Nevada Outdoor Track & Field: Top Performers of 2026

May 27, 2026

Nevada Outdoor Track & Field: Top Performers of 2026

Nevada athletes have produced one of the deepest and most balanced seasons in recent history, with elite marks coming from every corner of the state across sprinting, distance events, hurdles, relays, and the field. Standout performances from meets like the NIAA State Championships, Arcadia Invitational, Stanford Invitational, Mt. SAC Relays, Sacramento Meet of Champions, and regional championships highlighted a spring filled with breakthrough performances and nationally competitive marks.

Sprints

The boys 100 meters was one of the most competitive events in the state all season. Jayden Patton (Mojave) led Nevada with a wind-legal 10.53 from his victory at the 2026 Skyhawk Invitational, while Brayden Vierra-Gonzalez (Desert Oasis) clocked 10.55 to win the NIAA 5A Southern Region title. Freshman Jermari Arnold (Liberty) added a strong 10.63 regional runner-up finish, while freshman Brayley Manning (Bishop Gorman) impressed with a 10.65 at the same championship meet.

In the girls sprints, several Nevada stars continued to lower their marks throughout championship season. Bre'lynn Johnson (Bishop Gorman) emerged as one of the state's top young sprinters after running 12.10 during the NIAA 5A Southern Region meet before later adding a state title. Samantha Lientz (Coral Academy - Reno) produced a 12.68 victory at the NIAA 2A Northern Region Championships, while Nakyma Pritchett (Legacy) and Azariah Marshall (Canyon Springs) also remained among Nevada's fastest all season.

The boys 200 meters featured another showdown between Nevada's elite sprinters. Patton returned to dominate the NIAA 4A State Championships with a winning 21.10, while Vierra-Gonzalez captured the 5A Southern Region crown in 21.33. Sophomore Nehemiah Dunlap-Myvett (Centennial) added a huge 21.35 regional runner-up performance, and Kenneth Ware (Somerset Academy Losee) posted a 21.36 regional title-winning effort in 4A Desert Region competition.

On the girls side, Nevada athletes continued producing major improvements in the 200m throughout postseason competition. Johnson doubled back with one of the state's leading 200-meter marks during regional competition, while Marshall added a strong runner up championship performance behind state-leading Jessica Davis (Canyon Springs) whose 23.73 mark won her the 4A Desert Region title.

The boys 400 meters produced some of the state's best postseason racing. Dannon Martin (Liberty) won the NIAA 5A State Championship in a state-leading 47.21 before later returning with a 1:51.61 in the 800. Sophomore Dilyn King (Basic) won the NIAA 4A state title in 48.44, while Octaviann Cordova (Elko) captured the 3A Northern Region crown in 48.33. Liberty freshman Arnold again showed remarkable range by running 48.54 during the 5A Southern Region final.

Nevada girls also produced major performances in the quarter-mile this spring, especially during state championship competition where several athletes delivered season bests under pressure. Cianna Beals (Mojave) was the only girl to break 56 this season, with her 4A State Championship title time of 55.86. Davis proved her worth in the 400 as well, finishing just behind Beals in the tight state championship race in a time of 56.16.

Distance Events

The boys 800 meters featured elite depth from top to bottom. Brady Anderson (Faith Lutheran) led the state with a 1:51.07 victory at the Heitkotter Invitational and later added the state's fastest 1600 at 4:10.00 to win the NIAA 5A Southern Region title. Martin continued his outstanding postseason by winning the 5A state title in 1:51.61, while sophomore Shane Ramirez (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe) emerged with a huge 1:52.67 regional performance.

Gioia Coudriet (Galena) emerged as the state leader in multiple events, running 4:54.48 to win the Sacramento Meet of Champions 1600m title before dropping a huge 10:27.28 for second at the Arcadia Invitational in the 3200m. She later captured the NIAA 5A state title in the 800m in 2:14.03, completing one of the strongest all-around distance campaigns in the state.

Nevada's distance depth was especially apparent in the 800m, where freshman phenom Belle Parrel (Centennial) blasted 2:13.65 to win the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays title against elite national competition. The event also featured strong championship performances from Stella Lin (Coronado) at 2:14.54 for the NIAA 5A Southern Region crown, while Brooke-Lynne Miller (Coronado) clocked 2:14.44 and Elynn Okuda (Shadow Ridge) added a 2:14.75 regional medal effort.

