Coronado’s Jordan stars in Division I Sunrise Region track meet

Coronado’s Charleen Jordan knew she was in for a long day Saturday in the Division I Sunrise Region track and field meet, so she decided to take a nap under her team’s canopy on the bleachers just before her final event.

It was a helpful and well-deserved siesta for the standout sophomore.

Jordan swept the hurdles, ran anchor on the winning 1,600-meter relay team and placed third in the 100 to cap one of the afternoon’s most outstanding performances at Del Sol.

“I love it, honestly,” Jordan said. “It is tiring at times, having to stay the entire meet from beginning to end, but I love it. And I love the relays because it’s just a four-girl team, and you get really close with everyone. It’s nice to not always be alone in a race.”

Jordan, who last season won region titles in each of the 300 hurdles and 1,600 relay events, got her first individual title in the 100 hurdles and also qualified for state in the 100.

She won the 100 hurdles in 15.25 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 45.33.

Jordan also ran on the winning 1,600 relay team (4:03.23), and was third in the 100 behind Liberty’s Gifty Nkansah (12.46) and Valley’s Zamiah Austin (12.59).

But even she thought it could have gone better.

Jordan, who had stress fractures in both of her shins earlier this season, hasn’t participated in as many races as she would have liked. But she hopes to finish the season on a high note in this week’s state meet.

“This week (in practice), I’m going to race the fellow boy hurdlers,” Jordan said. “So when state comes, I’ll be ready.”

Centennial’s Talie Bonds won the 100 hurdles in the Sunset in 15.47 and was second in the 300 hurdles behind Palo Verde’s Jessica Fields (46.78).

Liberty’s Nkansah took the 100 and was second leg in the winning 400 relay team (49.37) in the Sunrise. She also finished fourth in the 200.

Green Valley’s Sydney Eastwood, who finished second in the pole vault last season by clearing 10 feet, won her first individual region title with an 11-6 effort.

She attempted to clear 12-0, but missed on her attempts. Teammate Katie Brewster finished second at 11-3 for the Gators, who won the Sunrise Region with 158.2 points.

Coronado finished second with 111.6 points, and Liberty was third with 88.

Also in the Sunset, Cimarron-Memorial senior Mia Russell won the 100 in 12.34 and set a personal record by winning the 200 in 25.20.

Centennial’s Karina Haymore won the 400 (56.98) and 800 (2:16.48) and ran anchor on the winning 1,600 relay team.

Teammate Alexis Gourrier was second to Haymore in the 800 (2:18.58), but won the 1,600 (5:03.17) and the 3,200 (11:11.90). She also was the second leg on the 1,600 relay team for the Bulldogs, who won their eighth consecutive Sunset Region title with 207 points.

Arbor View placed second with 139.5 points, followed by Palo Verde with 109.5.

BOYS

Canyon Springs senior Bradley Alexander made a name for himself on the football field last fall by earning first-team All-Sunrise Region honors.

Now the 5-foot-11-inch speedster is starting to make some noise on the track.

Alexander swept the boys hurdles Saturday in the Division I Sunrise Region meet at Del Sol.

“Going out for track last year as a junior, I was new to the whole thing,” Alexander said. “So I think I just brought my athleticism, hard work and heart from football.

“I would’ve never pictured any of this. Last year, I was just coming out here to have fun and get a little faster for football. And then I just noticed, ‘Oh, I might be pretty good at this.’ This is amazing, so surprising.”

Alexander, who finished second in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles in last season’s region meet, improved drastically in his second season to win both events.

He won the 110 hurdles in 14.55 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 38.62, improving on last season’s region times by 1.67 and 1.15 seconds.

“I’ve got one of the greatest hurdle coaches around in coach (Sam) Germany, and another great coach in Paul Howard,” Alexander said. “Both just amazing guys. They’re great guys and have helped me through so much. That’s how I’ve progressed so fast. I found a love for both sports.”

Silverado senior Cody Hudson was second in both hurdle events, finishing the 110 in 15.35 and the 300 in 39.21.

Centennial senior Anyah Nutter won both Sunset hurdles, taking the 110 (15.01) and the 300 (39.27). He also ran on the winning 800-meter relay team and was first in the high jump (6-4).

Teammate Dajour Braxton also was a four-time winner for the Bulldogs.

Braxton set meet records in the 1,600 (4:09.71) and 3,200 (9:31.59), took the 800 (1:54.34) and ran on the winning 3,200 relay team (8:00.50).

Palo Verde junior Zakee Washington, who missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, won the 200 (21.86) and 400 (48.53) and ran on the 1,600 relay team that placed third.

Green Valley senior Ian Mack won the 100 (10.45), 200 (21.13) and 400 (48.15) and ran anchor on the second-place 800 relay team. Mack’s 100 time tied the zone record set in 1983.

Centennial won its sixth consecutive Sunset Region title with 240 points. Palo Verde finished second with 112 points, and Bishop Gorman was third with 74.

In the Sunrise, Green Valley won its second region title in a row with 142.5 points. Coronado was second with 89 points, followed by Silverado with 78 points.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.