The first step toward the NIAA 4A State Track & Field Championships is today when Carson High hosts the regional trials.
Field events begin at 9:30 a.m. with running events expected to start at 10. Top qualifiers will advance to the regional finals May 14 at Carson.
Carson High freshman Josilyn Daggs is expected to be one of Carson's busiest performers today. She will compete in the 100-meter dash and the 100 hurdles plus the 400 and 800-meter relay events.
Daggs enters the meet as the third seed in the 100 (12.72) behind Reed's Adriana Newell (12.34) and Spanish Springs' Laura Voss (12.64). She is seeded fourth in the hurdles (15.98), trailing Gabby Williams of Reed (14.93), Reno's Shannon Forman (15.74 and McQueen's Katy Hufford (15.84). Only .24 seconds separates the second, third and fourth seeds.
The top nine move on in the 100 hurdles and sprint, and Carson coach Robert Maw said that Daggs will be going all out.
"We want to set a precedent in the hurdles," Maw said. "She beat a couple of runners seeded ahead of her (Forman and Hufford) at the Big George Invitational. We want them to know she's going to be in one of the top three spots. It will be hard for her to pull back."
Daggs will team with Ali Cowan, Elena Thurman and Kaitlyn Holmes in both relay events. Carson is seeded eighth at 54.49 and 157.57, respectively.
"Our times aren't fast in the relays," Maw said. "Because of injuries and other things we haven't had a chance to put all the girls together."
Thurman is seeded seventh in the 100 with a best time of 13.04. She normally would run the open 200, but Maw has elected to run her in the relays instead.
In the distance events, Alex Drozdoff will run the 800, 1600 and 3200. The latter is a finals only event. Drozdoff is seeded 26th in the 800 (2:39), ninth in the 1600 (5:35.6) and fourth in the 3200 (11:55). She should move on in the two longer events.
"Alex's best event is the 3200," Maw said. "We put her in the 800 just to get a workout. I think she should move on in the 1600."
Cindy Juchzter is seeded 11th in the 1600 and 12th in the 3200. She is an outside shot in the 1600.
In the pole vault, Maddi Saarem and Makayla Story should both advance if they achieve their best marks or better them. Saarem, a sophomore, has a best of 10 feet this year while Story has gone 9 feet.
Ali Fleming and Makayla Ragnone enter the shot put at 31-10 which puts them in a tie for the sixth seed. Caitlin Sinclair is seeded seventh in the discus (101-8).
On the boys' side, Taylor Bradshaw (400), Eric Garcia (pole vault) and Gabe Pongasi (triple jump) have the best opportunity to reach state. Levi Carter and Blake McCoy have an outside shot in the discus.
Pongasi is the second seed in the triple jump at 42-2 1/2, well behind Hug's Jevon Brown (48 feet).
"I think he has a 44 or 45 in him," Maw said.
Garcia has a best of 14-6 this year, the same height as Douglas' Justin Seyfried. Douglas' Nick Maestretti leads the area with a mark of 15-3.
Bradshaw is seeded fifth in the 400 (51.43), trailing the McQueen trio of Arnold Carrillo (48.86), Nicholas Perrino (49.44) and Rollins Stallworth (50.46), and Spanish Springs' Austin Rauh (50.61). Depending on his heat assignment, Bradshaw will need to run around a 52 or 53 to advance.
Maw has high hopes for his 800 relay team of Clint Page, Trey Jensen, Pongasi and Bradshaw. The Senators are seeded second at 1:32.04.
In the discus, Carter is seeded sixth with a best of 132-8, while McCoy comes in at 129-10. Both are expected to reach the finals.
"Levi has progressed quickly," Maw said. "Blake has thrown around 150 in practice."