Freshman distance runner Jose Granados helped Beatty to fifth place at state by medaling in two events.
The Beatty Hornets track team held their own against the competition at the Class 1A Nevada Track and Field Championships at Foothill High School in Henderson, taking fifth place out of 18 teams. First place was taken by Spring Mountain (192); second, Sierra Lutheran (121); third, Excel Christian (67); and fourth, Whittell (57).
The boys sent the following to the state meet: Granados, Brandon Rebujio, Robby Revert, Jake Ybarra, Geovonnie Maldonado, Nahum Favela, Jhonpaul Adajar, Michael Olson, Edwin Perez, Yadir Rodriquez, Octavio Maldonado and Marcelo Garcia.
Freshman Jose Granados took second in the 1,600-meter run (4 minutes, 47.70 seconds) and third in the 3,200 (10:31.32), and sophomore Rodriquez, who also medaled, took fourth in the high jump (5-feet, 6-inches).
As a freshman, Granados took on sophomore Jared Marchegger of Sierra Lutheran in the 1,600. Granados had the second best time going into this meet, 4:53. Marchegger took the lead after the first lap, and then was challenged by Granados in the beginning of the last lap where Granados made his push and took the lead for the first time.
That was short-lived as Granados ran out of gas on the last turn and Marchegger poured it on to take first place (4:43.10). With Marchegger being only a sophomore, these two runners will battle again. Granados was six seconds better than his regional time.
Marchegger (10:04.43) also beat Granados in the 3,200, with Granados taking third in that race.
The boys had medalists in the following relays: in the 4×100-meter the Hornets took fourth (46.81), with a team of Favela, Adajar, Olson and Rodriquez and in the 4×800 the Hornets took fourth place (9:29.68) with a team of Rebujio, Granados, Olson and Garcia.
The Lady Hornets finished at state in eighth place (37) out of 16 teams. Sierra Lutheran took first place (144), Wells was second (83) and Tonopah was tied for third (77) with Eureka.
The team sent the following to state: Vanessa Gamboa, Anel Gamboa, Abby Palaqui, Courtney Willis, Arianna Oseguera, Rachael Anderson, Alexia Gil, Courtney Willis, Adriana Motton, Seida Gutierrez and Claudia Granados.
Alexia Gil, the single individual medalist, took fourth in the shot put (29-10.50).
The girls had one relay team medal in the 4×200, and took third (2:02.43). The team was composed of Vanessa Gamboa, Gutierrez, Gil and Claudia Granados.
Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com