Carson track off to a strong start

The Carson High girls and boys track teams got off to an impressive start to the season in a three-way meet against Manogue and Fallon on Saturday at Manogue.

Carson's girls won 11 of 17 events. Sophomore Kayla Sanchez and Alex McAlman both were among those who had impressive efforts for Carson's girls.

McAlman set a personal record in the discus at 127 feet and also had a strong early showing in the shot put, winning with a throw of 37-9. McAlman is a returning placer in both events from last year's NIAA 4A State Championships.

Sanchez won three state titles last year in the 100, 200 and 300 hurdles. She also had the nation's sixth fastest time last year in the 100.

Sanchez had a strong early effort in the 100, winning in 12.3 seconds, which Carson coach Todd Ackerman said likely leads the state. Sanchez and Andrea Kierstead also went 1-2 in the 300 hurdles with the top two times in the North.

Sanchez won in 48.5 and Kierstead was second in 50.5. Kierstead also won the 100 hurdles in 15.9, an event she qualified for state last year.

Carson also won the 4 x 800 relay with Kristen Dockery, Annie Brinson, Allie Collier and Christy Works in 10:38, the 4 x 200 relay with Krista Dixon, Kierstead, Sinead McSweeney and Sanchez in 1:48.6, the 4 x 100 with Kelli Brothers, Yvette Hollett, Dixon and McSweeney in 53.7 and the 4 x 400 with Gonzalez, Kierstead, Sanchez and Works in 4:29.

Works also won the 1,600 in 6:02, Brinson took second in 6:03, Dockery was fourth in 6:06.5 and Megan Meyer was fifth in 6:09. In addtion, Collier won the 3,200 in 12:54.

Other top finishes included Dixon fourth in the 100 in 13.1, Jolisa Gonzalez fourth in the 400 in 1:09.4, Dixon second in the 200 in 27.7, Hannah Reidl fourth in the high jump and Jenna Greenberg fifth in the pole vault.

Among the top athletes that Carson was missing was runner Sandra McAlman, who still hasn't been cleared to run after sustaining an injury in volleyball, and long distance runner Gloria Sosa.

Ackerman said while his girls team doesn't have as much depth and may lose some meets, when it comes to the state meet, his team could make a run at the state title if everything goes well.

"We can make a run at it that's for sure and actually the boys are going to be very solid, too," he said.

For the boys, Caleb Carter, Ethan Graber and Tyler Davies helped Carson to a win in the 4 x 800 in 9:36 and Carson won the 4 x 400 with Floyd Hernandez, Jeff Allred, Carter and Jeremy Gray in 3:45. Hernandez took fourth in the 100 in 11.8 and Matt Mattoon, Allred, Cash Doty and Gray took second in the 4 x 200 in 1:38.

Carter also took second in the 1,600 in 5:12. Hernandez, Doty and Mattoon helped Carson to fourth in the 4 x 100 in 47.7.

Gray won the 300 hurdles with the fastest time in the North in 40.5. Gray was a state qualifier in the 400 last year.

Eric Walther took second in the shot put at 49-1 1/2 and also had a strong effort in taking second in the discus. In addition, Carter was third in the 800 in 2:17, Graber finished the 3,200 in 11:38 and Blake Easby was third in the pole vault at 10-0. Carson's boys were also without their top distance runner in Chad Shroy.

Due to inclement weather, the meet was Carson's first of the year. "We really had actually a pretty good day," Ackerman said.

"There were a lot of real good things that happened. It's real nice to get a meet, that's for dang sure."

Carson should find out much more about where it stands in its next meet this Saturday at Fallon.