Lady Wave medals in 7 events at state meet

McAlexander wins shot put, high jump titles

Fallon senior McCartney McAlexander medaled in four events, including winning the high jump on Friday.

Story and Photos by Thomas Ranson

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

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SPARKS — Coach Paul would be proud.

Less than three months after the Greenwave’s longtime track and field coach died, Fallon did not disappoint at last weekend’s 3A state meet at Reed High School.

The Lady Wave finished sixth out of 16 teams, and senior McCartney “Micky” McAlexander won the shot put and high jump to become the first Fallon athlete to win state since 2017. The last two state meets were canceled because of the pandemic.

Fallon freshman James Sorensen finishes second in the 110-meter hurdle race.

Spring Creek won the girls division with 104 points, while Fallon finished with 61.

Paul Orong, who coached the Lady Wave for two decades before stepping down after the 2019 season, died earlier this year after battling a yearslong illness. And this year’s seniors, who were freshmen during Orong’s last year, left it all on the track and field, starting with McAlexander.
McAlexander won the high jump by 3 feet on Friday. She cleared the bar at 5 feet, 2 inches to win the event but proceeded to increase her mark twice, finishing at 5-4.

The following day, McAlexander won the shot put with a throw of 39-5.

Fallon senior Savanna Regli finishes sixth in the 3200-meter run during Saturday’s 3A state meet in Sparks.

McAlexander finished third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.85 seconds after Spring Creek senior Payge Walz won the event in 15.05 to set the state record. Walz won four events.

“It feels pretty good. I could have had a better start. It’s a drive to work harder this summer,” McAlexander said.

McAlexander also finished fourth in the 800 in 2:27.06 after originally taking fifth. But because of a disqualification, McAlexander moved up to reach the podium in the final event of her high school career.

“It still feels pretty good. I got a pretty good (personal record),” said McAlexander, who started running the 800 last month.

Fallon sophomore Jessalyn Lewis finishes second in Friday’s state long jump final.

Senior Madeline Stephens edged out her Fernley rival to finish third in the shot put with a personal best of 36-7.25. She also took fourth in the discus at 91-2.

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted to but I ended the season on a good note,” said Stephens, who was named an NIAA Top Ten Student-Athlete this month. “I’m excited to see what’s in store for me in the future. I wasn’t expecting to get third. I was coming (to the shot put) in fifth.”

In a thrilling competition that saw the top-four vaulters record personal bests, senior Michaella Pursley beat her record three times to finish fourth. She cleared the bar at 9-9 to tie for third but because Truckee’s Paige Willcox had fewer missed attempts, Pursley was awarded fourth.

Fallon senior Michaella Pursley reacts to achieving a personal-best in the pole vault as she finished fourth.

“I feel great and excited that I finally passed my PR that I’ve had for four years,” Pursley said.
“Going in, I felt really nervous because it’s my last track meet. I have to prove to people and myself that I can do it. I really didn’t think I was going to PR again. I’m happy with it.”

Sophomore Jessalyn Lewis captured second in the long jump with a leap of 16-4.25 and sixth in the triple jump at 32-6.75.

Fallon senior Madeline Stephens threw a personal best to capture third in the shot put.

Plagued by shin splints all season, senior Savanna Regli finished sixth in the 3200 in 13:39.08.
For the boys, freshman James Sorensen took the silver in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. He finished the 110 hurdles in 16.54, less than a second from first, before finishing the 300 race in 42.37.

“It really showed me what competition is out there and what I need to work for,” said Sorensen, who didn’t do sports until this year. “I’m being opened up to the world in what I can do. I was able to get it down really quickly. I started working harder and harder and reached my goals.”

The 4x200 relay team came close to medaling, finishing the race 1.09 shy of fourth place. The team of Max McCoy, Luke Sorensen, Ethan Tarner and Caleb Proffen finished the race in 1:35.15.

Sophomore Kanigh Snyder finished seventh in the triple jump at 40-3.5, needing exactly 1 more foot to finish in the top four.

The boys finished 12th out of 19 teams with 21 total points. Moapa Valley won the event with 116 followed by Spring Creek at 95.

Fallon’s 4x200-meter relay team, which includes, from left, Max McCoy, Trent Tarner, Luke Sorensen and Caleb Proffen, finished sixth in Friday’s 3A state meet.

Lady Wave medals in 7 events at state meet

McAlexander wins shot put, high jump titles

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