The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The 68th Davis Invitational delivered the kind of all‑day electricity that has made it one of Utah’s signature mid‑season meets. More than 1,400 athletes from over 40 schools poured into the Davis High School stadium, and the morning open events set the tone immediately. Freshmen chasing breakout moments, veterans sharpening their edges, and relay squads testing chemistry all collided in a fast, competitive atmosphere.

For many, this meet wasn’t just another stop on the schedule; it was the first real chance to punch their ticket toward May’s state championship stage.

As the invite section took over in the afternoon, the meet shifted into a different gear. The top athletes in the state stepped onto the track and into their respective field events, turning every heat and every flight into a showcase of precision, power, and poise.

The performances were impressive, but so was the operation behind them: UHSAA officials, Davis High students, coaches, athletes, and the Kaysville community kept the meet running smoothly from first gun to final exchange. By the end of the night, the Davis Invitational had once again proven why it remains one of the most anticipated and respected events on the Utah track calendar.

Lydia Tarbet (m)

Invited girls’ sprints — 100m, 200m, 400m

The 100m event delivered one of the tightest finishes of the entire meet, and it was Corner Canyon junior Layla Valadez who rose above the field. Her 12.10 held off a furious charge behind her, where Riverton senior Reese Lewis and Davis junior Lydia Tarbet leaned through the line in perfect sync at 12.21.

It was a classic Davis Invitational finish, three athletes separated by barely a blink, each proving they belong among the state’s elite.

The 200m race flipped the script, with Lewis taking command and never relinquishing it. Her 24.75 was the only sub‑25 mark of the day and showcased the top‑end speed that has made her one of Utah’s most dangerous sprinters. Valadez doubled back with another strong performance in 25.15, while West Field sophomore Hadley Millsap surged late to grab third in 25.29.

Millsap returned in the 400m event and delivered again, but the quarter‑mile belonged to Alta senior Macey Rockwood, whose 56.15 was smooth and controlled. Box Elder senior Kaylan Anderson closed hard to finish second in a personal best 56.42. Millsap capped her breakout day with a personal best 57.43 for third, and finishing fourth was Davis High senior Sienna Holje in a personal best time of 57.63.

Gavin Hurst (l) Reggie Hess (r)

Invited boys’ sprints — 100m, 200m, 400m

Few sprint fields in Davis Invitational history have carried the kind of star power that lined up for the boys 100 meters this year, and the race lived up to every bit of its billing. Weber High senior and state champion Josh Hamblin, already one of the most decorated hurdlers Utah has ever produced, stunned the stadium with a blistering 10.40, the second-fastest legal 100m time in state history.

Bonneville senior Davis DeGroot, the state record holder in the 200m and 400m events, wasn’t far behind, ripping a lifetime best 10.47 that now ranks No. 3 all‑time in Utah. Layton senior Gavin Hurst, one of the state’s most consistent short‑sprinters, powered through for third in 10.61, giving the event a podium that would hold up at nearly any meet in the West.

The remaining 100m field all recorded personal best times: Eli Warner of Park City (10.65), Jenner Fulton of West Field (10.67), Porter Creasy of West Jordan (10.69), and Ryker Ellis of Alta (10.71).

Hurst returned in the 200 meters and flipped the script, attacking the curve and driving home to a personal‑best 21.83 to claim the title. Bear River senior Reggie Hess closed hard to finish just behind him in 21.87, while East High junior Eli Burton, one of the breakout names of the meet, grabbed third in 21.91.

Burton doubled back in the 400 meters and delivered again, but the quarter‑mile belonged to Viewmont senior Jordan Jensen, whose 48.50 won the event with the favored DeGroot not finishing. Burton’s 48.96 kept the pressure on, and Syracuse senior Tanner Merrill rounded out the top three in 49.36, capping a boys sprint session that felt more like a state final preview than an early‑season invitational.

Ava Wyatt

Invited girls’ hurdles — 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles

Region 1 absolutely owned the invited 100m hurdles, sweeping the top four spots in one of the deepest fields the Davis Invitational has seen in years. Layton senior Ava Wyatt, already one of the state’s most reliable big‑meet performers, delivered a composed and confident win in 14.87.

Behind her, Syracuse junior McKenzie Hislop broke through with a personal‑best 15.11, and Davis junior Lydia Tarbet continued her rise with a 15.16 PR of her own. Syracuse junior Allie Strickland completed the Region 1 takeover in fourth at 15.23, giving the event a distinctly northern‑Utah signature.

