Corey Reid runs the sprint medley relay.
The top track and field athletes from four different classifications in the Silver State invade the Jim Frank Track Complex at Carson High School for the annual NIAA state championships.
Action gets under way today at 3. On Saturday, action gets under way at 8 a.m.
Carson High’s contingent is led by Corey Reid (high jump, 300 hurdles and 400), Dakota Baker (high jump), ValerieSue Meyer (400, 400 relay), Athena Favero (300 hurdles, 400 relay), Josilyn Daggs (100 hurdles, 400 relay), Sahara Winder (400 relay), Asa Carter (triple jump), Jessie Balkwell (3200 relay), Alex Drozdoff (3200 relay), Eveline Delgado (3200 relay), Lauren Hudak (3200 relay) and Madison Preston (triple jump, long jump and high jump).
In individual events, Douglas is led by Lindsey Adams (800, 1600, 3200), Marshall McKown (shot put and discus), Connor Lyons (long jump), Colton Waggoner (discus), Ian Isherwood (pole vault), Olivia Abbott (800), Jessa Gansberg (long jump), Hannah Haase (shot put) and Morgan Weston (discus). The Tigers have a boys 400-meter relay squad entered, while the girls are in the 1600 and 3200 relay events.
There are several defending champs returning in the Division I meet, Bishop Gorman’s Randall Cunningham (high jump, 7-3 1/4), Bonanza’s Jayveen Taylor (100), Centennial’s Dajour Braxton (3200), Reno’s Alex Cordisco (110 high hurdles), Damonte Ranch’s 400 and 800-meter boys relay teams, Centennial’s 3200-meter boys relay team, Silverado’s Dominic Smallwood (triple jump), Liberty’s Reno Tuufuli (discus), Centennial’s Sydney Badger (800, 1600 and 3200), Centennial’s Tiana Bonds (100 and 300 hurdles), Canyon Springs’ girls 400 relay, Centennial’s girls 800 and 1600 relay and Coronado’s 3200-meter relay. Bishop Gorman’s Vashti Cunningham will defend in the high jump, Wooster’s Alexis Romero in the pole vault and Liberty’s Ashlie Blake in the shot and discus.
Expect to see a bunch of stadium records fall if the weather holds.
Here’s an individual event-by-event breakdown of the Division I meet:
BOYS
100
Favorites: Jayveon Taylor (Bonanza), Ian Mack (Green Valley) and Ivy Dobson (Arbor View)
Locals to watch: Sebastian Feyersinger of McQueen won the 100, 200 and 400, and could get into the top three
200
Favorites: Dobson, Justin Lewis (Cimmaron-Memorial) and Mack.
Locals to watch: Only .40 separates Feyersinger from the second and third-place seeds.
400
Favorites: Feyersinger, Corey Reid (Carson) and Dobson.
Locals to watch: This could be the best race of the meet. Besides Feyersinger and Reid, there is also Connor Ross, who will start in lane 1.
Comment from Robert Maw: “I think Corey will do real well. He barely got out-laned by Sebastian last week.”
800
Favorites: Nicholas Oberdin (Shadow Ridge), Connor Ross (McQueen) and Dajour Braxton (Centennial).
Locals to watch: Ross will be pushed by McQueen teammate Kai Benedict.
1600
Favorites: Braxton, Cole Jones (Arbor View) and Benedict.
Locals to watch: Reed’s Anthony Ocegueda and Tyler Hart of Reno come in with the slowest times in the field, and don’t figure to place high.
3200
Favorites: Braxton, George Espino (Centennial) and Benedict.
Locals to watch: Ocegueda and Galena’s Mason Labadie are in the race, but aren’t serious contenders.
110 HH
Favorites: Tommy Broksbank (Reno), Alex Cordisco (Reno) and Dorian Williams (Arbor View).
Locals to watch: Isaiah Clark (Hug) has the fifth-best time in the field.
300 H
Favorites: Demarcus Walker (Canyon Springs), Kyle Kelley (Bishop Gorman) and Williams.
Locals to watch: Reid
Comments from Robert Maw: “I think Corey will do better this week because he won’t have to run the 400 and 300 hurdles back-to-back.”
Long jump
Favorites: Dominic Smallwood (Silverado), Alex Hicks (Green Valley) and Anthony Hankins (North Valleys).
Locals to watch: Connor Lyons (Douglas)
Triple jump
Favorites: Smallwood, Jordan Austin (Canyon Springs), Kelley.
