Fourteen athletes representing Carson and Douglas high schools converge on Del Sol High School for the 4A state track and field championships.
Carson is sending its state-leading 3,200-meter relay team of Robby Barlow, David McMasters, Richard Shroy and Nick Schlager. Haleigh Ward, Julianne King, Krista Baumgartner and Emily Field are representing Carson in the 800- and 1,600-meter relay events.
Baumgartner also is competing in the open 400, while Shroy is favored in the open 3,200.
Douglas is represented by Liz Nickles (triple jump), Jessica Gorton (long jump and high jump), freshman sensation Cara Dunkelman (800), Jordan Cruz (200), Minneah Holdridge (discus) and Jessica Waggoner (discus).
Individually, Waggoner and Shroy have the best shots at winning. Both are ranked No. 1 in their respective events.
Waggoner, who won the regional meet last week with a throw of 135-3, will face the biggest challenge from Avione Allgood from Legacy (128-11) and Destanae Howerton-Davis of Canyon Springs (128-8).
Shroy ran a 9:55.14 last week to outlast Brandon Nied of Reno and Bryan Jordan of Galena. Green Valley's Julius Kim, who won last week with a 9:39.35, is the top contender from the South. Shroy has run in the high 9:20s.
Shroy doesn't think running the 3,200 tonight and a leg on the 3,200-meter relay Saturday afternoon will be a problem.
"It's not that big of an issue," Shroy said. "There is plenty of time to rest. I've done it before. I can go 9:30."
The Carson girls enter the 1,600-meter relay with a 4:05.49, which is sixth in the field of eight. Carson's 800-meter relay squad comes in with the fifth-fastest time at 1:46.37.
The Carson boys' 3,200-meter relay quartet owns the state's fastest time at 8:01.71. The state record is 7:56 set by Silverado in 2007.
Baumgartner comes into the 400 with the fifth-fastest qualifying time at 60.16. She has an outside shot at placing in the top three.
Dunkelman has the fourth-fastest qualifying time at 2:19.82. She will be chasing Michaelanne Laurent of Coronado (2:17.38), Ansherae Devine of Western (2:18.89) and Damonte Ranch's Lauren Matthews (2:18.97).
Gorton enters the long jump ranked sixth at 16-6.25 and sixth in the high jump at 5 feet. Nickles is ranked seventh at 34-0.25.