SCHADLER SISTERS WIN STATE TRACK TITLES

Schadler sisters win state track titles
lexandra “Allie” Schadler won the 1,600-meter race for the third consecutive year in the first day of the Division III state track and field meet in Mesa Friday with a time of 4:49.03.

“It feels pretty special,” the Rio Rico High School junior said. “I’m pretty excited because ever since I was a freshman, I knew I wanted to keep building off of what I’ve accomplished.”

Her sister and RRHS freshman Samantha Schadler also made it to the podium in the 1,600, with a third-place finish (5:13.43), and snagged her first state title in the 800-meter race with a 2:21.17 finish.

“It’s really nice, that all the hard work is paying off,” Samantha Schadler said. “My sister had done it her freshman year, so I always want to live up to her standard. So I wanted to try to see what I could do.”

Allie Schadler won the 1,600-meter race in 2014 with a time of 5:04.62 and in 2015 with a 4:45.15 finish. She added a second state title last year with a first-place finish in the 800-meter race.

Although Allie Schadler immediately took a commanding lead she wouldn’t relinquish throughout the entire 1,600-meter race, Samantha had to fight in the final stretch to edge out her competitor for the bronze.

“I had heard people at the 200 screaming to me that I could try and get it, so I thought to myself, ‘Well, why not try,’” Samantha Schadler said. “So I tried and I ended up in third.”

Also in the 1,600-meter race, Kiara Laborin of RRHS finished sixth with a time of 5:42.96 and her teammate Ximena Nerey was 24th at 5:41.88.

In the girls 800-meter championship, Samantha Schadler faced a tighter group of runners, but held strong to come out on top.

“It’s definitely an honor, but it’s more of a team championship because you’re able to spend it with them and you work hard every day with your teammates, so they get to share it,” she said.

Laborin finished seventh in the 800 meters at 2:28.04.

Head coach Stephen Schadler said he was very proud of his daughters for their winning performances in the first day of competition, which featured mostly preliminary races, and thinks the Rio Rico girls team has a strong chance to medal. The meet wraps up Saturday.

Last year the Lady Hawks tied for fourth place in Division III. The last time the Rio Rico girls team made the podium was in 2011 with a third-place finish.

“I know we’re in a very close battle for second,” Stephen Schadler said. “Fountain Hills looks very tough to beat. We know we have a shot to get a trophy and we need to fight for it.”

photo credit: Norma Gonzalez
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