LOVELOCK - Last Saturday's Fernley Invitational brought together track & field athletes from 16 schools, running the enrollment gamut from 1A Gabbs to 4A McQueen.
In conditions less windy than previous meets, head coach Dave McLean's squads continued to show improvement as they move deeper into the season.
Junior Carmen Rosas and senior Cassie Schneider each turned in personal-record times at 800 meters, the former covering the distance in 2:46.25 to place sixth and the latter in 2:58.24 to take 12th. Soon the two will form half of the 4 x 800 meter relay team, one that placed third at last year's state meet.
Schneider also improved on her previous best height in the pole vault, finishing fifth by clearing the bar at exactly 6 feet.
Sarita Jo Condie again made her presence well known as she finished as runner-up in three field events. The multi-faceted junior threw the discus (1 kg) exactly 105 feet, cleared four feet, 10 inches in the high jump and bounded 29-7 in the triple jump. In addition, she crossed the line in the 300-meter hurdles (30-inch) in 55.84 seconds, her fastest time of the spring.
Senior Leti Jimenez, gradually returning to form in the pole vault, cleared 6-6 to take third. Her time of 3:01.85 at 800 meters put her in 16th place.
Sophomore Ashley Montes covered 100 meters in15.59 to place 18th, then covered 200 meters in 33.35 for 17th. Freshman Alexis Rodriguez posted the same time at 100 meters, and took eighth in the long jump with a leap of 12-7. Senior Libby Rodriguez also competed at 100 meters, crossing the line in 16.22 to place 23rd.
Freshman Abby Bake, taking giant steps in the throwing events, posted two more personal records, heaving the discus 81-2 for sixth place and putting the shot (4 kg) 28-8 for seventh.
The 4 x 100 meter relay quartet of the las hermanas Rodriguez, Rosas and Montes lowered its time over the week, rounding the oval in 59.80 to finish sixth.
Dolph McLean, the defending state runner-up in the discus (1.6 kg), launched the pancake a personal-best distance of 130-5 to place second. The sophomore competed in the long jump for the first time this season, leaping 16-8½ for ninth. His triple jump of 35-10 tied for fifth and his 37-7 toss of the 12-pound shot put gave him 14th.
Senior Lucas Diarte, making hay after a year away, recorded another personal best in the discus with a throw of 119-3 to finish sixth. The elder statesman of the boys' unit also heaved the shot put 38-5, taking 13th.
Sophomore Andrew Dickerman trimmed meaningful time off his previous bests in both the 110-meter hurdles (39-inch) and 300-meter hurdles (36-inch), posting times of 20.18 (14th) and 49.45 (11th).
"He's getting better each day," reported McLean. "He's got the right attitude for it, keeping a level head."
Freshman Jesus Cruz turned in a personal-best throw of 32-3 in the shot put, while also hurling the discus 66-9 and sprinting 100 meters in 15.04.
Travis Gentry turned in his best times as a prep sprinter, running 100 meters in 14.08 and 200 in 27.70. The freshman also covered 14-2 in the long jump.
Freshman Camaron Scholl shaved nearly 10 seconds off his previous best at 1,600 meters, running the noble distance in 6:35.28.
Sophomores Morgus Cross, Nick Daigneault and Sitini Kauvaka were each disqualified, the former two in the long jump and the latter in both the shot put and discus.
The Dennler sisters, senior Claudia, junior Samantha and freshman Lindsay, did not compete, nor did sophomore Jacob Flores and frosh Allen Brinkerhoff and Eric Plimpton.
The teams have a "free" weekend in advance of a small meet hosted by Lowry on Tuesday, April 17, beginning at 4 p.m. The following Saturday, April 21, the athletes compete at the Dayton Invitational.
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