Southern Nevada
Track Preview

2023 Southern Nevada Track & Field Preview

With the 2023 track season approaching, it’s time to look at some of the top returning athletes and teams. This season will start in early March and conclude with the State Meet in late May.

Boys – The majority of the 2022 Top 10 boys were seniors, so are very few Top 10 returnees.

Sprinters (100, 200,400)

Palo Verde’s Nasir Tucker (12) is far and away the best returning sprinter in the Nevada. In 2022 he ran 10.61/21.46/48.82. The only other underclassman under 11 was Green Valley ‘s Josiah Edwards at 10.94. Edwards is also the #2 returning 200m runner at 22.49. Behind Tucker in the 400m is Liberty junior Ronnie Kendrick (50.09) and Moapa Valley senior Ethan Witter (50.44).

Distance (800-1600-3200)

Bishop Gorman’s Andrew Specht is the class of the returning distance runner. His times from 2022, 1:53.01/4:19.97. Faith Lutheran sophomore, Logan Scott, is top returnee for the 3200m at 9:47.56. Top 2022 XC freshman that should make an impact as well are: Shadow Ridge’s Conner Fife, #2 XC state frosh, Faith Lutheran’s Brady Anderson, XC State #3 frosh and Centennial’s Kingston Lueck, #5 frosh in the state.

Hurdles (110m-300m)

Typically, a weak Nevada event, Bishop Gorman’s Giovanni Moya returns at the top 100m 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, 2 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 Giovanni Moya (40.39) also return.

Throws (Shot Put and Discus)

Another weak Nevada discipline. (We can blame year round football coaches for this!) The top returnee in the Shot is Faith Lutheran junior Preston Beery (51-10.25). Arbor View senior, Jude Walker returns with a 2022 mark of 50-07. Beery is also the top returning discus thrower with a mark of 152-08.

Vertical Jumps

High Jump

Thanks to the advent of boys’ volleyball, high jump performances have dwindled over the past years. In the High Jump the top returnee is Silverado senior Shayne Johnson (6-03). Desert Oasis senior Maurice Jones and Las Vegas junior Jashire Morris (6-02) follow close behind.

Pole Vault

One of the top young talents in the vault is Faith Lutheran junior James Vogel . He returns as the top Southern vaulter (14-11.5). Shadow Ridge senior Ethan Hughes returns with a best of 12-06 Horizontal Jumps Long Jump Once again, Palo Verde’s Nasir Tucker is the class of the field with a best mark of 22-06. Shadow Ridge senior JaQuieze Holland is the hunt with a 21-5.25. Triple Jump JaQuieze Holland from Shadow Ridge is the top returning triple jumper with a mark of 44-05.5. Dylyn Cooks (12) from Arbor View is close behind with a 44-04.5

Girls –

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

Sprinters (100, 200,400)

Centennial HS junior Iyonna Codd returns atop the 100-200 rankings. In 2022, she ranked #1 in the state in these events (11.93/24.86). She was also ranked #8 in the state in the 400m (58.39). 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), #6 time in the 200 (25.25) and #3 time in the 400 (57.69). Legacy sophomore Sheltyona Barnes-Henderson is the #3 returnee in the 100 (12.25) and #5 returnee in the 200m (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), senior Jordan Jackson (25.00/56.32). Jackson is the defending 5A State Champ in the 400m and #1 ranked in the state.

Distance (800-1600-3200)

Centennial sophomore Mackenna Calvin returns on the top of the charts in the 800 (2:15.17), 1600 (5:15.94) and 3200 (11:20.02). Foothill senior Soleil Fullmer will also be a force to be reconned with. Unranked in the State Top 10 in 2022, 2023 should be a great season. Her PR’s 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 5k event, you can be sure that she’ll be one of the tops in the field. Virgin Valley junior Jenna Walters (5:27.16-12:11.30) should be one of the top 3A runners in the state.

Top 2022 XC freshman that should make an impact as well are: Elynn Okuda, Shadow Ridge and Brooke-Lynn Miller, Coronado. Both had great cross country seasons.

Hurdles (110m-300m)

The decade long Bond’s reign at Centennial is over, so these events are up for grabs. But that doesn’t mean Centennial is lacking hurdle talent. Centennial junior Saniyah Miles returns as the top 100m hurdler (14.69) and 4th fastest in the 300’s (46.25). Centennial also has sophomore Kennedy Hunter, a transfer from Green Valley HS. In 2022, Hunter had the #2 high school time in Nevada (15.58) and a JO time of 15.30. Her 300H time of 43.93 was the #2 freshman time in Nevada. Palo Verde returns sophomore Tia Brown. Brown had the #1 freshman high school time in Nevada (15.53) and the #1 freshman 300H time (45.65). Two seniors to watch are Liberty’s Kennedy Robinson (300H,45.36-the #1 returning time in Nevada) and Sierra Vista’s Misa Holland (100H, 15.47).

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 50-00 girl since 2014, maybe this will be the year. One of the best athletes in Nevada, male or female, Liberty senior Ali’a Matavao who considers track her 3rd best sport. She is the 2022 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-43-8.75/100m 12.66/100mh 15.88/200m 26.26/HJ-5-02/LJ-18-01.25. What do you think???? Multi-eventer! Liberty backs her up with sophomore Chayanne Gordon (40-6.25, 118-03) and senior Adrienne Puletasi (37-11/ 104-04). Faith Lutheran senior Emma Kwok is the defending 5A discus champion with a 130-07 AAU PR. Should be a good season for Nevada’s female throwers.

Vertical Jumps

High Jump

Moapa Valley senior Sydney Reese is the top state returnee at 5-08. Many girls come is at 5-02 including Liberty’s Ali’a Matavao.

Pole Vault

Southern Nevada is fortunate to have many good vault coaches and marks have continued to improve over the years. Coronado junior Kaylee Daniel at 11-06 is the top returnee. Senior teammate Kyra Thornhill returns at 10-06. Many young vaulters from 2022 look to improve to make an impact. These include: Green Valley junior Maddie Beam (9-06), Liberty junior Destinee Franklin (9-06), Faith Lutheran sophomore Madelynn Murray (9-06) and teammate Kennedy Benjamins (9-06), as well as Arbor View sophomore Jasmine Gottschaldt (9-06 ). Horizontal Jumps Long Jump Liberty senior Ali’a Matavao is the top returning jumper (18-01.25). 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) 17-03.00. Palo Verde senior India Wilson (17-03.00) will also be a factor. Triple Jump Silverado senior Roxy Christensen is the top returnee (36-09.00). Next best is Liberty sophomore Kaylie Phillips at 36-01.5.