Dayton track looking to reach new heights

Both the Dayton girls and boystrack teams are motivated, but for different reasons. Erika Garcia dominated the 3A in the state championship, winning three state titles in just her freshman year and is ready to defend her title.

Logan Ingersoll, on the other hand, is driven by a state title run that fell short.

But more importantly, the entire team is motivated to perform at high level when it hosts its first track meet in about 10 years.

"The numbers and the attitudes that I see out here are awesome," Dayton track coach Mike Paul said. "We could see good things."

The good things started with a high number of participants for both teams. The girls team has about 50 members and the boys about 35. Additionally, the Dust Devils will run on a brand new synthetic surface, a major upgrade from the dirt they practiced on last season. They will host their first track meet since 1999 when they hosted the Lyon County Championships on April 22.

Of the 50 girls, Paul didn't waiver when asked who would lead for the team.

"On the girls' side, I'd be very disappointed in Erika if she's not back on top," Paul said. "She's definitely our top returner with three state championships and a third (place finish)."

Garcia, now a sophomore, won the state title in the 100, 200 and 400 and finished third in the long jump.

"This year, I'm trying to cut down every race by a couple seconds at least," Garcia said. "And I think with our new track this year it will help training on a better surface."

It's hard to imagine the 5-foot-5 Garcia getting much faster, but after another year of soccer, a sport she has played since she was 4 years old, she is hoping to be able to continue both sports in college and is a big motivator for her. Her first choice: UCLA. She received a letter of interest from the university last year.

"I've asked coaches at different things (about participating in both) and they've said it's possible to do track and soccer in college," Garcia said. "I'm kind of hoping to be able to do that because it would be hard to choose between one or the other."

Ingersoll qualified for state in the 800- and 1600-meter, high jump and triple jump, but because of scheduling conflicts wasn't able to get in a rhythm with any event.

"His high jump and his mile overlapped and you can either high jump well or you can run a good mile, you can't do both at the same time," Paul said. "It was bad timing. Bad choice on our part."

The conflict was a learning experience for Ingersoll, who said the event he won't back out of is the high jump. The senior holds the school record at 6-5.

"I've only gotten better," Ingersoll said. "I started off my freshman year, there was a lot of good jumpers in front of me and coach kept letting me jump and I just got better."

With the two ready to lead their respective sides and a bevy of new participants, Paul is only expecting the program to keep moving forward.

"In track and field, it's a numbers game," Paul said. "If we can get more than one participant in each event, it helps a lot. There's a lot of times that we've won in the past with six girls' points."