CARSON CITY - The Lowry High School track and field team closed out its season this past weekend at the NIAA State Track and Field Championships at Carson High School in Carson City.
Perfect weather greeted the athletes for both days in the capitol city.
Freshman Kenadee Jeppsen led the way for the Buckaroos over the two days, finishing second in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 1 inch. That is a career-best mark for Jeppsen. She tied with Faith Lutheran's Cayla Nikodemus, but the Crusader jumper won the title, by missing fewer jumps. Jeppsen was the only northern jumper in the top five, as Faith Lutheran's Cryanna Neagle (5-0) and Case Leonard (4-10) were third and fourth, respectively. Brittany Veal of Sunrise Mountain was fifth.
Senior Rachel Sigurdson placed third in the pole vault with a mark of 9-0. Elko's Vivian Neff won the state title, as she cleared 10-0 and Virgin Valley's Taylor Bryant was second at 9-9.
Freshman Madison Montero, who was taking part in her first state meet, was eighth in the pole vault at 8-0.
The Lady Bucks 4x100 relay of Auri Criddle, Monique Rodriguez, Audrey Snow and Montero finished fourth in a time of 50.835 seconds, as the top four teams were neck and neck at the finish line. Cheyenne won the race at 50.512, Desert Pines was second at 50.515 and Pahrump Valley (50.831) was third.
The 4x200 relay of Criddle, Meg Montero, Jillian Albright and Madison Montero were sixth in a time of 1:47.90. Cheyenne won the title at 1:44.49, which was a new Division I-A state record. Spring Creek was second at 1:45.50.
As a team, the Lowry girls were 12th out of 20 teams with 23 points. Faith Lutheran won the state title for a second consecutive season with 134 points. Truckee was second with 87 points. Spring Creek (66), Sunrise Mountain (59) and Pahrump Valley (42) rounded out the top five.
Senior Sergio Castaneda paced the Buckaroo boys, finishing third in the shot put with a throw of 47-4. Dayton's Joshua Koch won the event with a toss of 55-2.75. Dayton's Zachary Hawley was second at 52-0. Boulder City's Andrew Sands (47-2) and Jack Rozycki (45-6.75) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
In addition, Castaneda placed sixth in the discus, held Saturday morning with a mark of 136-9. Koch led the way in the discus as well with a toss of 164-8 and Hawley was second at 148-9. Faith Lutheran's Keith Nagel (144-2), Boulder City's Samuel Gomez (141-10) and Churchill County's Josh Mauga (139-6) rounded out the top five.
Roberto Sanchez placed seventh for the Buckaroos in the high jump with a mark of 6-0. The junior tied with three other competitors at 6-0 but was seventh after going through the tiebreakers on jumps. Dayton's Benji Ply won the event at 6-7 and Elko's Kyrin Allen was second at 6-3.
Dayton won the boys team championship with 100 points. Faith Lutheran was second at 84 and Desert Pines (79) was third. Sunrise Mountain (73) and Elko (64) completed the top five. The Buckaroos were 15th with 11 points.
Contact Tony Erquiaga at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.[[In-content Ad]]
