Nevada Middle School Sprints Preview: Outdoor 2026
Nevada's middle school sprint group enters the 2026 outdoor season with a strong mix of returning leaders and developing depth. Let's take a look at some of the front-runners and burgeoning talent behind them as the season begins.
Boys Sprints Overview
In the 100m, Ian Kim (North Tahoe High) and Andrew Smith (Wells) return at the top of the 2030 group after running 12.31 and 12.33 respectively. Both already showed the ability to compete at a high level in championship settings, and they enter the season with very little separating them. Just behind them, Gabe Watkins (Incline High School), Asa Sturtevant (Doral Academy of Northern Nevada), Mason Love (Unattached - NV), Eli Wagner (Sage Ridge School), and Miles Riedel (Alder Creek Middle School) all return under 12.90, giving the event a solid and tightly packed second tier.
The returning 7th graders add even more strength to that event. Gizmo Pierce (Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School) returns with the fastest mark across both classes at 12.19, while Kai Sapp (Faith Lutheran High School) and Zahkai Fraizer (Mater Academy East Las Vegas) both return under 12.70.
The 200m may be one of the more competitive sprint events on the boys side with top marks spread across a range of athletes without a huge amount of separation. In the older group, Timothy Wu (Billinghurst) returns at 26.75, followed closely by Rowen Killingsworth (South Tahoe High School) at 26.78, and Andrew Smith at 26.82. Thomas Henderson (Swope MS), Eli Wagner, Asa Sturtevant, and Forrest Hansen (Doral Academy of Northern Nevada) all shortly thereafter.
For the Class of 2031, Gizmo Pierce is again the top returner at 26.20, while Zahkai Fraizer (26.36) and Kai Sapp (26.98) give the event a strong younger front group. Tre Mbamalu (Quest Academy), Bryce Parsons (Doral Academy of Northern Nevada), and Rylan Piro (Lake Tahoe School) also return with solid marks.
In the Class of 2030 400m ranks, Jack Fritz (Faith Lutheran High School) leads the way at 59.83, followed by Levi Davis (Carson High School) at 1:00.06, Jack Feikes (The Meadows) at 1:00.32, and Forrest Hansen at 1:00.41.
The younger boys add even more quality in the long sprint events. Tre Mbamalu leads that group at 59.23, while Zahkai Fraizer (1:00.65), Bryce Parsons (1:01.93), and Rylan Piro (1:03.18) all return with competitive marks. Rylan Piro in particular stands out as one of the more versatile returning boys after contributing across the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
Girls Sprints Overview
On the girls side, the top of the sprint group is defined by a combination of front-end speed and event versatility. Hannah Hill (North Tahoe High / Lake Tahoe Track Club) enters the season as the top returning 100m and 200m athlete after running 12.91 and 27.09.
She is joined, however, by plenty of athletes who should keep things competitive. In the 100m, Emily Caravella (The Alexander Dawson School) returns at 13.09, while Taya Noble (Marce Herz), Gwen Walker (South Tahoe High School), Zoe Zachary (South Tahoe High School), Nahla Fuller (Coral Academy of Science - Centennial Hills), and Nevaeh Cody (Somerset Aliante) all return under 13.75.
Among the 7th grade returners, Anna Ganong-Krawczuk (Alder Creek Middle School) stands out after running 13.03 in the 100m and 29.82 in the 200m. That 100m mark puts her very close to the top of the statewide conversation entering 2026. Malia McDuffie (Doral Academy Pebble), Logan Peek (Doral Academy of Northern Nevada), and Emma Rodriguez (Eagle Valley MS) also return with strong 100m credentials.
The 200m is extremely well balanced. The aforementioned Hannah Hill and Emily Caravella again lead the way, but Sophi Madrid (Marce Herz), Nahla Fuller, and Mackenzie Maypark (Marce Herz) all return with competitive marks as well. Paisley Pajarito (Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon), Zoe Zachary, and Niana Claudio (Slam Academy) add depth through the upper-29 range.
For the Class of 2031: Logan Peek enters at 28.81, while Skylar Alessandra (Pinecrest Academy of Northern Nevada), Savannah Denson (Somerset Aliante), and Ayotomide Okunola (Excel Christian) all return under 30 seconds.
The 400m is one of the stronger overall events for the girls with several athletes bringing proven sprint range and crossover potential from other disciplines. Mara Litchfield (Lake Tahoe Track Club) leads the returning list at 1:01.37, though she was also a major figure in the distance events. Behind her, Dylan Dubach (Doral Academy of Northern Nevada), Emily Caravella, and Taya Noble all return within a narrow band from 1:03.87 to 1:04.68, giving the event a strong top tier.
For the younger returners, Emma Rodriguez returns with the top mark at 1:04.28, while Imani Jenkins (Somerset Academy Skye Canyon) and Madison Lauer (Virginia City) also enter with competitive marks.
Boys Hurdles Overview
Jacob Harker (Rosemary Clarke MS) leads the returning 110m hurdles field at 20.65, with Tyree Butler (Rosemary Clarke MS) close behind at 21.19. Sam Griffin (Lund High School) also returns in that front group after running 21.34, while Silas Borer (Las Vegas Day School) and Brayden Halstead (Lund High School) both return under 22.20.
Girls Hurdles Overview
Ava Takeuchi (Pantera TC), a remarkably well-rounded athlete, leads the listed 100m hurdles returners at 17.12, while Ashlyn Johnson (Churchill County High School), Xavia Dini (Yerington High School), and J'nessa Reyes (Yerington High School) all return under 19.70. Further back, athletes like Mazie Rosenlud (Lund High School), Demmi Valencia (White Pine County), and Evelyn Coffee (Las Vegas Day School) help add useful depth.
Among the younger returners, Amelia Royan (Las Vegas Day School) is the top returning hurdler for the Class of 2031 after running 21.07, while Ashlynn Griffin (Lund High School) and Aliana Aleman (Battle Mountain) also return with competitive marks.
Outlook
Nevada's middle school sprint events enter 2026 with a relatively clear structure: a handful of proven event leaders at the top, followed by several tightly packed groups across the 100m, 200m, and 400m.
On the boys side, the sprint conversation is anchored by returning all-around strength and a particularly interesting younger class. On the girls side, the short sprints look especially competitive, while the 400m may offer some of the best overall balance in the state.
The hurdles events are less established overall, which is common for an event group with such an emphasis on time-honed technique, but both sides return enough talent to make those races worth following as the season develops.