Just get through.
That’s the message members of the Carson High track and field coaching staff delivered to their athletes on Wednesday afternoon, as they prepared for the Division I regional trials on Saturday at Damonte Ranch High School.
Action starts at 9 a.m. The top nine in field events move on to the regional finals on May 11 at Damonte Ranch. The top eight in all running events except for the 800 and 1600 (12 move on) also move on. This is a meet where you just want to advance and not make any mistakes.
“It is about getting kids through,” Carson head coach Robert Maw said. “About 80 percent of the people we send out there this weekend should get through.”
Corey Reid will be busy, running the 400, 800 and high jumping. He’s ranked second in the two running events and first in the high jump (6-6).
“It (the 400 and 800) is a tough double,” Maw said. “I think he’s up to it. He ran a 49.66 (in the 400) and didn’t even get a good start. He’s No. 2 in the 800 (1:58.90). We’ll jump Corey just enough to qualify in the high jump, and we’re not going to run him in the 1600 relay because I think we can qualify without him in the trials.”
Carson could qualify three runners to the 800 finals, as Taylor Bradshaw is No. 3 at 2:00.13 and Zach Heinz is No. 7 at 2:01.72. Maw said he believes that Bradshaw is more than capable of cracking the 2-minute barrier. In the 400, Dexter Cummings is currently 13th at 52.73, and will probably have to shave a couple of seconds off his time to make the top eight.
Dakota Baker is ranked third in the 300 hurdles (41.18) and seventh in the 110 high hurdles (15.92), and barring a mistake, should make it to the finals. Baker is seeded No. 9 in the high jump, and Maw said Baker will probably have to go 5-8 or 5-10 to advance.
Asa Carter is ranked third in the triple jump at 43-7, trailing seniors Robert Eardley of Reno and Tevin Montgomery of Hug, who are at 45-6 and 44-11, respectively. Nick Greene (4:51.0) and Daniel Jauregui (4:52.45) are ranked 13th and 14th in the 1600, and they both must move up a couple of spots or their seasons are over.
“We’re not planning on jumping (Carter) all the way through,” Maw said.
Carson’s best shots in the relays are in the 1600 (3:30.0) and 3200 (8:09.0). The Senators are ranked No. 1 in the longer event and No. 4 in the shorter relay. In the 400 relay, Carson is seeded eighth and in the 800 the Senators are ninth.
On the girls side, Elena Thurman and Madison Preston appear to have the best shots at advancing, and they could move on in multiple events.
Thurman is No. 2 in the triple jump (36-2 1/4), No. 5 in the 100 (12.94) and sixth in the 200 (26.87). Preston is No. 2 in the high jump (5-2), fourth in the triple jump (36-1) and sixth in the long jump (16-2 3/4). Kayla Aikins is sixth in the high jump with a best of 5-feet.
“I expect both of them (Elena and Madison) to make it through,” Maw said. “We’re a field event team. We’re strong in the jumps. Only one or two girls have jumped as high as Madison. Kayla should be fine.”
Maw has put Alex Drozdoff, Cindy Juchtzer and Eveline Delgado in the 1600, and they are ranked 14, 18 and 16. The group will also run the finals-only 3200 on May 11. Juchzter is also 10th in the 800 (2:30).
“They are going to run 1600 for time,” Maw said. “Hopefully we’ll push them through in the 3200.”
Maddi Saarem, who has been bothered by injuries all season, is entered in the pole vault. She has a season best of 9-feet.
Carson will field just one relay team (3200). The team is seeded fourth at 10:15.
“We don’t have any depth at all in the sprints,” Maw said.
It hasn’t been a good year for Carson throwers, according to throws coach Mike Louisiana.
He has just two girls in the field events at Damonte — senior Courtney Hack and sophomore Teresa Boehmer. Both will compete in the shot and discus. Hack has marks of 34-6 and 87-5, while Boehmer is at 102-7 and 30-11, respectively.
“Teresa, if she uncorks a throw in either event, can do well,” Louisiana said. “She has to be a competitor in the competition. In practice she’s had some long throws. All I want Saturday is for them to get into the top nine.”
On the boys side, Louisiana is unsure of Nathan Hazard, who has marks of 46-2 1/2 and 145-3. He’s ranked 11th in the shot and fourth in the discus.
“Right now Nathan is a big question mark,” Louisiana said. “He sprained his ankle five weeks ago, and that’s a tough injury to come back from. He competed last Saturday, but he just didn’t have the explosion. I think he threw 132-7. On Monday he woke up and was having lower back issues.”
Levi Carter has thrown 137-1, but according to Louisiana, hasn’t been at practice regularly. Jesse Knight has thrown 132-5 in the discus and 40-5 in the shot. Both marks would advance him to the finals. Aaron Cowee is ranked 12th in the shot at 45-4.
“He can throw it a long way, but he’s not where he should be in terms of his technique,” Louisiana said.