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For 10 local track and field athletes, just two days stand between them and the State Championships: the trials on Thursday and the finals on Friday.
While Nevada Union will be well represented at the Sac-Joaquin Section masters meet, Kendal Nielsen will be the lone representative from Division III Section champion Bear River.
Due to a change in scoring procedures, Nielsen was the only Bruin athlete to score points for her team at the divisionals. A distance runner such as Bear River's Breanne Mitchell posted times that would have qualified her for masters under the scoring system of recent years.
“It seems unfair, not just to Breanne, but to a lot of other kids,”said Bear River track coach Chris Davis. “I looked at some of the marks from schools that came out of [Divisions IV and V], and I know some of our marks were better. It stings a little.”
So, while Mitchell and a host of other athletes will remain “on the outside looking in,” said Davis, Nielsen will represent her school at the masters in Sacramento.
To advance, she posted top marks in her division in the long jump, triple jump and 200-meter dash, securing the Bruins' division III title. She also will compete at the masters in the 100-meter dash, where she placed third in her division.
Nielsen injured her foot in the section championship last year, which forced her to withdraw from the competition but suffered no such fate this season.
“I think she's stronger,” said Davis. “As an older athlete and as someone who is serious about track and field, she's really taken care of herself. I'm confident that's going to pay off for her.”
At this point in the season, after practicing and competing in meets for months, training for the athletes becomes more about staying healthy and resting, said Nevada Union co-head coach Jamie Wise.
Though out on the field Tuesday for practice, the Miners will at most do some light conditioning today before Thursday's trials.
For junior Cheyenne Toney, she will know on Thursday whether she advanced to the state championships in one of her events. The trials and finals for the shot put will take place Thursday, while the discus trials and finals will take place Friday.
After winning the section championship in the discus throw, Toney will be ranked No. 3 at the masters. She is ranked No. 6 in the shot put.
“I'm really nervous, which is weird because I'm not usually nervous before a meet,” said Toney. “It would definitely be cool to make it to state. You don't see Nevada Union at state very often.”
Also looking for a trip to the state championships is Brock Kraus, who will compete at masters in two individual events and alongside his relay teammates, Devyn Grimes, Josiah Paye and Brandon Kishiyama, in the 4-by-100 meter relay.
While excited about his events, the 400-meter and the 200-meter dashes, Kraus said it is special to be able to race with the team.
“We weren't expected to make it,” he said. “But, we squeezed in. So much of track is individual events that it's nice to have a team atmosphere out there, too.”
Competing against Nielsen in the 100 and 200 dashes will be Miners senior Calynn Stanford. Stanford also tied for fourth in the high jump at the section championships and will be seeded No. 6 at the Masters.
Nielsen will have Nevada Union competition in the long jump from junior Natalie Migliozzi, who qualified for Masters in the 300-meter hurdles as well.
Simon Lambert will head to Masters as a No. 11 seed in the 3,200-meter run for the Miners, while Dominic Castro-Wehr will be the No. 11 seed in the 1,600-meter run.
“Dominic ran great and set a personal record, and Simon was amazing,” said Wise. “Cheyenne has a good shot at going to state, and everyone has an outside chance.”
Wise and Nevada Union co-head coach Jeff Dellis have tried to build the program around an atmosphere of fun, he said.
“As long as they go and compete and have fun, that's what's important,” said Wise. “If at the end of the season the majority of kids had fun, I think that's a success.”
The first events will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College.
To contact Sports Writer Anthony Barstow, e-mail abarstow@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4232.
While Nevada Union will be well represented at the Sac-Joaquin Section masters meet, Kendal Nielsen will be the lone representative from Division III Section champion Bear River.
Due to a change in scoring procedures, Nielsen was the only Bruin athlete to score points for her team at the divisionals. A distance runner such as Bear River's Breanne Mitchell posted times that would have qualified her for masters under the scoring system of recent years.
“It seems unfair, not just to Breanne, but to a lot of other kids,”said Bear River track coach Chris Davis. “I looked at some of the marks from schools that came out of [Divisions IV and V], and I know some of our marks were better. It stings a little.”
So, while Mitchell and a host of other athletes will remain “on the outside looking in,” said Davis, Nielsen will represent her school at the masters in Sacramento.
To advance, she posted top marks in her division in the long jump, triple jump and 200-meter dash, securing the Bruins' division III title. She also will compete at the masters in the 100-meter dash, where she placed third in her division.
Nielsen injured her foot in the section championship last year, which forced her to withdraw from the competition but suffered no such fate this season.
“I think she's stronger,” said Davis. “As an older athlete and as someone who is serious about track and field, she's really taken care of herself. I'm confident that's going to pay off for her.”
At this point in the season, after practicing and competing in meets for months, training for the athletes becomes more about staying healthy and resting, said Nevada Union co-head coach Jamie Wise.
Though out on the field Tuesday for practice, the Miners will at most do some light conditioning today before Thursday's trials.
For junior Cheyenne Toney, she will know on Thursday whether she advanced to the state championships in one of her events. The trials and finals for the shot put will take place Thursday, while the discus trials and finals will take place Friday.
After winning the section championship in the discus throw, Toney will be ranked No. 3 at the masters. She is ranked No. 6 in the shot put.
“I'm really nervous, which is weird because I'm not usually nervous before a meet,” said Toney. “It would definitely be cool to make it to state. You don't see Nevada Union at state very often.”
Also looking for a trip to the state championships is Brock Kraus, who will compete at masters in two individual events and alongside his relay teammates, Devyn Grimes, Josiah Paye and Brandon Kishiyama, in the 4-by-100 meter relay.
While excited about his events, the 400-meter and the 200-meter dashes, Kraus said it is special to be able to race with the team.
“We weren't expected to make it,” he said. “But, we squeezed in. So much of track is individual events that it's nice to have a team atmosphere out there, too.”
Competing against Nielsen in the 100 and 200 dashes will be Miners senior Calynn Stanford. Stanford also tied for fourth in the high jump at the section championships and will be seeded No. 6 at the Masters.
Nielsen will have Nevada Union competition in the long jump from junior Natalie Migliozzi, who qualified for Masters in the 300-meter hurdles as well.
Simon Lambert will head to Masters as a No. 11 seed in the 3,200-meter run for the Miners, while Dominic Castro-Wehr will be the No. 11 seed in the 1,600-meter run.
“Dominic ran great and set a personal record, and Simon was amazing,” said Wise. “Cheyenne has a good shot at going to state, and everyone has an outside chance.”
Wise and Nevada Union co-head coach Jeff Dellis have tried to build the program around an atmosphere of fun, he said.
“As long as they go and compete and have fun, that's what's important,” said Wise. “If at the end of the season the majority of kids had fun, I think that's a success.”
The first events will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday at Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College.
To contact Sports Writer Anthony Barstow, e-mail abarstow@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4232.
