Sanchez, Heilman win titles

After winning performance by Kayla Sanchez in the girl's 100-meter dash at the Nevada State High School track and field championships in Las Vegas on Friday, the Carson High team came back on Saturday to claim the gold in the boy's 100-meter dash.

Carson senior Josh Heilman dominated the event, blasting out of the blocks like a rocket. Heilman's 100 meter time of 10.91 against a headwind was the fastest in all divisions in the meet.

In the team standings, Carson girls finished third with 65 points behind Galena (72) and Cheyenne (96). Carson's boys took seventh with 32 points. Galena was third with 51 while Silverado won with 65.

"Today was a whole new day and I was determined to not let yesterday's disappointments affect my race today," said Heilman. "I just focused on doing what I needed to do today to run my best race."

Gold just kept coming for Sanchez as she picked up her third gold medal of the meet, proving she is the sprinter to beat in Nevada. In the 200-meter dash, she took the lead out of the blocks and in the first 50 meters she was in charge of the race. Sanchez crossed the line running the fastest 200-meter sprint of the day, beating Pahrump Valley's Dominique Maloy who had the fastest 200-meter time in the state going into the championships.

"I am happy with how I ran, especially considering the wind and everything," said Sanchez. "I wasn't feeling great before the race because I hadn't eaten and I felt tired so I wasn't sure how well I would run, but as I was warming up I started feeling better, and then I ended up winning so I am really excited."

The Carson girls 4x200 relay team of Amanda Benson, Lindsay Ford, Sinead McSweeny and Sanchez placed third behind Cheyenne's record-breaking team and Mojave High.

In the girl's discus throw, Carson junior Alex McAlman finished third and the boys 4 x 100 relay team ran to fourth with Heilman, Sam Pincock, Jeremy Gray and Tilor Smith.

Carson's Matt Moore decided to compete in his strongest event, the 300 high hurdles, in spite of his injured hamstring muscle. Shortly after the gun went off a runner in the next lane hit his hurdle and knock it into Moore's lane, sending Moore sprawling. Moore got back in the race but was unable to make up for the lost time.

The Carson boys 4x400 relay finished in fifth place with Floyd Hernandez (52.91), Carter (52.53), Gray (50.52), and Smith (50.20).

"The boys' performance ended up being a little disappointing because I feel they had a real shot at being state champions overall had they been able to perform like they did last week," said coach Shane Quilling. "It ended up being a meet of what could have been for the boys."

Coach Todd Ackerman was happy with the girls' final team points considering the lack of team depth. The key to challenging for the title next year, Ackerman believes, is to beef up the roster with contenders in the field and distance events, something he is hopeful he can accomplish in the coming year.