Elaina Marchegger rounds the final turn on the way to winning the girl's Div. IV 800-meter event at the NIAA State Championships at Carson High Friday.
Abby Pradere’s first-ever state meet appearance was bittersweet.
Carson’s freshman sensation ran a solid 2:15.85 in the 800-meter final, but had the misfortune of going against Centennial junior Karina Haymore, who broke a 41-year-old state record by running a 2:09.80 Friday night at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
Haymore’s 2:09.80 broke the previous best of 2:09.90 set by Reno High’s Kathy Westonin 1975. Haymore also broke the stadium and state-meet record of 2:10.28 set in 2014 by Centennial graduate Sydney Badger.
Sierra Lutheran, the Division IV power, led by Elaina Marchegger, enjoyed a solid first day. Marchegger won the 800 in 2:35.28 and came back less than an hour later and won the 3200 in 12:24.60.
The other individual championship came from Grace Bonafede, who won the triple jump in 32-5 1/2. Kristy Missamore and Alyssa Rowe went 2-3 in the shot, producing marks of 31-9 and 31-8 1/2. Taylor Davison was second in the 800, edging out older sister, Clare, by .07 seconds. The Falcons placed third in the 400 relay at 54.78.
In Division 1A, Dayton’s 1600-meter squad was fifth in 4:17.58.
Pradere wanted somebody else to lead the way, and Haymore was more than willing.
Haymore went out in approximately 65 seconds, and Pradere was right on her shoulder. Haymore started pulling away with 200 meters to go and posted a comfortable win.
“It was pretty good,” Pradere said. “She had more left at the end.”
Not surprising when you consider Haymore is a solid 400 runner, too.
“She was in it with 200 to go,” said assistant coach Sean Lehmann. “Haymore is the real deal. She is a phenomenal runner. Abby ran a good race.”
Pradere will have a chance to avenge the loss today when she and Haymore collide in the 1600. Haymore has a best of 5:00 and Pradere has a best of 5:05.
Meanwhile, Marchegger defended her 800 title from 2015. Her time this year, however, was approximately a second slower.
Chalk that up to what may have been too fast of an opening lap. Marchegge went out around in 74 seconds, and was unable to improve on that split.
“Looking back, I may have went out a little too fast,” she said after the race. “I was trying to break the school record of 2:30 (Becky Grabow), and I felt I had to start out fast.”
And, the windy conditions also played a factor in her time as well. The wind affected all the runners throughout the day.
Marchegger ran essentially unopposed in the 3200. She won the race by nearly 43 seconds.
“After a couple of laps I started to feel tired (from the 800),” she said. “That is part of distance running.”
Marchegger admitted dropping the 3200 has crossed her mind.
“Our coach likes us to be well balanced, and if we can do it, we do it,” she said.
Marchegger will run the 1600 today and run an 800 leg on the 3200 relay.
After nine events, the Falcons had a healthy lead in the team standings.
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An MRI revealed Athena Favero did suffered a stress fracture, which forced her to miss the 300-hurdle race on Friday.
Based on the times Friday, she would have had an excellent chance to finish in the top three.
