Fresh off a team championship at last week's 4A regional meet, the Carson High girls' cross country squad shoots for its 10th state title today at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno.
The first of six races begins at 10 a.m.
Carson, which ran without April Shonnard last week, barely edged Galena and Douglas. The Senators , who won state in 2007 and 2009, may be without Shonnard again.
"We're not sure if we'll have April yet," Carson coach Pete Sinnott said. "She ran a little Thursday, but her leg was sore. She said she'd like to run even if she jogs. Either way she won't be at full strength.
"Up and down the line we need to run better (to win). In looking at last week's results, all the girls have room for improvement."
Alex Drozdoff, who finished second to Douglas' Lindsey Adams last week, and teammate Cindy Juchtzer who was seventh lead the Carson contingent. Erika Sosa, Chelsea Gordon, Mallory Wilson, Shelby Brown and Avery Hudak round out the group.
Wilson's sore hip has hopefully improved, and Sinnott said that Brown, who improved her time by more than a minute last week, had some energy left at the end.
Besides Galena and Douglas, Sinnott expects that Centennial, led by Sydney Badger, Savannah Anas and Shelby Gibbons, will be the team to beat. Green Valley and Coronado also could challenge.
Sinnott believes that the individual race will come down to four or five girls.
"The girl from Douglas (Lindsey Adams) is really tough," Sinnott said. "Alex has a good chance, too."
Marissa Suan of Palo Verde and Andrea Gonzalez of Faith Lutheran along with Badger represent the best bets out of Southern Nevada.
On the boys' side, Sinnott believes his boys squad will challenge for one of the top two spots along with Green Valley, SECTA Centennial and Bishop Gorman in addition to Galena and Bishop Manogue.
"Our boys have a good shot," Sinnott said. "We're ready to go. We started the season as the eighth best team in Northern Nevada, and we were 4 1/2 minutes behind. Now, we're about a minute behind. It's not going to be easy."
Taylor Bradshaw, who was fourth last week in 17:36, leads the Carson squad. Sinnott said his top runner has a good chance to crash the top five.
"Taylor is ready to go," Sinnott said. "He's a competitive guy with a lot of speed."
Bradshaw is backed up by Nick Greene and Michael Shonnard. The latter also has been suffering from shin splints. Shonnard was eighth in 17:50 and Greene was 16th in 18:50. Dominic Kinder was the fourth CHS finisher last week, clocking an 18:22. Chris Merriner, Daniel Jauregui and Anthony Cacioppo are the other Carson runners.
The boys' individual race shapes up as a battle between Reno's Jordan Cardenas and Centennial's Nick Hartle, who ran a 16:11 last week. Manogue's Donald Bernard, Del Sol's Nick Priego and Spanish Springs' Jacob Fleming also figure the favored duo.
Douglas' Brandon Pankey finished in the top 10 last week, and he may have to run a little faster to duplicate that feat today.
Sinnott believes that the Northern runners may have an advantage entering today's race. He said the hills at Rancho San Rafael course are tougher than what Vegas runners usually face, and he expects the course to be a little damp.
"I think there is a 20-second difference in times between our course and their course," Sinnott said. "Their hills are about 50 percent of the hills we have here."
2A: Sierra Lutheran runners eye team, individual crowns
The Falcons have complete teams entered in today's event, and two of the top runners in the area in Nathaneal Williams and Becky Grabow.
Williams won the 2A race in 16:40 last week, a mere two seconds off the mark turned in by Cardenas in the 4A race. Grabow was second in the girls' race to Incline's Katie Cochran in 20:51.
The Falcons were second to Sage Ridge last week, and the two teams are the favorites coming into today's meet.
Williams is a heavy favorite to win today. He beat Incline's Spencer Wilson by 43 seconds last week and North Tahoe's Noah McDermott by more than a minute. If the Falcons are going to win, they will need Luke Barulich, John McRae, Jonny Harms, Wyatt Hicks and Donovan Harris all have to improve their place to overtake Sage Ridge.
Cochran and Grabow should dominate today's 2A race. Megan Alexander of The Meadows ran a 21:49 last week which could put her in the top five. The Falcons' Erin Henry and Virginia City's Tobi Steele both have a good shot at finishing in the top 10.
3A: Dayton trio looking to make their mark
Katrina Breithaupt, Joe Law and Aaron Elissa represent the Dust Devils at today's meet.
Breithaupt took fourth in 20:34 last week, which is actually 10 seconds faster than Boulder City's Jessica Tobler, who won the Southern 3A meet in 20:44. Breithaupt stands a good chance at placing in the top five again this week.
On the girls' side, the team race figures to come down between Elko and South Tahoe. Virgin Valley probably will not be a factor. Elko's duo of Mary Jo Wright and Shelbie Dora, Truckee's Skyler Flora and Tobler will battle for individual honors.
Law and Elissa finished 11th and 12th, respectively on the boys side. Their times of 18:28 would have placed them fourth in the south last week. The duo figures to place in the top 15.
South Tahoe's Connor Henderson, who ran a 17:05 last week, is the individual favorite. Boulder City's duo of Evan Klouse and Chandler Hawkins, and Virgin Valley's Ty Rappleye will challenge for spots in the top 10.
South Tahoe is favored to win the team title with Elko, Truckee and Boulder City battling it out for second place.
