Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 12, 2002

TUCSON - Tucson Catalina Foothills had the star, Levise Robertson, a sprinter who broke the tape three times Saturday for 30 points.

But Peoria Centennial had the team.

Centennial's road from Class 4A girls track and field favorite to 4A champion did not go by design, but third-year coach Tony Vining would not have it any other way. There were disappointments and a surprise. More than anything, there was a team effort that landed Centennial's first title after a 13th-place finish a year ago.

Until Centennial won the final race, the 1,600-meter relay, the Coyotes had not won an event. But with 12 points from two field events, 23 from two hurdlers, 24 from the relays and a clutch effort from junior Christina Wilhelmi, Centennial had the meet sewn up before the finale.

"It shows the depth of our team and how gutsy they are to fight for the second- and third-place finishes," said Vining, whose team was second or first in every invitation but one this year. "This is 10 times better because it's a team effort. In track, that's hard to do."

Vining said this while embracing Wilhelmi and calling her his hero. Wilhelmi ran personal bests for third in the 1,600 and second in the 800. Her 800 time of 2:17.77 was 10 seconds faster than she had ever run. She also anchored the victorious 1,600 relay with freshman Leah Gutierrez, senior Kelsey Perry and junior Jasmine Jarrett.

"I had to go all out," Wilhelmi said. "I just put it on my shoulders. My coach said, 'It's on you. Do your best.' "

Centennial was disappointed to get no points in the sprints and finish third in the 400 relays. Perry was disappointed over getting third and second in the two hurdle events, but she and Simona Dima (sixth and third in the hurdles) were a big difference.

Centennial, which finished fifth at state two years ago, also got field points from pole-vaulter Nancy Piazza (second) and discus thrower Tricia Trupp (fourth).

"We might've ran last year but nobody knew who we were," Perry said. "We've been working for this and built ourselves into a great team."

Centennial's 73 points beat runner-up Catalina Foothills' 59.5 and third-place Peoria Sunrise Mountain's 56.

After 11 events, there was four points separating Sunrise Mountain, Foothills, Flagstaff and Centennial, then in fourth.

Saturday's only Valley individual winner was Sunrise Mountain junior Ashley Hintz, who won the 100 high hurdles.

"Being first in preliminaries got me totally pumped and the excitement helped," said Hintz, who ran a personal best 15.22. "It's awesome. I can't stop smiling."