Nevada Middle School Track & Field: May 18-24 Highlights

Nevada middle school athletes continued producing strong championship-season performances at the Sagebrush League: Dayton Hex Meet.

Sprints & Hurdles

Sprint competition remained highly competitive throughout the meet, particularly on the boys side where the 100-meter dash featured a tightly packed field behind Isaac Talbot (Yerington High School), who led all competitors with a winning 12.06 performance. Just 0.15 separated second through fifth as Anderson Wintgens (Silverland Middle School) ran 12.92, narrowly ahead of Jaydon Smith (Yerington High School) at 12.97, Jack Willey (Churchill County High School) at 13.05, and Carter Kelly (Smith Valley) at 13.07.

Several boys also posted major breakthroughs in the sprints. Smith delivered one of the biggest improvements of the week by dropping from 13.74 to 12.97, while Damien Holtzer (Silver Stage High School) improved from 14.92 to 14.16. Wintgens also dipped under 13 seconds for the first time after lowering his best from 13.03 to 12.92.

The girls 100 meters featured another elite performance from Romie I (Coral Academy - Reno), who lowered her personal best from 13.25 to 13.16 to lead the state rankings for the week. Behind her, Xavia Dini (Yerington High School) and Audrey Thomas (Pershing County) battled closely in 13.82 and 13.85 respectively, while J'nessa Reyes (Yerington High School) followed at 14.03.

Additional girls sprint breakthroughs also emerged throughout the meet. Jolyne Craig (Dayton High School) dropped from 15.71 to 15.34, while Ryan Ali-an (Churchill County High School) improved to 15.22. Fabiola Martinez (Fernley High School) also lowered her best to 15.57.

The boys 400 meters featured another close race as Dominic Lacour (Silver Stage High School) led the field in 1:00.87, narrowly ahead of Xavier Valencia (Dayton High School) at 1:02.18 and Smith at 1:02.28. Talbot and Wintgens also remained close behind in 1:03.53 and 1:03.64 respectively.

Several athletes also saw major improvements in the boys 400. Gerardo Ramirez (Pershing County) dropped more than six seconds to 1:12.21, while Frade David (Smith Valley) improved by nearly five seconds to 1:07.16.

On the girls side, Audrey Thomas (Pershing County) controlled the 400 meters in 1:07.66 ahead of a tightly-grouped chase pack led by Romie I at 1:10.93 and Callie Pimpl (Coral Academy - Reno) at 1:11.42. Mary McBride (Pershing County) also delivered a breakthrough performance after dropping over four seconds to 1:20.54.

The hurdle races were among the deepest events of the week. In the boys 110 hurdles, just 1.14 separated the top five finishers as Jack Willey (Churchill County High School) edged Frade David (Smith Valley) 18.70 to 18.98. Xavier Valencia (Dayton High School) followed closely in 19.33 ahead of Lacour and Kelly.

The girls hurdles featured another elite showing from Dini, who lowered her personal best from 18.28 to 17.71 to win a highly competitive final. Ashlyn Johnson (Churchill County High School) followed in 18.08, while Reyes clocked 18.40 and Romie I added another strong mark at 18.89.

Several hurdlers also delivered dramatic breakthroughs. Mary McBride (Pershing County) dropped nearly a full second to 21.07, while Callie Pimpl (Coral Academy - Reno) improved to 21.13 and Alese Haas (Silverland Middle School) lowered her best to 21.06. 

Throws

The boys shot put was led by another standout effort from Talbot, who launched 36-11.5 to secure the victory. Bryce Rietz (Pershing County) followed at 33-11.75, narrowly ahead of Carter Kelly at 33-1.5 in another competitive series.

The girls throws featured several close contests as Olivia Picotte (Yerington High School) topped the shot put standings with a 23-11.75 mark, narrowly ahead of Dini at 22-10 and Audrey Thomas at 22-2.75. 

Several girls throwers also posted major personal bests. Audrey Thomas (Pershing County) improved by more than three feet in the shot put, while Zoey Prokosch (Coral Academy - Reno) surpassed 20 feet for the first time after a two-foot improvement. Aiyana Hartman (Dayton High School) and Gracie Williams (Silver Stage High School) also posted strong gains.

Jumps

Talbot continued his dominant all-around performance in the boys field events by winning the high jump at 4-11.75. The competition behind him was exceptionally tight as five athletes tied for second at 4-9.75, including Cayson Lacow (Churchill County High School), Mason Hurt (Yerington High School), Xavier Valencia, Zander Robinson (Fernley High School), and Jack Willey.

Valencia also posted a notable personal best after improving from 4-8 to 4-9.75.

The girls high jump featured one of the top marks of the meet as Alese Haas cleared 4-7.75 for the victory. Xavia Dini followed at 4-3.75, while Ashlyn Johnson and J'nessa Reyes both cleared 4-2 in another closely contested competition.

Several athletes also delivered strong improvements in the event. Johnson improved two inches to 4-2, while Valencia Evans (Dayton High School) and Mary McBride also added two inches to their personal bests.

Overview