HENDERSON – Three years ago, Sierra Lutheran’s Elaina Marchegger was a talented equestrian athlete, who gave it up to run cross country and track.
It may have been the best decision she’s ever made in her young life.
Marchegger won her third straight state 1600 title Friday night, clocking a 5:40.30 at the NIAA State Meet at Foothill High School.
And, just for good measure, she ran the second leg on the Falcons’ winning 3200-relay team. It was Sierra Lutheran’s third straight win in that event. She will go for two individuals titles today – the 800 and 3200.
In the 1600, Marchegger was dogged by Eureka’s Katie Damele for about three quarters of the race before pulling away and winning by 13 seconds. Teammate Taylor Davison was third at 5:54.21.
“It’s insane,” she said, breathing heavily while she made her way to the podium. “I never would have predicted it (three straight titles). A 5:40 is what I ran last week. It’s not a PR, but that’s OK.
Marchegger admitted she struggled a bit during her two laps of the 3200 relay, but it didn’t make much difference. The Falcons, who took control early in the race, ran a 10:59.92, well ahead of Wells’ 11:13.15.
“They did a great job,” said head coach Steve Kubel. “They were also able to run under 11 minutes which is good.”
“Our strategy varies from race to race,” Clare Davison said. “I didn’t have another race today, so I went all out (to start). All the other girls had to race again, so they were conserving their energy for the individual races.”
Aleyna Gilson took second in the 400, barely losing to Whittell’s Anna White at the wire. White ran a 60.05 and Gilson was timed in 60.42. In the 200, Gilson ran a 27.67 to finish behind Mattie Johns of Smith Valley and Kathryn Haran of Sage Ridge.
The Falcons’ 800 relay team of Rosalie Antonucci, Abby Ferenz, Rachel Hall and Ciera Schinzing ran a 1:58.82 to place second in the 800-meter relay. Hall (100 hurdles), Ferenz (high jump) and Grace Bonafede (long jump) each placed third
4A: Pradere ill, finishes last in 1600
One could tell early on Carson sophomore Abby Pradere wasn’t right, and about halfway through the 1600, she was clearly in pain and dropped well in back of the pack. She finished last in 6:14.41.
“She had flu-like symptoms,” Carson coach Robert Maw said in a text. “It hit her Tuesday night. She wasn’t sleeping well; coughing and body aching.”
Pradere is supposed to run the 800 today and anchor the 1600 relay team
“She is going to try,” Maw said. “She will not want to quit, either. We will make the decision in the morning.”
Maw said if Pradere can’t run in the relay Rheanna Jackson would take her place.
3A: Dayton girls have success
Ashley Mason got off to a rocky start in the long jump with scratches on her first two attempts, but she bounced back nicely to finish second with a mark of 16-7 3/4. Fallon’s Whitney Skabelund went 17-3 3/4 to win the event.
“It (second) was good I guess,” Mason said. “I wasn’t worried at all (after the two scratches). I was just a little bit off the mark.”
Mason gets another chance to medal in an individual event when she takes part in the triple jump. She’s the current 3A state leader in that event.
“I want to break the school record,” said Mason, who went 35-9 1/2 last week to win the regional championship.
The Dust Devils’ team of Rebecca Mason, Sydney Strickler, Ashley Mason and Macie Callan clocked a PR of 1:48.30 to finish fourth and grab the last medal slot.
