Three area cross-country runners earned All-America status at last weekend's National USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.
Approximately 2300 athletes competed in five different age groups. It snowed on and off all day and there was 16 inches of snow on the ground. Because the snow could not be plowed, it was compacted with tractors immediately before the races.
Katie McFarren, a Carson High senior, finished in 13th place in the Young Woman Division. She completed the 5,000-meter course in 20:05.
Blanca Sosa, a fourth-grader at Seeliger Elementary, finished in 20th place in the Bantam Girls Division. She covered the 3,000-meter course in 12:47.
Sierra Lutheran's Nathaneal Williams finished 23rd in the Intermediate Boys Division. he was timed in 16:57 for 5,000 meters.
April Shonnard, a home-schooled sophomore, finished 88th in the Intermediate Girls Division.
Douglas High's Andrew Cobourn took 43rd with a time of 17:28. He bested his qualifying time on the same course, despite the inclement weather,.
Pau-Wa-Lu's Lindsey Adams took 117th in the youth girls division, running a 13:08.
Meddles 3rd at
Foot Locker
Sierra Lutheran High School senior Wade Meddles wrapped up his high school cross country career in impressive fashion over the weekend, taking third at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships National Finals at Morley Field, Balboa Park in San Diego.
Meddles, who will run for Azusa Pacific in Southern California next year, ran the 5K course in 15 minutes, 26 seconds on Saturday despite a steady downpour. He also earned first-team All-American status for his finish.
He became the first Nevada native to finish in the top 10 at nationals since Douglas High's Bryan Carroll did it in 1981.
It was also believed to be the highest-ever finish for a Nevada runner. Meddles and Carroll are the only two Northern Nevada athletes to have ever qualified for the national meet in the first place.
The rain pounded the course as the race took off with Meddles, and Regional Champions Brian Shrader (West), Craig Lutz (South), and Lukas Verzbicas (Midwest) setting the early pace hitting the first mile in 4:48.
By the mile-and-a-half mark, Verzbicas pulled away and never lost the lead.
Purcell competes in
Las Vegas race
Tom Purcell from Carson City traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Duel in the Desert, IMCA Modified race last month.
A total 0f 264 racers from 24 states and four Canadian provinces participated in the event.
Purcell was the victim of a spin in his B main and finished 20th out of 22nd. On Friday, he finished second in his heat and qualified for the A main.
Out of 30 cars, Purcell finished 17th after starting 15th. In his last-chance race, Purcell finished in fourth .
JV squad wins
3 over weekend
The Carson High Lady Senators JV basketball team prevailed in three games this weekend over McQueen (56-32), Spanish Springs( 43-28, and Reed (31-18).
In all three games the Senators played stifling defense spearheaded by guard Emily Collins.
The Lady Senators defense was supported by strong rebounding efforts by Megan Justice, Mary Longero, Allison Vondrak and McKenzie Price.
Toad's remains
in 1st place
Toads has a five-point lead in the Mosconi Division of the American Poolplayers Association.
Toad's has 57 points compared to 52 for Jerry's Kid's. Anarchy Nation is third at 51.
Austin Mathews of Jerry's Kids leads the 4-5 tier with 44 points, while Alex Gutierrez of Toad's leads the 6-7 tier with 44.
Robert Bridges of Anarchy Nation with 41 points.
Silver State gym
squad triumphs
The Silver State Gymnastics Academy Level 3 squad placed first at the Festival of Sraz meet in Reno.
Sophia Taggart won first in the 7-year-old all-around. She won on bars and floor exercise and tied for second beam and vault.
In the 8-year-old division, Lily Reid edged out teammate Brianna Wiles for first place in all-around.
Reid won the vault, beam and floor and took second on bars. Wiles won the bars, took second on beam and third in the vault.
Hitha Segu took third in the all-around.
Zeddies rolls 299
at Gold Dust
Phil Zeddies rolled a 299 game on Dec. 10 in the Men's Senior Trio League.
Zeddies left a solid 7-pin on his last throw of the game.