Boys track: Hawley wins state title for Dayton

Carter medals in the triple jump for Senator boys.

LAS VEGAS — Dayton High Zach Hawley made his presence felt immediately when he uncorked an opening throw of 54-feet 11 /3 4 Saturday afternoon.

That throw held up, and Hawley claimed the Division 1A title at the NIAA State Track & Field Championship at Del Sol High School.

Two of Hawley’s teammates, Benji Ply and J.J. Ply, also brought home medals. Benji Ply jumped 13-6 to take third in the pole vault. J.J. Ply finished fourth in the same event, clearing 12-6.

Hawley was coming off a second-place finish in the discus on Friday, and if that was still bothering him, it wasn’t apparent.

“It does make up for yesterday,” Hawley said. “I’m very happy about winning state.”

Hawley has been undergoing changes, and not everything has quite clicked in according to coach Mike Paul.

“During the season we put some changes in,” Paul said. “We’re trying to work on his spin. Sometimes I’m hesitant to do that when a kid is throwing well like Zach was.”

“We’re working on a higher right leg,” Hawley said. “That’s the big thing, and it will help me develop more torque.”

Hawley’s series, besides his winning throw included throws of 48-6 3/4, 49-8 1/2, 54-9 1/4, 54-10 3/4 and 53-10 1/4.

Ply’s season and career comes to a close.

He’s joining the Marine Corps in September. He was in a tough battle with Nathan Heck and Caleb Witsken. The latter won the event.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “My steps were off.”

The Dust Devils’ 400 relay team finished eighth and the 1600-meter group finished fifth.

Division I: Another medal for Carson

Asa Carter picked up his second medal in as many days, finishing fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 44-4.

Carter’s mark was well below what he normally dumps. Part of that is due to a shorter runway, and there were plenty of jumpers of both sexes who had problems adjusting.

Carter fouled three times, and he tried both the 30 and 32-foot board. His other two legal jumps were both in the 43s.

Teammate Aaron Woodbury placed eighth in the event at 42-5.

Maybe the biggest disappointment was in the boys shot put.

Ian Schulz had trouble from the outset, and only had one useable throw, a 47-7 3/4 effort on his third of six throws. He finished in fifth place.

Douglas’ 400 relay squad finished eighth in 43.61 and Nick Abreu was seventh in the pole vault at 13-feet.

Division 4: Falcons rake in 4 medals

Sierra Lutheran grabbed four medals, including a second place by Chris Eckert in the 3200 run (10:51.90). Jacob Rodriquez was third in the 100 at 11.92, Cameron Drudge was third in the 800 at 2:08.50 and the 400-meter relay team ran a 47.90.

NOTES: McQueen’s Kai Benedict was DQ’d in the 800, a move that was booed by many people at the starting line. He did come back to win the 3200 in convincing fashion … Unofficially there were five records set on Saturday. Centennial broke Cheyenne’s 2009 state and meet record of 3:16.95 when it ran a 3:16.48 in the 1600 relay.

Shadow Ridge’s 41.34 400 relay beat Canyon Springs’ mark set last year. Desert Pines’ Abdirahman Mohamed ran a 1:55.94 for a new 800 meet mark. Moapa Valley’s Caleb Witsken went 16-0 1/4 in the pole vault to set a new meet record. The old mark was held by Tyson Teerlink of Virgin Valley.