RENO - Carson High's coaching staff changed its line-up for the 3200-meter relay event, and the move paid big dividends.
Taylor Bradshaw ran a hand-timed 1:58.8 in the first 800 meters that put Carson into second place, and Zach Heinz, Dexter Cummings and Corey Reid held that spot en route to a season-best 8:10.61 at the NIAA State Track & Field Championships.
The next-best Carson finisher on Friday was Elena Thurman, who recorded two personal record jumps en route to a fifth-place finish at 35-3 in the triple jump. Tiana McAllister-Daggs finished eighth in the shot put with a 32-5 3/4, which was 2 1/2 feet less than she threw last week. Reid, only a freshman, was eighth in the high jump at 5-10.
The Senators' relay quartet entered the day hoping to knock off Centennial and break the school record of 8:01. Neither, unfortunately, happened, though Carson did improve on its time from last week.
Heinz followed Bradshaw with an unofficial 2:03.1, Cummings followed with a 2:07.65 and Reid ran a 2:00.79.
"We did the right thing," said Carson assistant coach Bob Johnson. "Taylor gave us some separation right away (from the rest of the pack)."
"It didn't surprise me," Carson head coach Robert Maw said. "Centennial is a good team. Taylor ran a great leg, and we asked Corey (Reid) to back off once we knew we couldn't catch Centennial or break the record. Corey had to long jump right after that and we also wanted to save his legs a little."
Bradshaw was pleased with his performance.
"They wanted me to get a lead and I did," Bradshaw said. "There is only so much I can do."
Heinz's split was a PR, but Cummings, bothered by a blister on his right foot all week, never really got going. Reid ran a solid split, but he admitted he didn't have much left in the tank.
Thurman uncorked a PR of 34-11 3/4 despite falling backward on her landing. On her next jump, she got a 35-3. She fouled on her next two jumps and then went 33-11 3/4.
"I was hoping I'd get 35 feet," Thurman said. "That was my goal all year. I want to get 37 (feet) next year. I want the school record."
Reid just didn't have enough rest time. Last week, he had 40 minutes of rest, and he responded with a jump of 6-2.
"My legs were too tired," he said. "I didn't do as well as I could have."
Today, the Senators will run the 1600 relay with Reid, Bradshaw, Clint Page and Dakota Baker. Also, Chance Quilling will compete in the 300 hurdles.
Douglas freshman Lindsey Adams took second in the 3200, clocking an unofficial 11:27.83. Palo Verde sophomore Marissa Suan came from third place on the final lap to win in 11:20.89.
Douglas pole vaulter Amanda Brazeau was fourth at 11-6, while Katie Dry took seventh in the 100 at 12.65. Dylan Neilsen was sixth in the 400 at 50.97. Neilsen, who started in lane eight, was in the lead at 200 meters. He and a few others were passed by Centennial's Nick Hartle, who set a stadium record of 47.97 in winning the event.
1A: WILLIAMS, GRABOW DEFEND TITLES
Nathanael Williams continued his dominance by running a leg on Sierra Lutheran's winning 3200-meter relay team (9:11.40) with Wyatt Hicks, Donovan Harrison and Jonny Harms, and defending his 1600 title in 4:41.4. Williams ran essentially under no pressure the entire race. He was satisfied to win, but would have liked a faster time. He has the 3200 and 800 today.
"It (the 1600) was OK," said Williams. "It felt a little tight. I wanted to go under 4:40 because I haven't been under that.
"We needed the points. I'm not worried about the 3200. I'm not really an 800 guy. I am hoping to run 2-flat. I ran 2:03 last week. In the 3200, anything under 10 minutes will be fine."
Williams doesn't get enough competition to be pushed to a faster time. Any runner worth his salt wants somebody on his shoulder the entire time, or wants to feel some sort of pressure.
Alex Borgman, the favorite in the discus, won the event with a throw of 127-6. Teammate Chase Johnson was fourth in 105-8. Harrison took third in the 1600, running a 4:52.04. Kody Miller was second in the 400 at 52.47 and Harms was third in 54.17. Conner Love was second in the 110 hurdles in 17.16.
Sierra Lutheran's 800 relay team of Jacob Medlock, Miller, Ryan West and Justin Newcomb was first in 1:38.67.
Ben Sever was third in the high jump at 5-10.
On the girls side, Becky Grabow became a three-time state champion in the 3200. She ran a 12:08, and like Williams in the 1600, was never challenged. She was fourth in the 800 at 2:33.99.
Erin Henry was second to Grabow in the 3200 at 12:31.10 and third in the 800 at 2:33.11.
Katy Cobb won the 300 hurdles in 52.29, while Camille Cassidy (13.68) was second in the 100.
Sierra Lutheran's 1600 relay team capped the night with a 4:26, shaving nearly four seconds off last week's time, en route to first place.
3A: KOCH, MCGIFFORD, BREITHAUPT SHINE
For Dayton, Joshua Koch placed second in the discus with season-best throw of 131-11, Cameron McGifford was third in the 110 hurdles at 16.22 and Katrina Breithaupt was second in the 800 at 2:22.92.
Koch's teammate Jesse May placed fourth with a season-best mark of 124-4.
"It's a good time to do it at the state meet," Dayton coach Mike Paul said.
McGifford admitted he was hoping for a better performance.
"It was not very good," McGifford said. "I hit that last hurdle, I could have been second. I was hoping for a little better (time and place)."
Breithaupt shaved nearly three seconds off last week's time of 2:25.78. Breithaupt also finished third in the 3200, clocking an 11:57. She was in the top four during the first mile, but fell back to fifth in the next 800 meters. She moved into fourth just meters into the seventh lap and passed another runner on the final lap.
Madison Foley was fourth in the triple jump with a 33-3 1/4, while Lettie Lynch was fifth in the 100 at 13.38. Dallon Mendoza was fifth in the high jump with a leap of 5-8.
Dayton's boys were fourth in the 3200 relay at 8:38.23 and sixth in the 800 relay at 1:37.49. The Dayton girls were fifth in the 400 relay at 52.88. Action gets under way today at 8 a.m.