While Sedona Red Rock High School’s girls track and field athletes have enjoyed many standout individual moments this spring, they came together April 22 to beat six other mostly bigger girls teams at the Yavapai County Championships in Prescott.

“We were supposed to be in the small school competition, but this year, anybody in Division III is a large school, and we beat everybody,” Scorpions head coach Harry Schneider said. “The boys and girls were exceptional. They were winning all over the place, but it was the first time we went for it as a team.”

The SRRHS boys team also finished third to help qualify 18 total Scorpions for the Division III state championships Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, in Mesa.

“That’s really special,” Schneider said. “The Yavapai meet was the high of our season.

“This is our last week, and less than half the team is at practice.”

But seniors Nick Malmgren and Wyatt Stevenson have earned that privilege in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

“Wyatt ran one event each meet — either the mile or two-mile,” Schneider said. “Once he strained his hamstring, that took away his speed stuff.”

That didn’t stop Stevenson from winning his first 800-meter dash April 22 in 2:07.58, while Joe Glomski qualified in the triple jump and 100-meter dash.

“We have a sprinter, finally,” Schneider said. “He finished second in the county. He surprised everybody.”

Less of a surprise qualifier was fellow junior Justin Aleman, who shot put a personal record 42 feet, 8 ½ inches April 26 at the Last Knight Qualifier in Avondale.

“He’s come along beautifully,” Schneider said. “He’s just getting better and better.”

Stevenson’s younger brother Dawson will compete at State in the long jump and high jump after winning the latter event April 22 in 6 feet, 4 inches.

“Poor Dawson triple-jumped really well,” Schneider said. “But they were all wind-aided.”

As were another junior’s, Sophia Perry’s, though she would still qualify in the event April 26 with sophomore Collier Trcic, one of “over 30 brand-new bodies” on the team this spring, Schneider said.

“I don’t think we’re at the level to win the state championship,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter: A lot of our kids will do well.”

Including sophomore Brittney Medel, who threw her personal best of 89 feet, 1 inch in the discus April 26 to qualify in both the discus and shot put behind junior top seed Hannah Ringel. Ringel’s shot put of 40 feet, 4¾ inches April 22 was second-best in all of Arizona and set a new SRRHS record.

“She’s just starting her spin move; she learned it three weeks ago,” Schneider said. “I’m looking forward to seeing her repeat as state champion.”

Freshman Angeleah Merchant was a late qualifier in the pole vault after tying her personal best of 7 feet, 7 inches April 22. Merchant is one of three Scorpions girls who will participate in the event, along with junior Xan Hawes and sophomore Julia Koss, who will also compete with Perry in the high jump.

“There are schools with three times our numbers,” he added. “People don’t realize the advantage that is.”

Merchant will also run the 4×800 relay with junior Mychael Saczalski and seniors Bridey Brosnahan and Annie Parrella, who “did exceptionally well,” Schneider said, competing in four events April 22 despite missing six weeks of practice due to injury and illness — half the season.

Wyatt Stevenson and Malmgren will join junior Luke Doerner and sophomore Nathan Hoyer on the boys 4×800 team at State.

Sophomore Chenoa Crans won her third 100-meter hurdle race of the season April 22 in 00:17.16, qualifying her in that event and the 300-meter hurdles despite an injured ankle.

“Chenoa’s been a tiny bit ahead of where she was last year,” Schneider said. “She’s been hurt and really hasn’t had a great season.”

Those girls are why Schneider’s goal for the team at State is a top-five finish, even if they might not be on the level of Snowflake or Rio Rico high schools, who should battle for girls champion and runner-up, he said.

“The boys have to have a really good meet to place in the top five,” he added. “The state meet’s the state meet: Anything can happen. Sometimes, when you expect to win, there’s a different attitude.”