Trojans girls prevail over Sierra Vista; Beatty edged by Tonopah

The Trojans boys and girls track teams had their first league home meet on Wednesday where they went up against Sierra Vista. Also in attendance were Chaparral, Desert Pines, Tonopah and Beatty. It was the first meet where Beatty and Tonopah were present after a one-year absence.

The Pahrump boys lost to Sierra Vista 92-119 and the girls beat Sierra Vista 160 to 125.

In the Sunrise League Chaparral beat Desert Pines boys team 215.5 to 49.5 and their girls won 106 to 84.

In Division IV, Tonopah boys beat the Beatty boys 43-31 and the Tonopah girls won 18-16.

Division I-A has a different format this year. Two teams from the Sunset and two teams from the Sunrise will still compete at league meets. The difference being, last year all the teams in the conference ran against each other, but this year that will not happen, to the dismay of the Trojans Athletic Director Ed Kirkwood.

“I argued with them about this at a preseason meeting. This means we will no longer have a conference champion.”

Sierra Vista track Coach Ryan Quinn said this format meant that teams had to adjust lineups so that their best people are running an invitational because the league meets had no meaning except for determining qualifying for regionals.

For the Pahrump boys team, they missed the speed of Keenan Harris, the top sprinter on the team, in the 100-meter run. Harris is out indefinitely according to Trojans Coach Wes Icard.

Junior Isaac Davis scored points in the 400 meter with a time of 54.8 seconds.

In long distance, freshman Bryce Odegard took the 800 (2 minutes, 7.2 seconds). Odegard then placed second in the 1,600 in 4:50.7.

The 1,600 boys race was hotly contested with three runners coming on strong. Odegard kept up with Abdirahman Mohamad of Desert Pines until the last lap and Beatty’s Enrique Orozco was third until the last lap. Mohamad had a great kick and this used up Orozco’s last bit of energy and he fell to fifth place. Pahrump’s Freshman Layron Sonerhulm edged Orozco at the end. Sonerhulm went on to score a second in the 3,200 meter.

Missing from the boys 1,600 is Nick Nelson who was the top long-distance runner for the team. He is out due to a hamstring injury sustained in wrestling.

“Nelson is practicing but is only 75 percent,” Icard said. “He should be back.”

Pahrump kept their top hurdler Dylan Montgomery out of the 110 hurdles and the 300 because of an injury in practice according to Icard.

Nik Clark scored in the 300 hurdles with a third place in 48.3.

The Pahrump boys field eventers didn’t do as well as they normally do, with Davis not posting a height in the high jump and placing only fourth in the long jump.

Jeremey Albertson placed second in the discus with a throw of 98 feet and 10 inches.

The Pahrump girls team beat out all six teams.

Senior Kelbie Middleton led the Lady Trojans with a first in the 100 (12.4) and a first in the 200 (25.7).

Freshman Sydney Dennis placed second in the 800 (2:42.4) and first in the 1,600 (6:03.1).

“I got a personal best in the 800,” Dennis said. “I think my best event is the 1,600 even though I don’t like it that much.”

The 1,600 race was exciting because Dennis was challenged by Beatty running sensation, sophomore Jasmin Pelayo who ran a 6:06.1. The race was close all the way to the final turn where Dennis kicked it in and outlasted Pelayo.

Junior Fenny Descuatan took first in the 3,200 (13:15.0) and Meghan McDermott took a first in the 100 hurdles (17.2) and a second in the 300 hurdles (53.9).

The Pahrump girls were also aided by their efforts in field events. High jumper Annabelle Brophy took second (4-6) and Bethany Calvert took third (4-2). Ashley Floyd took first in the pole vault (5-00). In the long jump Meghan McDermott took first (16-04) and a first in the triple jump (33-09).

Beatty has a new track coach named Ellice Dunsterville. She coached under longtime Beatty track coach, Jerry Adcox all last year. She is a teacher and teaches 6th grade at Beatty Middle School.

“I had three kids who all did four years in track, which makes me a track mom turned coach,” she said.

This year’s premiere runners are in long distance, Orozco for the boys who will run in the 800 and the 1,600. For the girls it will be Pelayo, who will also run in the 800 and the 1,600. Both runners had no problem running with the Division I-A runners.

Both Beatty and Tonopah lack track facilities so they must make the long trip to Pahrump. Last year Pahrump only had one home meet and Beatty didn’t make the trip.

The next meet for the Trojans will be on March 25 at Faith Lutheran at 3:30 p.m.