Locals to watch: Asa Carter (Carson)
Comment from Robert Maw: “This is a tough field. he’s ging to have to jump a lifetime best, but that’s the thing about the jumps, you never know because people can foul ...”
High jump
Favorites: Randall Cunningham (Bishop Gorman), Anyah Nutter (Centennial) and Smallwood.
Locals to watch: Dakota Baker (Carson) and Reid.
Comment from Robert Maw: “Everybody is going for scond, third and fourth. Nobody is going to beat Cunningham.”
Pole vault
Favorites: Ian Isherwood (Douglas), Andrew Hladek (Liberty) and Zach Arbogast (Wooster).
Locals to watch: Reed’s Dallas Moss cleared 14-feet last week, and could be a darkhorse to go top 3.
Shot put
Favorites: Reno Tuufuli (Liberty), Jordan DeLeon (Reed) and Brady Williams (Green Valley)
Locals to watch: Douglas’ Marshall McKown is seeded fourth coming in.
Discus
Favorites: Tuufuli, McKown and Gary Abdella (Desert Oasis)
Locals to watch: Douglas’ Colton Waggoner is seeded No. 4 entering the event.
GIRLS
100
Favorites: Drea Austin (Foothill), Morgan O’Neal (Sierra Vista) and Jessica Ozoude (Spanish Springs)
Locals to watch: Neither Marin Zaccheo of Manogue or Damonte’s Natasha Thomas figure to go top three.
200
Favorites: Tyler Rowlette (Centennial), Austin and Sydny Land (Sierra Vista)
Locals to watch: Ozoude and Manogue’s Jasmine Jordan are longshots at best
400
Favorites: Rowlette, Austin and ValerieSue Meyer (Carson)
Locals to watch: Jordan and Douglas’ Olivia Abbott could be in the mix for third .
Comment from Robert Maw: “ValerieSue has a legit shot to win. She’s going to be ready. She is very competitive.”
800
Favorites: Sydney Badger (Centennial), Sara Dort (Coronado) and Lindsey Adams (Douglas)
Locals to watch: Kyra Hunsberger of Reno is one to watch out for.
1600
Favorites: Badger, Adams, Hunsberger.
Locals to watch: Reno’s Eliza McCall doesn’t figure to challenge for a medal.
3200
Favorites: Hunsberger, Badger, Dort
Locals to watch: Adams is in the field, and the field will have to keep an eye on her.
100 H
Favorites: Tiana Bonds (Centennial), Amari Norris (Silverado) and Charleen Jordan (Coronado).
Locals to watch: Josilyn Daggs (Carson) and Damonte’s Gabriella Jacobs will need to improve from last week.
Comments from Robert Maw: “I’m excited to see Josilyn run. If she runs like I know she can, she’ll be in the mix to finish top three.”
300 H
Favorites: Bonds, Jordan and La’Kiya Yarber (Canyon Springs).
Locals to watch: Athena Favero (Carson).
Comments from Robert Maw: “I think Athena could get second, third or fourth. She ran scared last year. I don’t expect that this year.”
Long jump
Favorites: Nala Payton (Wooster), Cunningham and Jessa Gansberg (Douglas).
Locals to watch: Madison Preston (Carson).
Comments from Robert Maw: “Madison could make some noise here. Payton has jumped nearly 18, but several others are lumped together.”
Triple jump
Favorites: Jocelyn Jordan (Arbor View), Preston and Lauren Purdy (Silverado).
Locals to watch: Morgan Waller (Damonte) is on the outside looking in.
Comments from Robert Maw: “Madison is capable of going first or second in the triple jump. There are no big jumpers in the field after Jocelyn and Madison.”
High jump
Favorites: Cunninghma, Emily Etter (Galena) and Victoria Wuest (Legacy).
Locals to watch: Preston (Carson)
Comments from Robert Maw: “This is Cunnngham’s event to lose. If Madison jumps 5-2 or 5-4 she could finish second or third.”
Pole vault
Favorites: Makayla Linebarger (Reed), Alexis Romero (Wooster) and Alysse McMillen (Reno).
Locals to watch: None
Shot put
Favorites: Ashlie Blake (Liberty), Maienna Carrillo (McQueen) and Miracle Blalark (Rancho)
Locals to watch: Savannah Haase (Douglas)
Discus
Favorites: Blake, Morgan Weston (Douglas) and Monet Salazar (Silverado)
Locals to watch: Sophie Grohs (Spanish Springs) is No. 6 and doesn’t figure to medal.