Now that all the quizzes have been completed, the Carson High School cross country team is ready to take its the big test today at the Regional Championships in Reno.
Runners from the Northern 4A and 3A divisions will run starting at 2:30 p.m. at Rancho San Rafael Park. The 3A girls run at 2:30, followed by the 4A girls at 3:10, the 3A boys at 3:45 and the 4A boys at 4:15.
From the 4A races, the top two teams and five individuals from non-qualifying teams will advance to the NIAA State Championships on Nov. 6 in Boulder City - and Carson coach Dennis Brinson is optimistic the Senators will be represented in both the girls and boys races.
"I think they are as ready as they could be," Brinson said. "At the beginning of the season we set a goal to run continually faster through the season and to run our best race at regionals. Everything we've tried to do, we've accomplished; everybody is running faster, they're running fresh and they're healthy."
The Senators will be up against some formidable competition, especially in a girls race that features two-time defending regional and 4A state champion Reno and South Tahoe. Reno is coming off a victory in the individual sweepstakes race at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational this past Saturday in Southern California, where junior Marie Lawrence emerged as the fastest overall with a time of 16:48 (third fastest ever on the 2.9-mile Mt. SAC course). However, South Tahoe owns victories over Reno at the prestigious Stanford and Clovis invitationals in California.
"South Tahoe and Reno are way out there, but I think our girls have a chance to take three or possibly four of the individual spots," Brinson said.
Annie Brinson, Christy Works and Patty Capistrant have run well all season for the Senators. Works placed seventh on Oct. 8 at the Elko Invitational, just 70 seconds out of second-place. Works and Brinson placed first and second and Capistrant fourth while leading the Senators to a team victory at their own Carson Invitational on Oct. 8.
Reno is the defending regional and state boys champion and the closest challenge now is expected from Galena, last year's state runner-up, and South Tahoe. Carson has plans of challenging for that runner-up spot, according to Brinson.
"I think our boys have a shot at upsetting Galena and South Tahoe," the coach said. "They'll have to run their best race, but I think it's attainable. The thing about sports, you never know. I told the kids to look at what the Boston Red Sox did in coming back from 3-0 against the Yankees, so I think they'll give it their best shot."
Senior Ryan Turner and sophomore Chad Shroy have been front-runners for the Senators most of this season.
Galena junior Daniel Geib figures to be in the hunt for the individual boys gold medal. Geib won at the Elko Invitational (16:54) and was also the fastest Nevada runner last week at Mt. SAC with a 15:18 clocking. Reno's Joe Parker and Sam Bedell of Bishop Manogue are other runners to keep an eye on.
Jose Barajas and the Dayton Dust Devils will also be looking to have an impact on the Northern 3A boys race. Dayton finished third behind Lowry and North Tahoe at the Lowry Invitational on Oct. 15. Barajas placed fifth as an individual at the Lowry meet (17:58), while teammate Joey Mountjoy placed seventh (18:04). Barajas was a gold medal winner at the Fernley Invitational on Oct. 8.
Lowry will be the team to beat in the boys race behind its top three of Jake Steinman, Lupe Cabada and Justin Grant.
On the girls side, Lowry and North Tahoe are the top teams. Incline's Addie Devine won the state 2A race last year.
Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.
