Desert Speed School athletes on the Salpointe boys’ and girls’ track teams were part of Lancer athletes who swept the Division III state championship meets recently. Distance runner Aric Accetta highlighted the results, taking home the 4×800 state championship along with his relay teammates, and also finishing 10th in the 3200m and 11th in the 1600m. In addition, sprinter Abel Alarcon was part of a 4×100 team that finished 7th in prelims.
On the girls’ side, Emma Veliz helped pick up points for the Lancers with an 8th place finish in the 4×400.
Other notable finishes for Speed School athletes included Tanque Verde’s Andrew Smith, finishing 2nd in the D-IV 1600m and 7th in the 3200m. The Tanque Verde results are of particular note given the program is in its first year of existence at the school, and athletes trained throughout the year without a home track. On the girls’ side, Tanque Verde freshman Kadynce Drummond was part of a 4x800m girls’ team that qualified for the state meet, finishing 16th.
Not to be left out, area hurdlers also fared well, with Sahuaro standout Imani Watson taking 9th in the D-II 100 hurdles and 7th in the 300 hurdles. Empire sophomore Sam Archuleta finished 8th (100 hurdles), 16th (300 hurdles), and was part of a 4×400 relay team that finished 11th.
(Photo credits: Salpointe, runtucson.org)