The 1600m and 3200m groups were equally loaded. Brooke-Lynne Miller ran 4:56.32 to win the Skyhawk Invitational before later producing a strong 10:41.57 victory at the Trabuco Hills Invitational 3200m. Aislin McMahon (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe) delivered a breakout season that included 5:01.81 at Mt. SAC and 10:44.56 for fifth at Arcadia, while freshman Lucia Avril (North Tahoe) impressed with a 5:10.90 NIAA 2A state title and 10:55.68 Sacramento Meet of Champions victory. Sophomore Sophia Weisz (Faith Lutheran) also consistently delivered high-end marks, including 5:00.89 at the Tiger Invitational and 11:32.42 at Chandler Rotary.

The boys 1600 was dominated by Nevada's elite distance programs. Anderson's 4:10.00 regional title led the state, while David Coisson (Galena) ran 4:12.34 against a loaded field at Stanford. Sophomore Sawyer Hutton (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe) delivered one of the year's biggest breakthroughs with a 4:13.44 at Mt. SAC, and Hunter Steele (Galena) added a strong 4:15.68 at Stanford.

The boys 3200 produced nationally competitive times throughout the season. Calvin Rivera (Centennial) ran a state-leading 9:05.36 at Arcadia, narrowly ahead of sophomore Maseco Colombant (Reno) at 9:05.44. Hutton added another elite effort with a 9:05.88 at the Hi-Racer Meet of Champions, while Coisson and Zachary Folen (Reno) both dipped well under 9:16 during major California invitationals.

Hurdles

Nevada hurdlers delivered some of their best marks during championship season. In the boys 110 hurdles, Elyjah Cobwell (Green Valley) led the state with a 14.55 regional championship effort, while Christian Kai (Arbor View) and Cordova both broke 14.70 during strong postseason races. Freshman Patton continued his incredible all-around campaign by clocking 14.82 to win the NIAA 4A Mountain Region title.

The boys 300 hurdles featured one of the strongest groups in Nevada this spring. Cordova's 37.86 regional championship performance led the state, while Cobwell ran 38.72 to win the Skyhawk Invitational. Sophomore Ashton Hickman (Moapa Valley) impressed with a 38.93 regional title, while Patton added another elite mark with a 39.40 regional victory.

Girls hurdle events also featured several standout postseason performances, with athletes delivering breakthrough races at regional and state championships throughout May.

Raionna Carter (Liberty) led the 100m hurdles at 14.47 to win the NIAA 5A Southern Region title, barely ahead of Derriah Wren (Mojave) at 14.48, who later added a strong 45.23 in the 300m hurdles. The 300m hurdles became one of the state's deepest events thanks to Coronado's trio of Jiselle Dudley (42.50), Lola Kelley (43.89), and Ahtziri Gadzuric (44.07), all produced during the NIAA 5A Southern Region final.

Relays

Nevada relay teams thrived during championship season, especially in the sprint relays.

Desert Oasis led the boys 4x100 rankings with a 41.36 victory at the NIAA 5A Southern Region Championships, narrowly ahead of Centennial at 41.41. Basic later captured the NIAA 4A state title in 41.61, while Liberty impressed nationally with a 41.75 at the Oregon Relays.

The boys 4x200 saw Basic run a state-leading 1:25.43 to win the 4A state championship, while Somerset Academy Losee and Desert Oasis also dipped under 1:26.1 during postseason competition.

In the boys 4x400, Liberty ran 3:17.24 to win the 5A Southern Region title before Shadow Ridge later captured the NIAA 5A state championship in 3:18.42. Legacy and Faith Lutheran also posted excellent regional marks under 3:20.

Distance relays were highlighted by powerhouse northern Nevada programs. Galena led the boys 4x800 rankings at 7:45.85 from the Northwest Invite, while Centennial, Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, and Reno all posted outstanding state championship performances.

Girls relay teams also excelled throughout championship season, with several programs producing major performances at both the regional and state level across sprint and distance relays.

Canyon Springs led the girls 4x100m at 46.37 with a victory at the Tiger Invitational in California, while Centennial and Coronado both dipped under 1:39 in the 4x200m during the ultra-competitive NIAA 5A Southern Region Championships. Northern Nevada programs dominated the 4x400m rankings, led by Galena's state-leading 3:45.27 at the Northwest Invite.

