Thunder boys capture 2nd-straight 5A-I state title in unprecedented fashion

There were two events Saturday night that typified the talent level on Desert Vista's boys track team. Both set all-Arizona records.

The Thunder set records in the 4-by-400- and 4-by-800-meter relays, had five individual state champions and racked up 209.5 points en route to their second consecutive state title. That mark is a Class 5A record, dating back to 1912. The previous best was 146, set by DV last year.

But perhaps most astonishingly, DV scored in every single event held at the state meet, its best finishers taking no worse than sixth place in every single event.

It was the relays, however, that showed why the Thunder were the class of Arizona this season.

The 4-by-800 team opened the second day of competition Saturday by finishing in 7:45.40, or 2.59 seconds ahead of the record the Thunder set last year. The 4-by-400 team closed it, finishing in 3:13.50, 0.83 seconds ahead of the previous record.

"It's indicative of the talent, certainly," DV co-coach Ryan Stanley said. "This team, we set goals at the beginning of the season, and something we talked about was going after those state records in those relays. Those guys just picked up each other and, man, what an awesome day."

"It just shows the teamwork's incredible," added DV co-coach Chris Hanson. "How many times do you find a four-by-four, three guys running under 50 (seconds)? And how many times do you see a four-by-eight, four guys under two (minutes), and three guys under 1:56? It's just amazing. It's unheard-of in the country."

Steven Figueroa (shot put, discus), John Kline (800), Allante Battle (400) and Chris Ingrassia (300 hurdles) all captured individual titles.

"I guess we had a better meet than last year," Stanley cracked. "It went well to where we could challenge the individuals and the relays. If you do that across the board with the individuals, then (the team) takes care of itself."

DV scored multiple times in 13 events, including a clean sweep of Battle, Spencer Chase and Kline in the 400. Battle also took second in the 100 and 200.

The Thunder had five of the top eight finishers in the pole vault, led by Cory Kraft and Alec Hsu in third and fourth, respectively.

"We're just blessed to be able to come out and compete like this," Hanson said.

Mesa Mountain View placed second, with 67 points. Chandler was third with 57.5.

"We just want to keep building on it. We don't want it to stop," Hanson said. "We know it's not going to be this easy every year, and we certainly know each year's going to be harder. Arizona is just getting better in track as we go, and we don't mind that, we just want to be the leader of that."