 9:03.49 at the Arcadia Invitational. Also ran 1:52.47 in the 800 and4:10.49 in the 1,600.
Vance Nilsson, Gilbert, hurdles, Sr.: Provided the signature moment of the season when he set the U.S. high school national record in the 300-meter hurdles at the AIA state championships, running 34.83. He is the first prep athlete to go under 35 seconds in the event. The Florida commit also set the Arizona state record in the 110-meter hurdles at the AIA Division I championships, running 13.39 to take down Phoenix Brophy Prep’s Devon Allen’s old record. An all-time season that is forever etched into history.
Sam Novak, Paradise Valley Phoenix Country Day School, jumps, Jr.: Had a career-best day to win the pole vault at the AIA state championships, clearing 17 feet to beat ALA Queen Creek’s Taylor Searle based on attempts. Novak had never gone higher than 16-6.75 entering the meet, so it was nearly a half-foot improvement.
Eyitayo Omotinugbon, Queen Creek, throws, Sr.: Came in clutch with his throw of 60-6 in the shot put at the AIA state championships, which played a big role in Queen Creek winning the team title. The 60-6 also tied the state lead in the event. The Boise State football commit came in third in the discus (173-8) as well. On the season, Omotinugbon had a best of 174-3 in the discus.
Taylor Searle, American Leadership Academy Queen Creek, jumps, Sr.: The transfer from Montana quickly made an imprint on the state. He came close to breaking the state record in the pole vault when he went 17-6 at the Seton Catholic Last Chance Qualifier, just one inch away from Surprise Valley Vista Cole Riddle’s mark of 17-7. The BYU-bound Searle finished second in the event at the AIA state championships. His 17-6 is tied for No. 3 in the country.
Honorable mention: DeMar Coleman, Phoenix South Mountain, sprints, Jr., Tyreeq Jones, Surprise Willow Canyon, sprints, Jr.; David Cabrera, Goodyear Desert Edge, sprints, Jr.; Sammie Hunter, Chandler, sprints, Sr.; Otis Knapper, Chandler, sprints, Sr.; Zachary Ripperdan, Queen Creek, distance, Sr.; Donovan Bitticks, Scottsdale Horizon, distance, Sr.; Kai Espinosa-Golinski, Mesa Westwood, distance, Jr.; Jack Sebald, Phoenix Brophy Prep, hurdles, Sr.; Bellemy Amina-Harris, Avondale West Point, hurdles, Jr.; Owen Lee, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws, Sr.; Hayden Weaver, Surprise Shadow Ridge, throws, Sr.; Lucas Schiermeyer, Phoenix Desert Vista, throws, Jr.; Austin Taylor, Mesa Desert Ridge, throws, Sr.; Keona Wilhite, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, throws, Sr.; William Feagles, Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep, jumps, Jr.; Addarius Miles, Avondale Westview, jumps, Jr.; Braylen Singleton, Chandler, jumps, Sr.; DeAndre Gatlin, Mesa Mountain View, jumps, Sr.; Dash Wasson, Queen Creek, jumps, So.; Nathan Williams, Paradise Valley, jumps, Sr.; Trace White, ALA Anthem South, jumps, Jr.
Coach of the Year
Derrick Richardson, Chandler
In his first year taking over as head coach from Matt Lincoln, Richardson – the son of the girl’s coach, Eric — was able to navigate the team to an AIA Division I title and a runner-up finish at AIA state championships. The Division I team title was the first for Chandler since 2021. At the AIA state championships, the team battle came down to the final event as the top three teams – Queen Creek, Chandler and Desert Vista – were only separated by two total points.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Republic's All-Arizona 2024 boys track and field team
