Carson runners hope to surprise

With only a total of two seniors in the Carson High cross country program, a run at a berth into the 4A State Championships may be considered a bit of a stretch.

Especially since only two teams will advance to the state championships from the Northern 4A this year. But Carson coach Todd Ackerman isn't conceding anything.

Ackerman said both his boys and girls cross country teams may have a shot at pulling off a surprise and earning a state berth.

The girls team has just one senior, but she's an experienced runner in Janine Stone. While the girls are young, they do have many runners who have experience in the program, including Annie Brinson and Tiffany Halen, Amanda Benson, Patty Capistrant, Kristin Neddenriep and Sumantha Pitts. There are also two talented freshmen in Megan Myers and Andrea Keirstead.

"We are so young," Ackerman said. "It will be interesting to see how they progess through the season."

The Senators also must replace Shanna Sparks, who is now a freshman running that the University of Colorado.

"She was the No. 1 runner at the school for four years," Ackerman said. "She's a tough girl to replace."

It will also be a challenge for Carson to take one of the top two spots as Reno High should again be a strong favorite. Galena also returns a strong nucleus from a team that finished second to Reno last year in the Northern 4A.

But Ackerman said don't count his team, which finished third in the Northern 4A last year, out.

"They've got a shot of sneaking in there for second place," Ackerman said. "Right now they seem to be working really, really hard."

Carson's boys also have just one senior, Joel Wortman, who ran last year. But numbers won't be a problem as the Senators have a deep group of 18 runners.

"We do have some good kids coming back," Ackerman said. "That's going to be an interesting group. If they're willing to put in the time and the effort, I think they're going to be a surprise even though they're young."

One advantage points-wise for Carson should be that all of its runners will finish close to each other in races.

"I think our boys are going to be a compact group," Ackerman said. "They seem to be close talent-wise and speed-wise."

One runner who may stand out from the pack is sophomore Adam Houghton.

"If he decides to train and really work, he has a shot to maybe be in the top 10 in the state," Ackerman said.

Carson also received a lift with the addition of junior Seth Carter. "Seth has actually run really well," Ackerman said.

The Senators' long list of runners include juniors Doug Holderman, Ryan Turner, Brad Williams and Bryce Grimm sophomores Blake Easby, Russell Turner, Travis Trethan, Sam Saunders, Anthony Stewart and Stephen Maples and freshmen Martin Sosa, Tylor Bourns, Kevin Zahnter and Chad Shory.

Reno should also be the dominant boys team, but the race for second could be wide open, Ackerman said.

"I think they could definitely sneak up on some people," said Ackerman about his boys team. "I think they can make a run getting in there as the No. 2 place team. I think they have a legit shot to do that."

Carson opens its season on Friday at Spooner Summit in the Jim Frank Invitational, which will feature middle school and high school teams.

The first big meet for Carson will be Sept. 19 at the Reed Invitational where all the top Northern 4A teams will compete. "It will be interesting to see where we're at," Ackerman said.

The top five individuals not on the two teams who qualify for state will also qualify for the state meet.

In addition, the Senator program received a lift in the form of a $1,000 donation from the Sierra Flyers from their recent Cross Country Cup.