Carson's Ben Granados explodes out of the starting blocks Saturday during the 4A boys 200-meter dash.
Sierra Lutheran started Saturday at the NIAA State Track & Field Championships with a season-best performance in the 3200 relay, and that catapulted the Falcons to a second-place finish among 1A schools.
The Falcons scored 116 points, far behind champion Spring Mountain’s total of 209.
The quartet of sophomore Caleb Contreras, freshman Andreas Gilson, sophomore Teagan Hansen and junior Jared Marchegger ran an impressive 8:46.58. It was the fifth-fastest time in school history, and bodes well for next season when everybody is coming back.
The Falcons’ 800 relay quartet of Grant Goins, John Miles, Shawn Emm and Johannes Lamprecht ran a school-record 1:35.67, breaking the old mark of 1:35.85 set by Bradley Goins, Jonny Harms, Kody Miller and Justin Newcomb back in 2012.
The only other Falcons’ win on Saturday came from discus thrower Bret Walker, who popped a throw of 151-feet 8-inches to easily win the event by nearly 30 feet over Eureka’s Tristin Birchim (122-0).
Marchegger came back after the relay to finish second in the 1600, as he got outleaned by Beatty’s Jose Granados, who was timed in 4:36.62 compared to Marchegger’s 4:36.65.
Marchegger ended up the two-day meet with a relay win and a win in the 3200. He was nosed by Granados in the 800 and 1600, settling for second in both races.
“I was expecting a tough race, and that’s what I got,” Marchegger said. “I can’t be mad. That was a good race. I’m extremely happy (about the weekend). I shaved four seconds off my 800 time.”
It makes for another year of a great rivalry. Marchegger has already made it known he has an eye on his fourth straight 3200 title.
Hansen, who ran with the leaders the bulk of the race, PRd with a 4:44.89. The slightly built sophomore will be a force to be reckoned with the next two years, especially if he can get bigger and stronger
Lamprecht finished third in the high jump with a mark of 5-10.
3A: Delfin finishes second
Dayton senior David Delfin made his first state meet a worthwhile experience.
Delfin, who PRd with a 144-10 at the regional meet, uncorked a throw of 142-10 to finish second to Pahrump Valley’s Jeremy Albertson (160-7). Delfin medaled on his second throw of the day.
It was Delfin’s second-best throw of the season.
“I’m very happy,” Delfin said. “It was a great way to end my senior year. It was fun, nerve-racking and exciting.”
“David had a great season,” Dayton coach David Palmer said. “He made tremendous improvement (during his career).
Delfin just missed qualifying for state last year, finishing fourth at regionals.
4A: Granados PRs, places 5th
Carson High’s Ben Granados capped an outstanding junior season with a PR in the 200.
Granados was timed in 22.79, clipping .02 off his previous best. He was the only CHS athlete in action on Saturday.
NOTES
Randall Cunningham was in attendance this weekend, as his youngest daughter, Grace, won the high jump with a mark of 5-4. Cunningham is a freshman at Silverado … Bishop Gorman and Centennial went 1-2 in the 4A team standings …There was some sort of mixup and Daniel Horner ran his 1600 solo. He ran a 4:35.52, finishing fifth and one spot away from a medal.
