LAS VEGAS - Every point for the Carson High girls track team counts, so who knows how important Christy Works' effort on the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay will be today.
Works ran a 58-second 400 and moved up one place to give Carson sixth in the event, providing a precious extra point. Kayla Sanchez and Andrea Keirstead did the rest, putting the Senators within range of making a run at the NIAA 4A State title after Friday at Del Sol High.
Sanchez, a junior, won two more state titles, giving her eight for her career, and set a state record in the process. Carson is in second with 32 points behind first-place Reno High.
Meanwhile, Dayton's boys were well on their way to winning a second straight 3A state crown. Dayton had 82.5 points, 30 points ahead of second-place Spring Creek, which had 52.5 points. (Complete results and team scores weren't available at press time).
"Today has been very good," Carson coach Todd Ackerman said. "Tomorrow will be interesting. We can't complain. I'm pleased with today."
Carson could score close to 50 points today if everything goes well, which could be enough to make a run at the title. Sanchez will go for two more state titles in the 200 and long jump and Keirstead will look to finish as high as possible in the 200 and 100 hurdles. Works will look to finish high in the 400 and the 4x800 relay will be needed to provide valuable points. Keirstead is the defending champion in the 100 hurdles.
"It will make things interesting," Ackerman said. "We've got to run well."
Sanchez set a state record in winning the 300 hurdles in 43.25 seconds. Sanchez actually has a personal best of 42.92, but the 43.25 will go down as the state record because it came at the state meet.
Keirstead also gave Carson a lift in the event, finishing a better-than-expected third in a personal best 45.43.
The only minor disappointment came in the 100. While Sanchez won in 12.21, Keirstead settled for sixth in 12.6 - lower than her top-four seeding.
But the difference between third and sixth was less than half a step. Imagine if the Senators' chance at a state title comes down to less than half a step.
"She's not happy, but she ran a good race," said Ackerman about Keirstead. "She had a good day. I definitely have no complaints with the way the girls ran."
"I was really happy with the 300 hurdles, but not so much with the 100," Keirstead said. "I just thought I could have done better."
Works, Julissa Gonzalez, Gloria Sosa and Yvonne Hollett finished the 4x400 in 4:03.
"I felt like it was pretty good," said Sanchez about her overall effort. "I wanted to do a little better but I'm not discouraged. I'm satisfied.
"It was a big deal to try to set a state record. It's a great feeling."