Tarbet returned in the 300‑meter hurdles and turned the spotlight fully her direction. Her 44.24 was not only a personal best but one of the most impressive performances of the entire meet, smooth, aggressive, and decisive from the start. Corner Canyon sophomore Kate George chased her home for second in 45.59, while Weber junior Jade Kulpa added another personal best to the podium in 45.82 for third.

Between Wyatt’s precision, Hislop’s breakthrough, and Tarbet’s dominant performance, the girls’ hurdles once again proved to be one of Region 1’s strongest and most competitive event groups.

Invited boys’ hurdles — 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles

Weber senior Josh Hamblin continued to redefine what dominance looks like in Utah hurdling, sweeping both invited hurdle titles and adding them to his earlier 100m crown. His 13.60 in the 110m hurdles came within a whisper of his own all‑classification state record of 13.59, and it was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why he’s one of the most decorated hurdlers in state history.

East High junior Demetrius Taylor delivered a massive breakthrough of his own, clocking a personal‑best 14.06 for second. At the same time, Sky View senior Ryan Moser surged to third in another personal best at 14.55. Even in a field stacked with talent, Hamblin’s precision and power set him apart.

The 300m hurdles brought more of the same, with Hamblin controlling the race from the opening strides and stopping the clock at 36.06, a time that would contend at any level and further cemented his status as the state’s premier hurdler. Taylor backed up his earlier performance with a strong 38.62 for second, showing he’s ready to challenge for major postseason hardware.

Third place went to Weber junior Austin Hamblin, whose 39.43 gave the Hamblin family a double‑podium finish and added another highlight to a day already overflowing with them. Between Josh’s historic sweep and the emergence of Taylor and Moser, the boys’ hurdles delivered one of the most compelling chapters of the entire meet.

Avery Barton

Invited girls’ distance — 800m, 1600m, 3200m

The girls’ 800m event opened with a commanding performance from Corner Canyon junior Willow Stevens, who surged to the front early and never looked back. Her 2:11.64 was a lifetime best and one of the most impressive middle‑distance marks of the meet, separating her from a strong field with ease. Riverton senior Leah Larson followed in 2:15.48, and Ogden junior Avery Barton closed hard for third in 2:18.73, a preview of what would become a defining day for her.

Barton returned in the 1600 meters and delivered a breakthrough performance, controlling the race and powering home in a personal‑best 4:57.09 to claim the title. Layton sophomore Eliza Thornley continued her steady rise with a 5:04.43 for second, while Mountain Crest junior Lily Knowles crossed in 5:06.00 for third.

Box Elder senior Maya Lee added one of the strongest runs of her career, finishing fourth in a personal‑best 5:10.31. Barton wasn’t done, though; she capped her day with a decisive win in the 3200 meters, pulling away late to stop the clock at 11:08.19 and complete a rare distance double.

Viewmont sophomore Quincy Marshall finished second in 11:13.61, Riverton junior Isabel Preston took third in 11:16.90, and Davis sophomore Addison Loveland closed out the top four with a personal‑best 11:21.59, adding yet another standout performance to a deep and competitive distance session.

Parker Harris, Colin Pugmire

Invited boys’ distance — 800m, 1600m, 3200m

The boys’ 800m opened with one of the fastest races of the entire meet, and Pleasant Grove senior Josh Beck rose to the moment. Beck controlled the race to win in 1:51.06, a time just off his personal best of 1:50.57.

Alta junior Aidan Neal closed hard to finish second in 1:52.47, and Fremont junior Beau Jenkins, already one of Utah’s most versatile distance talents, grabbed third in 1:54.66. It was a deep, aggressive race that set the tone for the rest of the boys’ distance program.

The 1600 meters brought one of the most exciting finishes of the day as Layton teammates Colin Pugmire and Parker Harris battled stride‑for‑stride down the homestretch. Pugmire edged ahead in the final meters to win in 4:21.85, with Harris just behind in 4:22.23, giving the Lancers a memorable 1‑2 sweep.

Mountain Crest senior Gage Schmid finished third in 4:23.74, keeping the pressure on throughout. In the 3200 meters, Farmington junior Malachi Peterson delivered a breakthrough performance, surging to the front over the final laps and pulling away to win in a personal‑best 9:17.50.

Davis junior Harrison Skousen followed with a strong 9:22.74 for second. At the same time, Riverton sophomore Kurt Perry continued his rise with a 9:24.30 for third. Fremont senior Graham Judkins added another standout mark to the event, finishing fourth in a personal‑best 9:27.86.

all times and marks courtesy of sporttrax.com

Results – Davis Invitational 2026 – SportTrax

photos courtesy of James Tate