Outlook Bright For Top Returners In Nevada

By John Dixon for DyeStat

Photo of Eleanor Raker (by Jacqueline Raker)

With the 2023 track season under way, here is a look at some of the top returning athletes and teams in the Silver State. 

Boys 

The vast majority of the top 2022 performers were seniors, so there are very few Top 10 returnees. 

Sprinters (100, 200,400) 

Palo Verde senior Nasir Tucker is far and away the top sprinter in the Nevada. In 2022 he ran 10.61/21.46/48.82. The only other underclassman under 11 seconds in the 100 was Green Valley's Josiah Edwards at 10.94. Edwards is also the No. 2 returning 200-meter runner at 22.49.

Behind Tucker in the 400 is Liberty junior Ronnie Kendrick (50.09) and Moapa Valley senior Ethan Witter (50.44).

Distance (800-1600-3200)

Eric Ortega-Gammill of Reno opened his season at the Dublin Distance Fiesta in California last weekend and opened with 4:22.54 in the 1,600 and 9:27.39 in the 3,200 meters. 

Spencer Wirshing from Galena moved to the top of the early season state leaderboard in the 800 meters with 1:56.89 at the Dublin Distance Fiesta. 

Bishop Gorman’s Andrew Specht is the class of the returning distance runners in the southern half of the state. His best times from 2022 were 1:53.01/4:19.97.

Faith Lutheran sophomore Logan Scott is top returnee for the 3200m at 9:47.56. Scott was also the NIAA Class 5A cross country champion last fall. 

Top 2022 cross freshmen that should make an impact as well are: Galena twins Kole and Hunter Steele, Shadow Ridge’s Conner Fife, No. 2 cross country state freshman, Faith Lutheran’s Brady Anderson, the third-fastest freshman and Centennial’s Kingston Lueck, the fifth-fastest freshman in the state.

Hurdles (110m-300m)

Typically, a weak Nevada event, Bishop Gorman’s Giovanni Moya returns at the top 110-meter hurdler with a 2022 time of 15.44.  Canyon Springs junior Armando Lewis is not far behind with a 15.73

In the 300’s, 2A state champion John McGill from The Meadows School returns with the top time of 40.01.  Legacy senior Jaylin Lewis (40.38) and Gorman’s Moya (40.39) also return.

Throws (Shot Put and Discus)

The top returnee in the shot put is Faith Lutheran junior Preston Beery (51-10.25). He shattered his personal best with 60-4.50 at the Dave Butler Memorital Liberty Invitational on March 11. Arbor View senior Jude Walker returns with a 2022 mark of 50-7.

Beery is also the top returning discus thrower with a mark of 152-8.

Vertical Jumps (High Jump and Pole Vault)

Thanks to the advent of boys volleyball as a new option in the spring, high jump performances have dwindled over the past years.

The top returnee is Silverado senior Shayne Johnson (6-3). Desert Oasis senior Maurice Jones and Las Vegas junior Jashire Morris (6-2) follow close behind.

One of the top young talents in the vault is Faith Lutheran junior James Vogel . He returns as the top Southern vaulter (14-11.50) and has already jumped 15-1 to start the season. Shadow Ridge senior Ethan Hughes returns with a best of 12-6

Horizontal Jumps (Long Jump and Triple Jump)

Once again, Palo Verde’s Tucker is the class of the field with a best mark of 22-6 in the long jump. Shadow Ridge senior JaQuieze Holland is the hunt with a 21-5.25.

Hollands is the top returning triple jumper with a mark of 44-5.50. Dylyn Cooks from Arbor View is close behind with a 44-4.50.

Girls

There are many underclass girls back from the 2022 Top 10 rankings.

Sprinters (100, 200,400) 

Centennial HS junior Iyonna Codd returns atop the 100-200 rankings. In 2022, she ranked first in the state in these events (11.93/24.86). She was also ranked No. 8 in the state in the 400 (58.39). Already this month, she has logged new personal bests of 11.89 in the 100, 24.82 in the 200 and 55.39 in the 400. 

Two sophomores will compete for the top ranking in 2023. Jasmine Davis from Canyon Springs had the top frosh time in the 100 (12.24), No, 6 time in the 200 (25.25) and No. 3 time in the 400 (57.69). Legacy sophomore Sheltyona Barnes-Henderson is the No. 3 returnee in the 100 (12.25) and No. 5 returnee in the 200 (25.65).

Faith Lutheran is loaded with returning sprinters and a virtual lock for the 4x100 and 4x200.  The Crusaders return senior Jayden Lightfoot (12.28/25.15), junior Zakiya Hill (12.46/25.02/57.08) and senior Jordan Jackson (25.00/56.32). Jackson is the defending 5A State Champ in the 400 and looking for a repeat.

