Article contributed to by Head Coach Dan Nagle
Track and field often presents a unique measure of success. As PVHS Head Track Coach Dan Nagle aptly puts it, “Track is the greatest team individual sport!” This year, the PVHS track teams demonstrated their strength and unity at the state meet, held May 17 and 18, 2024 at Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada, achieving remarkable success that may not be immediately evident in the final rankings.
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams made notable strides. The boys finished 8th out of 23 teams, while the girls secured 7th place out of 20 teams. However, these placements tell only part of the story. Both teams finished 2nd in the Southern Region, showing their competitive edge against tough opponents. Finishers in the top four received medals at both the regional and state meet.
The boys’ team delivered strong performances in the relay events. The 4×200 relay team, consisting of Deven Nixon, James Dela Rosa, Ben DeSantiago, and Brennen Benedict, finished 5th with a time of 1:33.42.
The school record-holding 4×400 team, featuring Ben DeSantiago, Jace Wulfenstein, Deven Nixon, and Antonio Veloz, secured 3rd place with a time of 3:31.79.
Additionally, the 4×800 team, made up of Antonio Veloz, Jace Wulfenstein, Aydon Veloz, and Ben DeSantiago, finished 6th with a time of 8:38.23.
Sophomore Ben DeSantiago narrowly missed breaking the school record in the open 400, finishing 4th with a time of 50.47, narrowly missing the school record of 50.44 set in 2014. Junior Antonio Veloz placed 6th in the open 800 with a time of 2:03.18. Senior Deven Nixon, who has committed to Iowa Central, finished 5th in the 300m hurdles with a time of 41.84. These athletes were also integral parts of the relay teams, showcasing their versatility and dedication.
The field events saw impressive performances as well. Senior Mickey Skinner finished 7th in discus with a throw of 133’.
Seniors Cory O’Neal, Aleric Cooper, and Tatum Bill all cleared 5’8” in the high jump, placing 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively. Sophomore Jayden Crisler finished 5th in the triple jump with a leap of 40’9.5”.
The girls’ team also excelled in the relay events. The 4×200 team, comprising Paris Coleman, Diona Nixon, Julianna Ondrisko, and Dakota Fernandes, finished 6th with a time of 1:50.93.
The 4×400 team, including Paris Coleman, Julianna Ondrisko, Sasha Strain, and Dakota Fernandes, placed 8th with a time of 4:21.70.
The 4×800 team, made up of Grace Miller, Aurora Whitney, Emily Lewis, and Julianna Ondrisko, secured 6th place with a time of 11:00.02.
Junior Aurora Whitney finished 8th in the open 3200 with a time of 14:19.17 and was a key member of the 4×800 relay team. Junior Sasha Strain finished 7th in both the 100m and 300m hurdles with times of 17.55 and 50.96, respectively.
Sasha also contributed to the 4×400 relay team. Sophomores Diona Nixon and Julianna Ondrisko, along with seniors Dakota Fernandez and Emily Lewis, played crucial roles in the relay events.
In the field events, senior Aspen McCormack finished 2nd in the high jump with a leap of 5’2”, 5th in the long jump with a distance of 15’6.5”, and 8th in the triple jump despite an untimely leg injury.
Senior Paris Coleman finished 3rd in discus with a throw of 101’ and 8th in shot put with a throw of 30’2.75”. Paris also qualified for state in all four of her events. Senior Grace Miller finished 5th in pole vault with a vault of 7’6” in her first year competing in the event and 8th in high jump with a jump of 4’6”. Grace was also a member of the 4×800 relay team. Sophomore Savannah Thompson finished 7th in the triple jump with a distance of 30’8”.
Both Paris Coleman and Ben DeSantiago qualified for all four events they participated in at Regionals.
Reflecting on the season, Coach Nagle expressed optimism for the future. “We are losing a lot of great senior talent, but we had some good freshman talent this year and more coming next year,” he noted. “The future is bright for PVHS Track as long as we follow my philosophy of being the hardest working team and the best-behaved team.”
PVHS’s track and field season showcased not only the athletic prowess of its students but also their dedication and teamwork, promising continued success in the years to come.