Relay depth across the distance events also stood out. Coronado led the 4x800m rankings at 9:26.18 with their regional championship performance, while Centennial answered with a 9:27.28 victory at the NIAA 5A State Championship. Shadow Ridge posted an impressive 9:29.92 runner-up finish at Mt. SAC Relays against elite out-of-state competition, reinforcing Nevada's growing national presence in the girls distance events.

Throws

The boys throwing events produced some of the most nationally relevant marks in Nevada history.

Kayden Hulet (Debbie Smith) dominated the throws all season, leading the state in both shot put and discus. Hulet threw 58-5.75 to win the Reed Reno Running Company Invitational before unleashing a massive 209-1 discus throw at the Northwest Invite - one of the top marks in the country this year.

In the shot put, Isaiah Blinkinsop (Spanish Springs) threw 57-4.5 to win the NIAA 5A state title, while freshman David Ross (Shadow Ridge) impressed with a 54-1.5 runner-up finish at state. Sophomore Brodyn Brown (Bishop Gorman) added a huge 52-5 regional mark during postseason competition.

The discus featured excellent depth behind Hulet. Mykal Arnold (Desert Oasis) reached 173-9, while sophomore Jordyn Montgomery (Damonte Ranch) threw 163-4 to place second at the NIAA 5A State Championships.

Girls throwers also continued producing major improvements throughout the season, especially during regional and state competition where several athletes delivered personal best performances under championship pressure.

Sophomore Nneka Ebonka (Arbor View) emerged as one of the nation's top young throwers, winning the NIAA 5A State shot put title at 40-3 while also leading Nevada in the discus at 136-1. The shot put saw tight competition though as Kaliyah Guillory (Eldorado) led the state this season with her throw of 40-4 coming out of the Shadow Ridge Weekday meet.

Behind Ebonka, Tallulah Berckley (The Meadows) emerged as a major force at invitational level, throwing 132-10 to win the discus at the Las Vegas Track Classic. Kennedy Wilkins (Damonte Ranch) also put together a strong season, reaching 132-7 at the Northwest Invite, a performance that placed her among the most consistent northern Nevada throwers across the spring.

Jumps

The jumps produced elite marks across multiple disciplines.

In the boys long jump, freshman Thomas Durr (Legacy) soared 23-5 early in the season at the Centennial Newcomers Meet to lead the state. Azavier Mekhi McDaniel (Bishop Gorman) later won the NIAA 5A state title with a 23-3 leap, while GianCarlo Crovetto (Green Valley) added a 23-2.5 regional championship mark.

Crovetto became one of Nevada's premier all-around field athletes after producing a state-leading 48-2.5 triple jump at the Arcadia Invitational. Noah Steenkamp (Coronado) added a 46-4 regional title, while Devin-Kai Odinas (Desert Oasis) won his section of Arcadia with a 45-4.5 jump against elite national competition.

The high jump was led by Shane Stewart (Damonte Ranch), who cleared 7-0 to win the John Barsanti Farmers Insurance Elite Invitational. Brent Kenison (Lowry) later added a 6-10 clearance during his regional title performance.

In the pole vault, Luke Juden (Shadow Ridge) led Nevada at 15-6 after winning the Shadow Ridge Weekday meet. Kenison again starred with a 15-1 regional championship vault, while several athletes cleared 14 feet during postseason competition, highlighting the depth of the event statewide.

On the girls side, Ashley Galvis (Amplus Academy) delivered the state's top triple jump at 41-1.5 to win the NIAA 4A state title, while Aniyah Burress (Legacy) added a 5A championship leap of 40-9.5.

The jumps produced impressive all-around versatility as well. Alyssa Dixon (Galena) not only ran 11.59, 24.22, and 56.82 across the sprint events, but also led Nevada in the long jump at 19-0. Mackenzie Sellers (Reno) captured the state's top pole vault clearance at 13-3 during her NIAA 5A state title performance, while sophomore Harper Westfall (Bishop Manogue) contributed standout marks in both the hurdles and pole vault.

Overview

The 2026 Nevada track and field season featured strong performances across both boys and girls competition, with standout marks coming in sprints, distance, hurdles, relays, and field events throughout the year. Looking ahead, many of Nevada's top athletes will transition into national-level meets and summer competition, where they'll look to convert strong state-season performances into marks that compete on a broader national stage.