Carson City prep roundup: CHS runners ready for regionals

A glance at the Carson High cross country roster indicates the Senators’ best days are ahead of them.

The boys and girls rosters are littered with some talented freshmen and sophomores, but that being said veteran coach Pete Sinnott believes his runners could make some noise at today’s Northern 4A Championships at Shadow Mountain Park in Sparks.

All four divisions are running today with action getting under way at 9 a.m. The 4A boys run at 11 a.m. and the girls run at 1:10. The top three teams and the next five finishers from nonadvancing teams qualify for state.

On paper, Carson’s girls team, led by Gabriella Fernandez, has the best chance to move on as a team and/or qualify an individual to next weekend’s state meet in Las Vegas. Sinnott admits it will be a tough task for his girls to finish in the top three.

“There are a lot of strong teams here,” SInnott said. “Reno won the Stanford meet and beat some very good teams from California to do that and the Damonte girls have a pretty good team. Cross country is about having five good runners on a particular day. I think we have a shot.”

Fernandez, junior Rheanna Jackson, freshman Jaidyn Shepard, senior Makaela Bigley, senior Jiavana Wong-Fortunato, junior Blanca Sosa, junior Chloe Hataway and Kathryn Liemandt have all run well this season at various times. Both Fernandez and Shepard are freshmen, and they went 1-2 at the JV Championships last week.

“Gabby has run under 20 minutes and Rheanna is at 20:11,” Sinnott said. “Neither are far apart from the top, top girls. Gabby is starting to run stronger. Jaidyn has improved throughout the season, and she has been willing to work hard. She is very competitive. Our girls are about 90 seconds apart which isn’t bad, but if we’re going to move on, we need to close the gap.”

On the boys side, Sinnott is going with seniors Logan Mead and Adam Flaten, freshman Zach Sever, sophomore Ethan Byasse, sophomore Adan Garcia, junior Jared Cartier and junior Jayson Legotte.

“Logan has run a 17:36, and he has an outside shot to move on,” Sinnott said. “You need to finish in the top 30 individually to move on depending how the team stuff works out.

“Zach has been steadily improving all season. He is the second-fastest freshman runner in the north. Our JV team ran really well and finished second in the north last week.”

Freshman Anthony Ramirez (strained muscle) and sophomore Hunter Rauh (shin splints) will not run today.

JV FOOTBALL

Carson edges Douglas

Blake Menzel scored twice and Conner Bell and Chance Smith had long touchdown runs to lead Carson’s junior varsity football team to a 30-22 win over Douglas Wednesday night at Carson.

The game came down to the final drive, as Carson stopped Douglas at the 10-yard line with less than 90 seconds remaining. Carson’s defense forced four turnovers, including interceptions by Sherman Smith and Tucker Nichols.

Bell had an 80-yard scoring run and Smith had a 70-yarder, as Carson’s offensive line of Clayton Greene, Jon Acosta, Garrett Clampitt, Carl Cavner and Cole Ashton paved the way for 250 rushing yards. Menzel’s scoring runs were 20 and 2 yards, respectively.

VOLLEYBALL

Muckers sweep Pyramid

Chelsea Nevin had 10 kills, 19 assists and seven digs to lead visiting Virginia City to an easy 25-6, 25-13 and 25-12 victory over Pyramid Lake Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both schools.

VC improved to 14-2 and won its third regular-season title under Dennis Young. The Muckers shared the title with Smith Valley, but have the No. 1 post-season seed. The 1A tournament is next Friday and Saturday at Elko High School.

Bethany Fuller had nine kills, six digs and three aces, Kaitlin Hames added 12 digs and three kills, Emily Heinz added four digs, 10 assists, two blocks, seven kills and two aces, and Kim Tlapa chipped in 22 digs and four aces.