Up, up and away

The team result is a secondary concern this early in the track season.

For the most part, Fallon boys coach Steve Heck and girls coach Paul Orong use the first several meets to identify their athletes’ events and take note of their initial performance.

It was no different Saturday at the Edward Arcinigea Complex as the Greenwave played host to Dayton, Fernley and South Tahoe. The boys tied with defending state champion Dayton to win the meet, while the girls took second behind Fernley.

“(The) first meet of the year is a chance for kids to just get their feet wet,” Heck said. “We have a lot of young kids so this was their chance to see what high school track is all about. For the older kids, it is a good chance to see where they are at and get back in the swing of things.”

But eyes were on one Nathan Heck as the senior pole vault went all out in his bid to take down the school record.

Shooting for 15 feet, Heck easily cleared 14-9 and appeared poised to break the record.

His next three attempts at 15-1, however, missed as Heck was able to clear the bar, but clipped it on the back end.

“Nathan had a good day in the vault,” Steve Heck said. “He is working on a few things right now. When he gets them figured out he will make some significant progressions in height.”

While Heck was aiming for the record, Jake Ernst and Charles Fulks had strong showings in the sprints. Ernst was second in the 100-meters (11.73 second), while Fulks was fourth (11.84). Fulks added a second-place finish in the 200 (23.86).

Tristen Thomson also had a solid opening run in the 800 with a time of 2:07.36, while Trevor Davis was third (2:21.19) and Sean Cordes was fifth (2:24.66).

Thomson, meanwhile, was also third in the 1,600 (4:56.69) and high jump (5-8).

Jordan Schultz had a solid run in the 300 hurdles as the senior placed second with a mark of 43.82. He also took third in the pole vault with a height of 11-6.

T.J. Mauga had a good day in the rings as the sophomore took second in the discus with a throw of 141-3, and was third in the shot put with a toss of 39-2.

“He is close to his PR in the discus already and his shot has improved immensely,” Steve Heck said.

Ernst led the long jumpers as the senior placed third (18-7) followed by Miguel Lebron (17-10.5) and Schultz (17-7). Lebron was also fourth in the high jump (5-6).

In the triple jump, Fallon took first through third as Ernst won the event (37-10) followed by Dustin Hopkins (33-3) and John Kirkland (33-2.25).

“In the jumps we had a lot of kids with solid marks,” Heck added. “Ernst and Lebron led the field but Dustin Hopkins, Jordan Schultz and John Kirkland all had great days.”

As for the Lady Wave, their young core of talent showed their potential in the first meet.

Brynlee Shults was second in the 200 (29.66), while Melyssa Willimas placed fourth (30.69)

Chloe Overlie had a solid appearance in her first high school track meet with second-place finishes in the 800 (2:45.4) and 1,600 (6:21.4).

Misaki Clare was another bright spot as she took second in the shot put (28-11.5), while Emily Mulac was sixth in the discus with a toss of 66-1.

In the long jump, the Lady Wave showed their depth as they took the top four spots. Shults finished first with a leap of 13-9 followed by Clare (13-8), Whitney Skabelund (13-7) and Sierra Hickox (13-5.76).

Fallon also dominated the triple jump as the Lady Wave finished first through sixth. Skabelund won the event at 30-4.5 followed by Sierra Hickox (30-3.5), Shults (29-9.5), Clare (28-6), Shelby Hickox (28-0.5) and Cassidy East (27-8).

Hannah Greenwood was third in the pole vault at 6 feet.