LAS VEGAS - The Lowry High School track and field team closed out its season this past weekend at the NIAA State Track and Field Championships at Silverado High School in Las Vegas.
Windy conditions greeted the athletes on Friday's opening day, while temperatures hovered around 85-90 degrees.
Senior Cody Andersen led the way for the Buckaroos over the two days, finishing fourth in the discus with a throw of 134 feet, 6 inches. Chaparral's William Hernandez won the event with a toss of 167-6. Boulder City's Christian Nielsen was second at 137-4 and Dayton's Justin Koch was fourth with a throw of 134-8, just two inches better than Andersen.
In addition, Andersen placed seventh in the shot put, held on Friday evening, with a mark of 43-11.50. Hernandez led the way with a toss of 54-4.75 and Koch was second at 50-7.50. Cheyenne's Victor Magana (46-10.25), Sunrise Mountain's Jesus Pena (46-1.75) and Dayton's Josh Joyner (45-8.25) rounded out the top five.
Fellow senior Taylor Martin finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 130-2, while teammate Sergio Castaneda was sixth in the discus at 127-3. The Buckaroos were the only school to have three competitors in the event. Castaneda also took part in the shot put and placed sixth with a mark of 44-8.75.
Senior Raven Black tied for sixth in the high jump, as she cleared the bar at 4-8. Chaparral's Sierra Hammer also cleared 4-8. Dayton's Madison Foley won the state title with a mark of 5-2, while Faith Lutheran's Cayla Nikodemus was second at 5-0. Virgin Valley's Taylor Bryant was third at 4-10 and Pahrump Valley's Mikayla Davis and Churchill County's Julianne Hale tied for fourth also at 4-10.
Rachel Sigurdson finished seventh in the pole vault, clearing 8-06. Elko's Vivian Neff won at 10-0 and Virgin Valley's Karson Bryant was second at 9-3.
Senior Alex Schirrick finished seventh in the 100-meter dash for a second consecutive season. Schirrick timed in at 13.53 seconds, while Faith Lutheran's Clarissa Maxey won with a time of 12.33. Cheyenne's Jasper Gray (12.581) and Faith Lutheran's Nikodemus (12.584) were second and third, respectively.
Robert Stepper placed eighth for the Buckaroos in the high jump with a mark of 5-8. Chaparral's James Bryant led the way, clearing 6-4.
The girls 4x100 relay of Monique Rodriguez, Taylor LaTray, Auri Criddle and Schirrick were eighth in a time of 1:52.92. Cheyenne won with a time of 1:45.32, which was a new state record for Division I-A.
As a team, the Lowry girls were 15th out of 19 teams with 7.50 points. Faith Lutheran, who dropped to Division I-A this year, won the state title with 101 points. Pahrump Valley, who also dropped to Division I-A, was second with 99.50 points. Elko (82), Truckee (76) and Cheyenne (62) rounded out the top five.
Mojave, who moved down to Division I-A this year, won the boys team championship with 80.50 points. Churchill County, who had won the last two state championships, was second at 73. Chaparral (71), Desert Pines (59) and Faith Lutheran (49) completed the top five. The Buckaroos were 15th with eight points.[[In-content Ad]]
