Tempe Prep put itself in good position to win its fourth consecutive 1A girls state track championship, while its boys team is within shouting distance of its first championship after solid performances from its distance runners at Mesa High on Friday.

The Knights girls trail Flagstaff Northland Prep 43-29 but have numerous chances to score in the sprints with Briana Prince posting the top times in the 100, 200 and 400.

“We have a pretty strong field of girls across the board,” coach Melissa Brittain said. “We look a little stronger than last year but there is some pretty good competition out there.”

Ashleigh Gaylor posted the best finish for Tempe Prep, finishing second again in the 800 with a time of 2:30. She led four Knights who placed in the race — Mary Thomas was fourth, Shea Wilkison was fifth and Heejin Jeon was eighth.

“It’s just everyone coming out and giving it everything we’ve got,” Gaylor said.

Wilkison and Thomas hung with Northland’s star distance runner Andrea Klinowski for three laps in the 1,600 before dropping back to finish third and fourth, respectively.

The boys posted 14 points and are in third behind Josesph City (26) and Northland (18). Steven Rachocki finished third in the 3,200 with a personal-best 10:37 and ran the first leg of the 3,200 relay team that shaved 19 seconds off the school record to finish second at 8:46.

“We got what we wanted,” the senior said.

Jake Lebeau, Brance Hudzietz and Matt Rich completed the relay team.

The Knights will look for points today from Michael Begley and Rocky Brittain, who posted the fastest times in the 100 and Aaron Benson in the shot and the discus.

In the 3A meet, the Fountain Hills girls are in fourth place after Ciera Brecto’s fourth-place finish in the 3,200. She also ran on the 3,200 relay team that finished third with teammates Lindsey Anderson, Ashley Balcerzak and Jenny Modzelewski.

The Maricopa girls will have a chance to score some points today behind Brittany Parks, who posted the fastest times in the 100 and 200.

Coolidge’s Jacquece Moore and Jeremy White should factor in the 100 and 200.

“I slipped a little coming out of the blocks today,” Moore said. “We talked smack with each other all the way up here so we can push each other against the other teams.”