FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Arizona Track & Field began the 2025-26 indoor season on Friday with the Friday Night Axe 'Em Open hosted by Northern Arizona at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
The Wildcats started the season strong, finishing the competition with four event wins, 13 top-three finishes, and numerous personal bests.
TOP-THREE FINISHES
Taylen Wise – First, Women's 60m Hurdles
John Paredes – First, Men's 60m Hurdles
Tapenisa Havea – First, Women's Shot Put
Emma Gates – First, Women's High Jump
Parker Duskin – Second, Men's 60m Hurdles
Michael Ogbeiwi – Second, Men's Weight Throw
Paris Mikinski – Second, Women's High Jump
Haedyn Bambolo – Second, Women's Shot Put
Sam Hala'Ufia – Second, Men's Shot Put
Olivia Dillon – Third, Women's Pole Vault
Tapenisa Havea – Third, Women's Weight Throw
Tyler Michelini – Third, Men's Weight Throw
Kya Crooke – Third, Women's High Jump
FIELD HIGHLIGHTS
The Wildcats took first, second, and third in the women's high jump, with
Emma Gates winning the event,
Paris Mikinski finishing runner-up, and
Kya Crooke coming in third.
Arizona takes first and second in the women's shot put, with
Tapenisa Havea winning the event with an indoor personal best mark of 56-6 (17.22m), and
Haedyn Bambolo finishing runner-up. On the other side,
Sam Hala'Ufia finished second in the men's shot put with a throw of 60-4.75 (18.41m).
In the men's weight throw, the Wildcats took second and third with
Michael Ogbeiwi taking second and
Tyler Michelini taking third with a personal record throw of 61-1.5 (18.63m). On the other side,
Tapenisa Havea finished third in the women's weight throw, and
Haedyn Bambolo finished fifth with a personal best throw of 52-8.75 (16.07m).
In the women's pole vault,
Olivia Dillon finished third,
Olivia Clark finished fourth,
Kelly De Jong finished fifth, and
Ena McMahon finished sixth.
TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Senior
Taylen Wise started the season fast in the women's 60m hurdles. In the prelims, Wise clocked a time of 8.43 and advanced to the finals with the fastest time on the day. In the finals, Wise ran the same time of 8.43 and won the event by 0.14 seconds.
Two Wildcats advanced to the finals in the men's 60m hurdles.
Parker Duskin had the fastest time in the prelims, but it was
John Paredes who was able to take first in the finals with a time of 7.81. Duskin finished in second with a time of 7.83.
In the women's 60m,
Esther Akinlosotu set a personal best time of 7.53 in the prelims and was able to finish in fifth in the finals.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats' indoor season is now in full swing, with their next competition coming on January 16-17 in Lubbock, Texas, for The Corky Classic hosted by Texas Tech.
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