State track notebook: Pradere set for showdown; Ply to be busy

One of the most intriguing head-to-head battles this weekend is the battle between Carson’s Abby Pradere and Centennial’s Karina Haymore.

Haymore and Pradere rank 1-2 in the state in the 800 and 1600, and they have dominated their respective regions throughout the season.

Pradere, who ran a 2:13.68 at the Mt. Sac Relays and a 5:06.55 at last week’s regional meet, is looking forward to the upcoming battle. Haymore has run 2:11.80 (Mt. Sac) and 5:00.00 at a local weekday meet.

“I’m pretty excited,” Pradere said Wednesday afternoon. “I saw her run the 800 at Mt. Sac. I haven’t seen her run the 1600. I know she is a good runner.

“When I saw her run the 800, she went out pretty fast and settled in the middle and then went fast in the final 200 meters. I’d like a pace between 1:03 and 1:05 on the first lap. I’m not looking to lead, but if the pace is too slow I’ll lead. It’s the same in the 1600.”

Pradere did some light running Wednesday and will do the same today.

The 800 is scheduled for Friday and the 1600 is Saturday.

BUSY ATHLETES

Two of the busier athletes this weekend will be Dayton’s J.J. Ply and Sierra Lutheran’s Elaina Marchegger.

Ply qualified second in the high jump (6-4) and second in the 110 high hurdles (15.73). He also moved on in the pole vault (11-6) and 300 hurdles (42.28).

Dayton coach Mike Paul said Ply has been bothered by a sore quad.

“We pulled him out of the pole vault once we knew he had qualified,” Paul said. “What he does this weekend will be decided by J.J. and his dad (Kevin), who is his event coach in the high jump and pole vault. It will be his call.”

Ply placed in three events at last year’s state meet at Del Sol. He was fourth in the 110 hurdles in 15.54, fourth in the pole vault at 12-6 and fifth in the high jump at 6-feet.

Marchegger burst onto the scene last year, and won both the 800 (2:34.34) and 1600 (5:45.18) at the state meet at Del Sol. She also placed second in the 3200 (12:41.51). She won all three of her individual events last week at Yerington. She will run the anchor on the 3200-meter relay.

Marchegger’s brother, Jared, also will be in action. He qualified third in the 1600 (4:58.98), second in the 3200 (10:49.23), and he’ll run the 3200-meter relay.

NO FAVERO

Athena Favero, Carson’s outstanding 300-meter hurdler, has been declared out for the upcoming state meet. Favero, who was the defending regional champion, had to be helped from the track after finishing third at last week’s regional finals at CHS. Favero squeezed into the final qualifying spot when the runner ahead of her hit the last hurdle and fell right before the finish line.

“She has been on crutches since Saturday,” CHS trainer Adam Hunsaker said Wednesday afternoon. “The doctors still don’t know exactly what is wrong.”

Head coach Robert Maw said Favero went in for X-rays which were negative.

“She’s having trouble with both ankles,” Maw said. “It’s a tough break. It was the fourth time she has qualified.”