Carson's Ben Granados (far left) competes in the boy's 100-meters event at the NIAA State Championships Friday at the Jim Frank Track and Field Complex.
Abigail Pradere was a lock to medal last year in Las Vegas, but was hit with flu-like symptoms the night before competition, and wasn’t a factor in any of her races.
Pradere appears to be healthy, and she’s coming off two strong regional performances last weekend, and that makes her a good bet to challenge for championships in both the 800 and 1600 races when the NIAA State Track & Field Championships get underway Friday at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex at Carson High School.
“It started after the regional meet and just got worse,” Pradere said after practice on Tuesday. “I was coughing (all the time) and I didn’t get any sleep. I just caught something and I couldn’t fight it off.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend. I feel I’m really in good shape.”
In the 800, Pradere (2:17.36) comes in with the second-fastest qualifying time behind Sarriah Brown of Sierra Vista, who ran a 2:16.12 last weekend to knock off Centennial’s Alex Gourrier, who ran a 2:17.92. Bishop Manogue’s Rosie Linkus finished .19 behind Pradere last weekend.
Linkus was just a few steps behind Pradere for the final 300 meters, but she was never able to gain ground. Pradere expects another tough race, not only from Linkus, but from the rest of the talented field.
“When she beat me at Arcadia, she had a fast last 200,” Pradere said. “I expect her to do the same thing.”
In the 1600, Pradere comes in with the fastest qualifying time at 5:03.85, which is well ahead of Coronado’s Erin Shannon (5:16.02) and Emilia Puskas of Bishop Gorman (5:11.91). Don’t count out Raquel Chavez of Basic, who ran a 5:17.98 last weekend. Manogue’s Hannah Covington has a sub-5-minute best this year, the only runner in the north to accomplish that feat.
Pradere took the lead last week seconds into the final lap, and showed a lot of strength in knocking off Covington.
“Everybody can race,” said Pradere, who hopes to break the 5-minute mark. “There is always something that kept me from going (like that). Sometimes I don’t believe that I can run faster. I did that for me to prove that I had something left.”
Pradere’s Carson teammates — Ben Granados (100 and 200), Hunter Rauh (800) and Alyssa Rowe (shot put) — are also eagerly looking forward to the weekend.
Rowe, who PRd last weekend with a throw of 38-7 1/4, is seeded second behind Liberty’s Aaliyah Soa, who PRd last weekend at the Sunrise Regional meet with a throw of 41-8 1/2. Rowe has had back-to-back PRs, and she’s looking to break 40-feet this weekend.
Rauh is coming off a second-place finish, and he’s in a fast final with Coronado’s Thomas Dougherty, who PRd last week with a 1:57.64 and Green Valley’s Martin Nelson (1:59.55).
Centennial’s Noah Harris (1:59.53), Arbor View’s Keith Williams (1:59.54) and Sierra Vista’s Jordan Clayton (1:59.72) have all eclipsed the 2-minute mark.
Granados said he needs to get in the low-to-mid 22s this weekend in the 200, which is his best event. His 11.13 in the 100 last week was a PR, but there are five runners in the 10s.
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Sierra Lutheran’s Jared Marchegger is back to defend his 1600 and 3200 titles, and he also has the fastest qualifying time in the 800 at 2:06.67. Marchegger has run 10:20.90 in the 3200 and qualified last week with a 4:44.62.
Marchegger is expected to be challenged in the 800 and 1600 by Beatty’s Jose Granados. The Beatty standout qualified with a 4:40.32. Granados ran a 2:06.86 in the 800 last week.
Peyton Hedwall and teammate Bret Walker are 1-2 in the shot put, and Walker PRd last week in the discus with a 148, and he’s the favorite.
On the girls side, Rachel Hall is favored in both hurdle events, and Taylor Davison (1600) and Emily McNeely (3200) are favored in their specialties.
