Pahrump Valley High School Track & Field dominates senior night, prepares to host first-ever Class 3A Southern Regionals

For Pahrump Valley High School track and field soon-to-be graduates, last Thursday’s Senior Night may have represented the final opportunity a handful of Trojans had to compete among their fields.

But thankfully for the hardworking boys and girls in the programs, the last and third home home meet of the season only represented a small glimpse of the bigger picture.

That picture surely entails hoisting the Class 3A Southern Regional title at home.

The Trojans will get that opportunity on May 8 and 9 when they host the Class 3A, 2A and 1A Southern Regionals for the first time since the school opened its doors in 1974.

Hosting Basic, Beatty, Chaparral, Pahranagat Valley and Tonopah, the Trojans boys varsity program outscored Basic High School by over 91 points, 166 to 75.

The girls performed miles ahead of the majority of the competition but had difficulty getting past Basic, 190 to 133.

Sprints (100–400 meter)

In the 100 meters, the girls were led by Anjolina Mercado (second, 13.58) and Ma’liyah Collins (third, 13.60), with multiple athletes scoring in depth.

For the boys, Evan Strain led the Trojans with a 12.60 personal best, followed by Cade Wulfenstein (12.95), Hunter Wydick (12.97), and Joseph Scheer (13.02).

The 200 meters saw one of the meet’s biggest highlights, as senior Benjamin De Santiago won in a 22.74 personal best.

Strain also performed well again, while Joseph Scheer and Wydick added solid finishes.

For the girls, sophomore McKinsey Nottingham led Pahrump Valley (30.57 SB), with K’Lynn Butler (30.85 PB), Avery Farruggia (31.15), and Cindal Monahan (31.33) not far behind.

In the 400 meters, freshman Kelan Sheppard (58.79 PB) and sophomore Hunter Wydick (59.14 PB) led the boys, while Monahan paced the girls with a strong third-place finish (1:10.22).

Nottingham and several younger athletes including Melanie Carson and Jayda Camden provided extra depth and personal bests to the lineup.

Distance (800-3,200 meter)

Senior Timothy Stutzman anchored the boys distance group with wins and top finishes, highlighted by his 3,200-meter victory (12:18.03 PB) and a solid 1,600-meter effort.

Sophomore Daniel Thompson led the 800 meters with a finishing time of 2:17.60.

For the girls, senior Julianna Ondrisko dominated distance-hurdle crossover events, winning the 1,600 meters (6:12.08) and later the 300-meter hurdles (49.99).

Additional contributors included McKinsey Nottingham and Bella Cinelli, who added further assistance in the 800 and 1,600 meters.

Hurdles

The boys had Emmanuel Dupart win the 300-meter hurdles (52.66 PB), while senior Ulisses Alvarez placed second in the 110-meter hurdles (19.29 PB).

For the girls, senior Diona Nixon won the 100-meter hurdles (18.05) and placed second in the 300-meter hurdles (52.05). Sophomore Ella Odegard and senior Kyndra Cardwell also added scoring performances, while senior Dyana Castro earned a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles (22.40).

Relays

Pahrump Valley’s boys captured the 4x100 relay title in 45.09, showcasing one of the most well-rounded groups in the program between De Santiago, Jace Wulfenstein, Joshua Slusher and Jayden Crisler.

The girls placed second in the 4x100 relay (55.98), remaining competitive throughout. The boys also placed second in the 4x800 relay (10:13.44), while the girls were runners-up in the 4x100 relay.