It’s been a long season, but the months of sweat, tears and effort will finally pay off this weekend when the Fountain Hills High School track team takes part in the state meet.

After this past weekend’s regional event, a total of 23 Fountain Hills boys and girls will be loading up the bus and heading off to the two-day event hosted out of Mesa High School.

Before taking part in state, however, the team had to first make it through the regional competition.

This past Friday, May 2, the local team headed to Safford to take on the best of the best in Arizona 3A South track.

With a team total of 88, the boys team walked away with a third place overall finish; bested only by Empire’s 122.5 and host Safford’s 263.5.

As for the ladies, 131 points would be good enough for a second place overall finish, losing out to home team Safford’s 171.

As coach Chris Davis puts it, this was a strong finish for both teams.

“I knew if Safford slipped up just a little bit we’d be able to take it away from them,” Davis said. “But they didn’t slip up. The meet was real competitive and I got to see a lot of our younger kids bring their performances to a whole new level.”

Athletes Haley Galagher and Ashley Mannion, to name a couple, surprised Davis with their high caliber performances.

“The girls held on like they’ve been holding on all year,” Davis said. “They did the best they could and that makes me happy.”

As for the boys, stiff competition from the home team was their greatest adversary.

“The boys performed real well,” Davis said. “But Safford just had a lot of people finishing in multiple top spots in each event.”

Some qualified through the regional competition, others through standout performances earlier in the year. Either way, 23 Falcons will represent Fountain Hills this weekend at the state meet.

Boys state competitors

Brandon Beren will compete in the 4x400 and 4x100 with teammate Anthony Carillo taking the second spot in the 4x400 and first in 4x100.

Michael Carillo will join the team in the 4x800 while Brandon Crissman will fill the third spot in the 4x400.

Jacob Ellis will compete in the two mile as well as the 4x800 team.

Craig Goodall will take the third spot in the 4x800 roster while Justin Greene joins the 4x400 and 4x100 teams.

Ethan Hodge will snag the second spot in the 4x100 team. Teammate Andrew Leger will be third for the 4x400 and 4x100 while taking part in the solo 100m dash and 400m runs.

Ryan Mangus will take on the mile solo while filling the final spot in the 4x800 competition.

Richard Melling takes the final spot for the 4x400 and third spot for the 4x100 relay.

Andy Oliphant will fly high in the high jump while Alex Smyth looks to dominate the shot and disc.

Jared Woods will wrap things up for the boys as the final competitor for the 4x100 competition.

Girls state competitors

Representing the girls team will be nine individual athletes.

Lindsey Anderson will fly solo in the 800m run and join her teammates in the 4x800 and 4x400 events.

Ashley Balcerzak will tackle the 1600 and do her part in the 4x400 and 4x800 as well.

Ciera Brecto will be a workhorse at state, taking part in the 4x800 relay as well as tackling the 800, mile and two mile by herself.

Quinn Diemer will take on four events as well, joining the 4x400 lineup and blazing her way through the 400m run, 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles as well.

Haley Gallagher will join the triple jumpers at state as well as joining the 4x400 group.

Corrie Garrett will take on the pole vault while teammate Jenny Modzelewski finishes off the 4x800 lineup as well as taking part in the mile and two mile.

Alexander Stricklin will launch the discus at state while teammate Haley Montanez takes part in the 4x400, 400m, 200m and 100m runs.

With the line-up set, coach Davis said he’s looking forward to the final meet of the season.

“I don’t think we’ll take any more than fourth,” Davis said. “The kids are ready. They already showed that Friday. The kids performed to the best of their ability and that’s all you can ask for.”

The Falcons will take on the state competition this Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, at Mesa High School.

“And if anyone feels like coming out and cheering the team on, you’re more than welcome,” Davis said. “It should be a good meet.”