Both track teams finish in top 10 at Arbor View meet

The Pahrump track team was at the Arbor View Invitational in Las Vegas on Friday. The invitational was one of the largest of the year with 37 teams competing. The Trojans competed against Division I, I-A, III and IV schools.

The Trojans girls team had a few athletes who did well and finished in the top ten. Senior Kelbie Middleton is the top sprinter for Pahrump and is ranked in the top three in Division I-A in the state in the 100-meter dash (12.10) and the 200-meter dash (25.48). She finished third in the 100 at Arbor View (12.10 seconds) and second in the 200 (25.54).

Freshman Sydney Dennis is a top long distance runner for the girls team. She is ranked ninth in the state in Division I-A in the 3,200 (12:38.61) and she competed in two events on Friday, the 1,600 and the 3,200. In the 1,600 she finished in ninth (5 minutes, 45.12 seconds) and in the 3,200 she did slightly better, finishing seventh (12:38.61).

Sophomore Caeli Havel finished 10th in the shot put (30 feet, 3.75 inches).

The boys also had several athletes finish in the top 10.

Freshman Bryce Odegard is a top long distance runner for the Trojans. He is ranked the 10th best 1,600 (4:40.97) runner in the state in the Division 1-A and the fourth best runner in the state in the 3,200 (10:08.92). At Arbor View he finished 9th in the 1,600 (4:41.54) and fifth in the 3,200 (10:08.92).

Odegard said his freshman year has been going as he expected.

“Cross country definitely built my endurance for the mile and the two mile,” he said. “I have been doing a lot of speed work for my kick and start because the 800 is a fast race, it takes a lot of strength to keep up with runners.”

In the 1,600 race, Odegard often runs against Faith Lutheran’s Chase Woods, the top long distance runner for in both cross country and track. Odegard enjoys the rivalry between the two and hopes to beat him one day. Woods finished fourth in the 1,600 (4:29.06) and first in the 3,200 (9:50.29).

“He can go fast when he needs to,” Odegard said. “I will need to get stronger to keep up with him. He has a way better kick than I do and he has more experience since he is a junior.”

Odegard was asked how he felt about being a top runner in the state.

“My dad keeps me in check by telling me that it’s all about regional times,” he said. “I can be the top runner in the state, but if I run a poor race in the regional meet, I won’t be able to compete in the state meet to prove myself.”

In preparation for the end of the season, the young runner hopes to get mentally stronger to push his body past what he mentally can go through.

“I will pick up my performance in practice,” Odegard said. “For a meet is just a glorified practice.”

Nico Cipollini was the only other boy to finish in the top 10 at Arbor View. Cipollini posted an 11-00 mark in the pole vault to finish eighth. Cipollini is ranked 10th in state in the Division I-A in the vault (11-03).