CHS relay leads strong effort

Historically, Carson High has always fielded strong relay teams, and the Senators’ girls 800-meter group is keeping up that proud tradition.

The quartet of Athena Favero, ValerieSue Meyer, Sahara Winder and Maddie Preston clocked a school and regional record of 1:42.98 to win the event Saturday afternoon at the NIAA Division I regional trials at the Jim Frank Track and Field Complex.

The time moved the Senators past Centennial and up to No. 2 in the state. The group smashed the 2013 regional mark of 1:43.11 held by the Reed Raiders, and it will take aim at beating Arbor View’s mark of 1:42.59 next Saturday in the regional finals at Carson. Field events get under way at 9 a.m.

“I’m happy about that; happy that we got by,” Carson coach Robert Maw said. “That event gives me nightmares. When we had Kayla Sanchez we were in second place and we dropped the baton. I can still hear that baton bouncing on the track. I don’t like the event because of that. I’m just glad we got through.

“I think we can go faster. Maddie didn’t have anybody running near her on the last leg.”

Favero, running the leadoff leg, got the Senators off to a strong start when she handed off to Meyer, the defending 400-meter champ. Meyer was able to pull even with the leader at the end of her leg, and after that it was up to Winder and Preston, who both ran impressive splits. Winder had a big day, advancing in both the 100 and 200, and she ran a tremendous third leg.

“We wanted to break the school record,” said Meyer, who also moved on in the 400, 400 and 1600 relay. “We were just running as fast as we could. I kind of caught the girl (in the lead). Athena did a good job of catching (a couple) girls. I think we could (go lower). There was nobody around to push Sahara and Maddie. It would be great to get a 1:41.”

Meyer, who’s still coming back from knee surgery after a soccer injury, qualified third in the open 400. She was timed in 60.92. She was in sixth place at about the 190-meter mark, but she kept plugging away, picking off runners right and left. She passed Douglas’ Olivia Abbott at the wire.

“She runs with a lot of heart,” Maw said.

Maw was extremely happy with the jumpers he coaches along with Olympian Aarik Wilson.

Asa Carter set a school record in the triple jump with a leap of 46-feet 2-inches, and he also moved on in the long jump (20-6 1/4). Teammates Greg Wallace (long jump, high jump) and Aaron Woodbury (triple jump, pole vault) also advanced.

It was even better in the triple jump for CHS.

Four, you heard that right, four girls grabbed the nine qualifying spots. Preston was second at 36-5 1/2, Caroline Gubica (34-4 1/2) was fourth, Hailey Palotas was sixth at 33-8 1/2, and freshman Abby Paulson grabbed the ninth and final qualifying spot. Paulson, who entered the meet with a best of 31-2, ripped off a jump of 33-2 1/2.

“I’m real excited about that,” Maw said. “Paulson PRd by more than a foot to get in. It’s a good day for Carson jumpers.”

Preston needed just one high jump (4-8) to advance. Her long jump of 16-1 was well off her best of 17-8, but it was still enough to qualify.

Ian Schulz PRd in the discus with a 167-11 throw, bettering his old mark of 163-3 by nearly five feet, and he moved on in the shot put with a 45-11.

In his discus series, Schulz had three throws over 150 feet.

When he uncorked his winning throw, he was dangerously close to being out of the ring. The throw gave him a 20-foot victory over Manogue’s Adrian Luna. Carson’s Chris Miranda threw 133-11 and 45-4 1/4 to advance to next week.

“It felt better than the other throws,” Schulz said of his winning toss. “I’m just happy I was able to stay in. I had a pretty good week of practice. I was a little jittery at the start. I’ve thrown around 170 in practice. I can do it if everything goes right.”

Favero, the defending 300-meter hurdle champion, breezed to a win in her specialty. She ran a clean race en route to a PR of 46.55. What was especially impressive is she beat Damonte’s Gabriella Jacobs by almost two seconds.

Corey Reid qualified in the 200 (22.51) the 400 (49.1), ran a leg on the Senators’ qualifying 800 relay team and moved on in the high jump. He cleared 5-10, one inch behind teammate Wallace.

NOTES: The top three individuals in each event move on to the state meet at Las Vegas’ Del Sol High School ... The 3200 is a finals only event and will be contested next weekend ... Carson’s 400-meter boys relay team, was disqualified because of a zone violation.