Ashleigh Burke of Reno returns after running 58.08 as a sophomore in the 400. 

Distance (800-1600-3200)

Sophomore Eleanor Raker from Galena put a strong distance double together over the weekend at the Dublin Distance Fiesta in California, running state-leading times of 4:55.77 in the 1,600 and 10:34.65 in the 3,200. 

Centennial sophomore Mackenna Calvin returns from a 2022 season where she was near the top in the 800 (2:15.17), 1600 (5:15.94) and 3200 (11:20.02).

Foothill senior Soleil Fullmer is also be a force to be reconned with. Unranked in the State Top 10 in 2022, 2023 should be a great season. Her PRs of 2:34/5:35/12:00 fit right in with the top times in Southern Nevada.

Desert Oasis’ Noemie Guechida, known as one of the toughest all round distance runners in Nevada, will be a major factor in invitational and championship events (5:31.38/11:52.54). If there’s a track 5,000 event, you can be sure that she’ll be one of the top runners in that field.

Virgin Valley junior Jenna Walters (5:27.16/12:11.30) should be one of the top 3A runners in the state.

Amaya Aramini from Bishop Manogue is another one to watch in the north, with bests of 4:57.89 in the 1,600 and 10:50.37 in the 3,200. 

Top 2022 cross country freshmen that should make an impact this spring are: Elynn Okuda of Shadow Ridge and Brooke-Lynn Miller from Coronado.  Both had great cross country seasons.

Hurdles (100m-300m)

The Bonds family's decade-long reign at Centennial is over, so these events are up for grabs.

But that doesn’t mean Centennial is lacking hurdle talent. Junior Saniyah Miles returns as the top 100-meter hurdler (14.69) and fourh-fastest in the 300’s (46.25). Centennial also has sophomore Kennedy Hunter, a transfer from Green Valley.  In 2022, Hunter had the No. 2 high school time in Nevada (15.58) and summertime best of 15.30. Her 300 hurdles time of 43.93 was the No. 2 freshman time in Nevada.

Palo Verde returns sophomore Tia Brown, last year's top freshman in the state in both the 100 (15.53) and 300 (45.65) hurdles. Two seniors to watch are Liberty’s Kennedy Robinson (45.36 300H), the top returner in Nevada and Sierra Vista’s Misa Holland (15.47 100H).

Throws (Shot Put and Discus)

Liberty-Liberty-Liberty… A perennial throw power in the state, the Patriots have most of the top throwers once again. Southern Nevada hasn’t had a 50-foot shot putter since 2014, and this could be the year we see another. 

One of the best athletes in Nevada, male or female, is Liberty senior Ali’a Matavao who considers track her third best sport. She is the 2022 and 2023 Nevada Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year and has signed with BYU.  She also plays volleyball and soccer.  So back to track. Here are her PR’s: Shot Put, 43-8.75; 100 meters.  12.66; 100 hurdles, 15.88; 200 meters, 26.26; High Jump, 5-2; Long Jump, 18-1.25. Sound like a heptathlete.

Liberty backs her up with sophomore Chayanne Gordon (40-6.25/118-3) and senior Adrienne Puletasi (37-11/104-4).

Faith Lutheran senior Emma Kwok is the defending 5A discus champion with a 130-7 best.

Should be a good season for Nevada’s female throwers.

Vertical Jumps (High Jump and Pole Vault)

Moapa Valley senior Sydney Reese is the top state returnee in the high jump at 5-8. Libby Mulvaney from 2A Sage Ridge had a best of 5-6 last year. 

Many girls are next at 5-2, including Liberty’s Matavao.

Southern Nevada is fortunate to have many good vault coaches and marks have continued to improve over the years. 

Coronado junior Kaylee Daniel at 11-6 is the top returnee. Senior teammate Kyra Thornhill returns at 10-6.

Many young vaulters from 2022 look to improve to make an impact.  These include: Green Valley junior Maddie Beam (9-6), Liberty junior Destinee Franklin (9-6), Faith Lutheran sophomore Madelynn Murray (9-6) and teammate Kennedy Benjamins (9-6), as well as Arbor View sophomore Jasmine Gottschaldt (9-6 ).

Horizontal Jumps (Long Jump and Triple Jump)

Matavao is the top returning jumper (18-1.25). She is followed by Silverado senior Roxy Christensen (17-10.5) and sophomores Tia Brown (Palo Verde) 17-07.5 and Jasmine Davis (Canyon Springs) 17-3. Palo Verde senior India Wilson (17-3) will also be a factor.

Christensen is the top returning triple jumper (36-9). Next best is Liberty sophomore Kaylie Phillips at 36-1.50.