Carson track takes third

SPARKS - Led by Stephen Waicul and a record-setting 1,600-meter relay squad, Carson High's boys' track team finished third at Saturday's 4A NIAA Regional meet at Reed High School.

Waicul won the discus with a throw of 154 feet 8 inches, and the quartet of Jeremy Gray, Tilor Smith, Matt Moore and Tsuyoshi Curtis clocked a regional meet record of 3:23.71.

Those five will be joined at the state meet by Shay Tom, who finished second in the shot put (35-11) and second in the discus (121-4), Alex McAlman, who was third in the discus at 113 feet and Josh Heilman, who was second in the 100 at 11.27 and second in the 200 at 22.80. Smith also qualified third in the long jump at 21-3 and Moore was second in the 300 hurdles at 40.16.

On the boys' side, Mike Dittenber was fifth in the high jump at 6-2 and Smith was sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 41-10. Waicul failed to quailfy in the shot, finishing fifth in 46-10 1/2. Blake Easby was sixth in the pole vault at 12 feet and the 800 relay squad was fifth in 1:31.57.

On the girls' side, Amanda Benson was fifth in the 400 at 60.83 and Ashley Terry was seventh in the high jump at 4-8. The Senators' 1,600 relay squad of Lindsay Ford, Saundra McAlman, Benson and Terah Laack PR'd at 4:08.57, but failed to move on. The 400 relay squad was fifth at 52.79 and the 800 relay squad was fifth at 1:49.55.

"We didn't get a lot of people through (to state)," Carson coach Todd Ackerman said. "If they were taking five like they used to, we would have had a whole lot more. Those that did make it are going to compete for a state championship."

Ackerman believes the 1,600-meter squad still has a chance to better that mark.

"I knew we could run pretty well and we did," Ackerman said. "There's still a little room to get a little faster. We might be able to push the 3:21."

The Carson coach said Waicul was very consistent during the week in practice, and had a nice series of throws Saturday. Ackerman said Waicul has put himself into a position of winning the discus next week.

Heilman was impressive in both the 100 and 200, clocking PRs in both events.

"He hasn't ran that fast all year," Ackerman said. "He's doing it at the right time."

Tom will be making her third straight trip to state. She has placed in the top five in both events the past two years, and has a good shot to do it again.

Tom sprained her ankle on Tuesday, but still threw pretty well according to Ackerman.

"She definitely has a shot at winning the shot," Ackerman said. "She has a great shot at being at least second in the discus. One girl has thrown around 140 feet."