Sparks and Carson girls take third

Shanna Sparks placed third to lead the Carson High girls cross country team to a third place finish at the NIAA/U.S. Bank State Championships on Saturday in Boulder City.

Sparks finished in 19 minutes. 5.3 seconds to finish behind Cimarron-Memorial's Natasha Wicks (18:30.7) and Reno High's Collier Lawrence (18:23.4). Lawrence led Reno to the team title as the Huskies finished with 29 points. Galena edged out Carson for second (88-102).

Galena's Chantel Williams placed 10th (19:56.1) and Douglas High's Taryn Joyce-Mendive was right behind in 11th (20:18.9). Carson's Sheena Bonaldi placed 14th (20:34.7).

Other local finishers were: Alyssa Abbott (Galena, 20th, 20:59.1); Anna Breen (Galena, 21st, 21:02.5); and Monica Buccambuso (Douglas, 22nd, 21:04.6).

Other finishes for Carson were: Janine Stone, 21:29.6; Patty Capistrant, 21:46.6; Tiffany Halen, 21:54.1; Kirstin Neddenreip, 21:57.9; and Amanda Benson, 21:59.2.

Other finishes for Galena were: Shantel Bolsta, 21:28.8; Emilie Wark, 21:32.5; and Laramee Searle, 22:45.

In the boys race, Galena placed third (83 points) behind Centennial (70) and Reno (42).

Steve Pottey led Galena by placing fifth (16:45) while teammates James Parker took eighth (17:09) and Geoff Cassazza placed 10th (17:23.4).

Other finishes for Galena were: Raul Tibaduiza (18:00.7), Robert Shrake (18:41.6) and Chase Correia (19:09.2). Carson's Josh Corder also placed 50th in 18:39.9.

In the 3A boys race, Fernley's Josh Whitman placed 16th (19:19.2) while Dayton's Billy Mountjoy took 20th (19:22.9) and Joseph Barajas placed 29th (20:17). For the 3A girls, Dayton's Keeli Garcia took 22nd (24:54.5), Fernley's Amber Skipworth took 29th (25:47) and Dayton's Christie Selmi took 30th (25:48.3) and Mercedes Barajas placed 32nd (25:55.2).