Strong efforts for Galena, Carson track

Carson track and field team opens in sunshine

Dave Price

Ideal springtime weather conditions greeted athletes when Carson High School hosted its season-opening track and field meet, and the performances at the Jim Frank Complex reflected that on Saturday.

For example, Galena seniors Stephen Pottey and Justin Houk - both state championship contenders last season - appeared to be in midseason form on a sunny day when temperatures were in the upper 60s, as Pottey won both the boys 1,600 (4:27.6) and the 800 (1:59.8) while Houk soared over the bar at 6-feet, 8-inches to win the high jump.

Meanwhile, Carson enjoyed some highlights in the throws, including a personal record distance of 50-feet, 3-inches by Nick Rebholtz to win the boys shot put. Senior Rob Ghiglieri also won the discus with a throw of 141-3.

The season-opener was a good one for the Senators overall, according to Carson coach Todd Ackerman. Especially good when you consider the team's home opener last year was snowed out.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day," Ackerman said. "I was happy with the performance we gave. The scores were a little out of proportion because we had several kids who were either out or they were competing in other events. Next week we'll probably run in some of our more traditional events to get ready before Fallon (Elks Invitational on March 27)."

From a team standpoint, Galena used its depth to post victories in both the boys and girls divisions. Galena's boys, state champions in 2002 and third at state in 2003, rolled up 234 points to outdistance Carson (94), Rite of Passage (30), Wooster (16) and Damonte Ranch (1). The Grizzlies were also winners in the girls competition with 122.5 points, followed by Wooster (84), Carson (45.5) and Damonte Ranch (10).

It was a pretty good performance for the Grizzlies considering their practice time hindered due to snowfall from a winter storm that left more than a foot of snow on their track two weeks ago.

"We didn't get out on our track until Tuesday," said Galena coach Ed Parise, who had 92 of the team's 135 members compete in the meet. "We were in the parking lot our first week of practice, so it was almost like we combined two weeks of practice into one this past week. We worked the kids hard and they were feeling sore, so what they did today was phenomenal."

Pottey, who has signed to run at Cal-Berkeley, ran away from the both the 1,600 and 800 fields then capped off his day by running a 53-second split in the 4x400 relay. Houk stopped the competition after he cleared 6-8 and went over to the triple jump pit, where he went 40 feet to place second behind teammate Roman Burns (41-6). Pottey was a gold medalist in the 1,600 meters and Houk a silver medalist in the high jump at last year's state meet.

Galena's Tony Fritsche also won the pole vault with a personal record 12-feet, a significant mark considering his previous best was 10-6.

Rebholtz, a 6-foot-3 senior, led Carson's 1-2-3 sweep of the boys shot put with his first-ever 50-foot throw, while Ghiglieri placed second (46-0-1/2) and Stephen Waicul (44-6-1/2). Ghiglieri led Carson's sweep of the top five places in the boys discus. Waicul placed second (140-0), Rebholtz third (138-4), Eric Walther fourth (133-6) and Jeremy Steele fifth (125-6).

Tilor Smith won the 100 (11.5) and placed second in the long jump (19-8) for Carson, while sophomore Adam Houghton won the 400 (54.8). The Senators also won the 4x200 relay, as the quartet of Smith, Mike Horrigan, Scott Wittwer and John Stewart edged Galena with a 1:34.4 clocking.

"That wasn't bad, considering we were missing a couple of guys who are going to make a major impact," Ackerman said. "When we get all those guys together, we should be real solid in both the 4x2 and 4x4."

On the girls side, Annie Brinson ran to first-place in the 1,600 (5:47.7), while Alex McAlman won the discus (94-1) and placed second in the shot put (29-1). Janine Stone placed second in the 3,200 (13:15) and Carson's team of Amanda Benson, Lindsay Ford, Sondra McAlman and Sinead McSweeney placed second in the 4x400 relay (4:17.9), two-tenths of a second behind Galena.

Freshman Ali Agee provided a highlight for Galena as she won the 400 in 1:00.8 and ran a strong leg for the a 4x200 relay team that ran 1:49.

Notes ... Smith Valley junior Jordan Savidge competed in the boys pole vault as an unofficial participant and bested the field with a clearance of 14-0. Savidge is the defending state 1A pole vault champ and has already gone 15-5 indoors this year. ... Carson returns to action with a Northern 4A meet this coming Friday night at Reno. The Senators will also host their annual Track Spaghetti Dinner on Wednesday, March 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the school's upstairs cafeteria.