Carson runners compete at state today

Qualifying for the NIAA Cross Country Championships was the primary objective back in August. That goal has been accomplished, but there's still some more work for Christy Works, Annie Brinson, Gloria Sosa and Patty Capistrant to do when the gun goes off for the state 4A girls race today at Veteran's Memorial Park in Boulder City.

"We've talked about not just being satisfied with making it to state," Carson coach Dennis Brinson said. "We want them to keep their focus and run a good race."

This is the third time Annie Brinson has qualified for the state meet, though she missed the race as a freshman in 2002. On the other hand, this is the first time for Capistrant, a senior, as well as Work and Sosa, who are both freshmen.

"I expect they'll rise to the occasion," coach Brinson said. "They've been running since they were little. They've been in a lot of big races, national races, so I don't think they'll be overwhelmed by this."

The race for the 4A girls team championship is expected to develop into a duel between Reno and South Tahoe. Reno's girls, the two-time defending state champions, defeated South Tahoe 30-42 at the regional meet last Thursday at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno. Carson was third with 69 points, though the Senators might have been strong enough to qualify for state had they run in either of the South's Sunset and Sunrise regions.

Green Valley comes in as the Sunrise Region champion and Palo Verde as the Sunset champion.

Regardless, grabbing four of the five individual qualifying berths available from the Northern 4A meet was a considerable achievement for the Senators.

"We were thrilled with that," coach Brinson said. "This is a good team with good depth. I knew we had an opportunity to send four, I just didn't which four it would be. It just came down to who had the best day."

The state meet begins at 10 a.m. today.

Notes ... The Senators are flying to Las Vegas, aided by funds from the Sierra Flyers youth running club, which Brinson also coaches and includes the four state qualifiers. One of the major fund-raisers for the Sierra Flyers is the Cross Country Cup fun run, held annually in August at Western Nevada Community College. ... The fifth qualifier from the Northern 4A regional girls race is Galena's Alyssa Abbott, who placed third. ... The top finisher for Douglas in the regional race was Sarah Rowe, who finished 34th 23:30). In the boys race, Mike Freeman was the first finisher for Douglas in 27th (19:09), while Kevin Carlson finished 30th (19:23).

Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.