Fourteen Carson High athletes will vie for berths in next week's Northern 4A State Track & Field Championships today at Douglas High School.
Field events for the 4A regional finals get under way at 8:30 a.m. and running events start at 9 a.m. The top three finishers in each event advance to state, which is being held at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas May 22-23.
On the boys side, Carson's best hopes for advancement are with the 3,200-meter relay team of Robby Barlow, David McMasters, Richard Shroy and Nick Schlager, and Shroy in the 3200.
The group has run an 8 minutes, 13 seconds, the same time as McQueen. Two seconds back is Damonte Ranch.
"They should go through without a problem," Carson coach Robert Maw said of his relay group.
Shroy is top-seeded in his race with a time of 9:28, which is 11 seconds better than Elko's Eric Sandall. Shroy was ill last week and opted out of the 1,600. Reno's Brandon Nied and Galena's Bryan Tibaduiza also will be in the hunt.
"He (Shroy) seems like he's feeling good," Maw said. "He should make it through and finish no worse than second or third. I expect 100 percent from him and I expect him to pull through. It should be a good race."
Pole vaulter Cameron Childers enters the finals with the fourth-best vault at 13-feet. Stefan Lillyhorn and Jordan Parker, both of Reno, have cleared 15-6.
"He has an outside chance," Maw said. "It depends mostly on how prepared he is. I know there are a couple fo guys in the field who have had problems with broken poles this year."
Barlow is seeded third at 2:02.68 because he won his heat last week, but is time is eighth-fastest which means he will have to beat out five to reach state. Schlager PR'd in both the 800 and 1,600 last week, but he enters today seeded eighth and ninth, respectively.
Hurdlers Luke Carter (110) and James Simmons (300) will have to run amazing races to finish in the top three. Carter ran a 16.26 last week, and barring mishap, will have to shave a full second off that time. Simmons also will have to shave .50 to a full second off last week's 41.68.
"James would have to run in the low 40s, and it's possible he can do that," Maw said. "He and Luke both have tough races."
Brandon Briggs qualified in both the 100 and 200, and he too will have to really shave his time down to have a chance in either race.
"I don't know what Brandon is going to do," Maw said. "He's very competitive. I think he can give them a run for their money in the 200."
Girls who have the best shot at advancing as individuals are Alex Fallon (triple jump) and Krista Baumgartner (400).
Baumgartner is seeded third at 60.97, but she has run a 60.86. Fallon is seeded fourth at 33-feet 11-inches, and she is with an inch of having the second-best mark.
Baumgartner and Douglas' Katie Dry will battle for the third spot if the rankings go to form.
"They have been battling for years," Maw said. "I think she'll finish second, third or fourth."
Maw said that Fallon appears to be recovered from a spider bite suffered earlier this week. He said that she is excited and ready to go.
Amanda Gordon, Erica Sosa and Katie McFarren are entered in the 3200, which is a finals-only event. Gordon comes in with the fourth-seeded time. McFarren shaved 20 seconds off her time in the 1600, but is an outside shot at best to qualify.
The Senators should qualify in the 800 and 1600 relay events. Carson's contingent of Emily Field, Haleigh Ward, Julianne King and Baumgartner comes in with a 4:06.48. The same quartet has run a 1:46.71 in the shorter race.
Maw expects better times today. Field had stretched tendons on top of her right foot. Maw had her riding a bike much of the week, and expects her to run a little faster.