Havasu’s Ryan outstanding athlete, Parker’s Diaz top jumper at Rotary Invite

LAKE HAVASU CITY — It was Yuma Cibola and Kingman going 1-2 Saturday, with each taking a first place.

Cibola won the boys division of the 32nd annual London Bridge Rotary Club Invitational at Thunderbolt Middle School in Lake Havasu City Saturday, with a score of 106.

“We’ve had good success thanks to the other coaches. The soccer and basketball teams provide is with great kids that are ready to compete and in condition,” said Cibola head coach Gordon Mosher. “And we put in a great deal of time on developing pride. To be not just Yuma good but Arizona good.”

It’s the third time in four years that Cibola has taken one of the first place finishes at the Rotary Invitational.

Kingman boys were second with 85 points and Bullhead City Mohave was third with 74.

On the girls’ side it was Kingman first with 109 points, followed by Cibola with 92.5 and Lake Havasu third with 92.

“I’m really excited,” said Kingman head coach Anne Bathauer. “We’re still on a learning curve. But all the kids improved their times from Wednesday. Page Cardiff had a fantastic meet, Tanish Karn won…the discus and we’re really coming together as a team. That’s the most important part.”

While the two teams traded spots at the top of the leader board, neither had the outstanding athletes. Those honors went to Lake Havasu and Blythe, Calif. Palo Verde. Havasu’s Lynsey Ryan was named outstanding female athlete for wins in the 200 and 400, second in the 100 and part of the second place 4x400 relay team with Kaylie Sanchez, Shannin Martin and Maggie Muniak.

“I felt pretty confident today, but not too confident. I still got nervous before that 4x400,” Ryan said.

The outstanding male athlete was Palo Verde’s Grant Brown, who finished first in the 100 and triple jump, second in the long jump and was part of the first place 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

In addition to Ryan, Havasu’s Hanna Hoffman took first in the 100 hurdles and Sanchez took a first in the 800. Sanchez also teamed with Hannah Henson and Anjelica Ulrich for a second in the 4x800 relay.

The boys finished in sixth place with 52 points.

“A half-point out of third (for the girls) is a strong performance. We had some personal bests out there and Lynsey really stood out,” said Havasu head coach Julie Hofman. “For the boys we still have some work to do. But we have kids that want to go out and run other events and that’s great. We’re looking strong and I’m feeling confident.”

Top finisher for the Havasu boys was Cole Kraiss with a second place finish in the 110 hurdles. Colton Spyr added a third in the high jump.

Parker’s Anthony Diaz continued to have a good week. After breaking the school record in the 100 during a multi at Wickenburg Thursday, he won the long jump Saturday with a leap of 22-5.

“I am very excited about this season,” said Broncs head coach Doug Meale. “Robert (Harris) is doing wonderfully in the hurdles and I think he’s really going to be something special by the end of the year. But I’m really loving what I’m seeing from the team now.”

Harris finished third in the 110 hurdles and eighth in the high jump.

The Parker boys finished in eighth place with 23 points while the girls finished out of the Top 10.

Top finisher for the Lady Broncs was Janel Garner in the long jump and 300 hurdles, with a 15th place in both events. Jolene Johnson also grabbed a 15th in the 1600-meter dash.