Trojans boys track takes home conference title

The Trojans men’s team won the division title against Western last Wednesday, beating them soundly 85-50 at Boulder City.

Garrett Meyer of Boulder City won three individual events to help his team win a five-team meet (Boulder City, Western, Laughlin and Virgin Valley).

Meyer took the 800 in 2:06.5, the 1,600 in 4:45.3 and the 3,200 in 10:36.2 as Boulder finished with 124 points. Pahrump Valley was second with 94½. Virgin Valley was third with 55½, followed by Western with 51 and Laughlin with 31.

The Trojans’ Devon Montgomery won the 200 (22.6), 400 (54.1) and 110 hurdles (15.0) with ease, and jumper Isaac Davis won the triple jump (39-5) and the high jump (5-10).

“This was our main goal this year, to win the I-A Sunset Division title,” Kirkwood said.

That said, the boys from Pahrump have one of its better teams this year even with the injury to sprinter Keenan Harris, who returns to the track this week.

“Harris is coming back this week. Rieger has him in a class where he has been training. Keenan has been zipping around like it was nothing. I will wrap his legs like a mummy. We lost Shane Webber so we haven’t done the 4x100 in a while, so we will be practicing,” the coach explained.

Harris was at practice on Monday and the sprinters were glad to see him.

“They are glad to see him, but when he runs they all hold their breath,” Kirkwood said smiling.

Montgomery echoed his coach but added, “We definitely will have more confidence now that he is back.”

Harris appeared to be in great physical shape on Monday as he warmed up on the field.

When he was asked about his injury and if he thought he had bad luck, he replied, “No, it’s not the luck. I am just hard-headed. I spent too much time in the weight room working squats and didn’t listen to the coaches. I have been working it hard now and it feels awesome. I feel like I can run a 10.8 in the 100.”

Harris said he was ready to run the 100, but his coaches are in no rush.

“I will run Keenan in the second leg of the 4x100-meter relay. No 100s until the regional meet. Carlson handed off to him before. Carlson, Cipollini, Devon and now Harris. We have a chance of qualifying in this event for state,” Kirkwood said.

The Harris injury has made Kirkwood come up with a variety of ways to keep the Trojans from getting swept in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter run and for the most part he has been successful.

The injury has even sped up the development of freshmen and sophomore sprinters, Nik Clark, Nico Cipollini and Devlin Dillon. Cipollini has broken 12 seconds along with Dillon and Clark, who has come close (12.2). This sets up Pahrump for next year.

Cipollini also has a future as a pole vaulter.

“Nico was thrilled to get the 11-6 foot mark with the new pole in the vault. He is becoming a good consistent vaulter with two more years. Last week it worked out for Nico and he had plenty of time to rest up for his vault and his running loosened him up,” Kirkwood said.

The key to the boy’s sprinters has been Devon Montgomery, who runs the 100 in 11.29 seconds and his hurdle partner Michael Carlson. Both boys have contributed to the team in major ways.

Montgomery can do the 100, 200, 400, 110-meter hurdles and high jump and discus. Carlson has been able to do both hurdles, pole vault, shot and discus and he is also fast. Carlson rested an injury at Western and did well in the shot (37-10) and discus (104-09). Carlson finished 4th in each event. His mark in the shot is the best all year by a male shot putter this year for Pahrump.

Trojans Coach Fred Schmidt was not surprised by the good showing of Carlson at the meet and said despite the high mark it is not high enough for Carlson to throw at the regional tourney.

“Carlson is too valuable in other events,” Schmidt said.

Kirkwood added, “No one is even close to that on our team (in reference to his throw). I wanted to keep Carlson out of the hurdles last week to rest up his hip. I told him not to aggravate it. Mike just has one of those bodies where he can throw a bit, run a bit, and jump a bit. He can even vault too.”

The Lady Trojans ran against Western also and finished their year with a solid victory over the Western Warriors 113-20. The girls finished second in the division to Faith.

Kelbie Middleton tied for first in the 100-meter dash (12.40) and came in second in the 200-meter run with Jamie Murphy coming in 3rd.

Thrower Cassandra Clark had a personal record in the shot (29-04.5). The coach said she was pushed by the freshman girls.

Jennifer McCaw easily won the 400-meter run and Sydney Sladek had no problem in the 800-meter run.

Meghan McDermott took 1st in the 100-meter hurdles and Kelsey Watson took 1st in the 300-meter hurdles.

In distance, Winter Young took second in the 1,600-meter run and 1st in the 3,200-meter run (14:50.20).

Bishop had a personal record in her last meet with a 9-foot vault.

“She has a new pole and she broke the school record. She is excited in getting a new pole and doing a personal best,” Kirkwood said.

McDermott cleaned up in the jumps and Mikayla took 1st in the high jump (4-08). Davis still is seeking the 5-foot mark.

The Trojans showcased both boys and girls at the Centennial High School Frosh-Sophomore meet on Saturday. Kirkwood said it was a good way to see how the younger talent stacked up against the bigger schools. Out of 17 teams, both teams finished in 8th place. On May 9, the team will attend a small schools meet and use this to get the team ready for the regional meet, which is next week at Sunrise Mountain High School starting on Tuesday.