Pahrump Valley High School’s track and field team braved the elements to host their first home meet of the season on Wednesday, March 12. Despite the cold winds and a heavy downpour during the final events, the athletes delivered an outstanding performance, demonstrating their strength and commitment. Competing against a small group of schools, the Trojans secured numerous first and second-place finishes across various events, setting the tone for a promising season ahead.
Head Coach Dan Nagle praised his team’s effort, stating, “Our home meet got off to a slow start but as our kids usually do, Pahrump athletes kick it in gear and dominate just like I expected they would.”
The girls’ team saw stellar performances in the 100m dash, with Rosie Miller taking first place in 14.22 seconds, just ahead of teammate Natalia Vallin, who secured second place with a time of 14.27. Payton Weaver also showcased her speed in the 200m dash, earning second place with a time of 28.91 seconds.
On the boys’ side, Benjamin De Santiago proved to be a formidable competitor, securing second place in the 100m dash with a time of 12.44 and in the 200m dash with 24.56 seconds. His dominance continued in the 400m dash, where he took first place in 52.72 seconds.
The 100m hurdles saw Diona Nixon lead the way, finishing first in 18.80 seconds, with Ella Odegard taking second place in 21.17 seconds. In the 300m hurdles, Sasha Strain placed second in 54.86 seconds, while Jayden Crisler brought home a first-place finish in the boys’ 300m hurdles, crossing the line at 47.60 seconds. Teammate Joshua Slusher followed closely behind, securing second place in 50.19 seconds.
Pahrump Valley’s distance runners also delivered, with Kaylan Robinson clinching first place in both the girls’ 1600m and 800m runs, posting times of 6:48.14 and 3:02.11, respectively. Alexis Clouser finished a close second in the 1600m run at 6:48.71, while Rosie Miller claimed second in the 800m run with a time of 3:03.24.
The boys’ distance team delivered equally impressive performances, with Antonio Veloz winning the 1600m run in 5:10.04 and the 800m run in 2:15.92. Joaquin Flores took second in the 1600m with 5:14.24 and later dominated the 3200m run, finishing first in 11:23.06.
In the field events, Pahrump Valley continued to make waves. Rosie Miller showcased her versatility by securing first place in the girls’ high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 10 inches. Heavenly Ware and Savannah Thompson also put up solid performances with jumps of 4 feet, 6 inches.
On the boys’ side, Aydon Veloz took first in the high jump with a 5-foot, 6-inch clearance, followed by Lucas Gavenda at 5 feet, 2 inches. Jayden Crisler continued his dominant day by winning the boys’ triple jump with an impressive mark of 39 feet, 3 inches, while Randall Murray claimed second in the long jump at 17 feet, 10 inches.
In the throwing events, Jemima Chavez took first in the girls’ discus with a throw of 64 feet, while Hunter Mellinger placed second in the boys’ shot put with a strong mark of 39 feet, 3 inches.
Despite the challenging weather, Pahrump Valley’s track and field team set the bar high in their season opener. With numerous standout performances across sprinting, distance running, hurdles, jumps, and throws, the Trojans demonstrated their depth and commitment. As the season progresses, the team will look to build on this success and continue pushing their limits.
The next meet is set to bring even more excitement, and if this first competition is any indication, Pahrump Valley’s track team is ready to make a strong impact this season.
