The Pahrump Valley High School track and field team kicked off their competitive season at the Bulldog Invitational on March 1, held at Centennial High School. To compete in the Bulldog Invitational, athletes had to be among the top four in their event at PVHS and must have previously competed in that event. Newcomers, who had not yet participated in a meet, competed the day before in a separate newcomer’s meet. The event consisted mostly of larger 4A and 5A schools, making it a strong test for the Trojans. Despite the stiff competition, PVHS athletes showed up and delivered impressive performances.
Head Coach Dan Nagle was pleased with the team’s showing, stating, “Our first invitational showed me that we are starting off just how we finished last year, and that is a real good sign!”
Girls’ Highlights:
Several Trojan athletes made their mark in sprints and distance events. In the 100m dash, Rosie Miller led the way, finishing 29th out of 61 competitors with a solid time of 13.51, followed by Natalia Vallin at 14.14. Diona Nixon showcased her versatility, placing 37th in the 200m (29.97) and 14th in the 100m hurdles (19.39).
Julianna Ondrisko had a standout performance in the 400m dash, securing 14th place out of 44 with a time of 1:04.75. Staisha Perry (1:10.51) and Kaylan Robinson (1:15.75) also had strong showings in the event. Alexis Clouser competed in both the 800m and 1600m, finishing 29th and 32nd, respectively.
In the field events, Savannah Thompson was a key performer, tying for 6th in the high jump (4’4″), placing 13th in long jump (13’8.5″), and securing 5th in triple jump with a mark of 30’5.5″. Rosie Miller also cleared 4’2″ in the high jump, finishing 13th.
In the throws, Jemima Chavez finished 18th in discus (59′) and 27th in shot put (19’4″), while teammate Cailyn Marsh threw 20’1″ in shot put (25th) and 49’6″ in discus.
Boys’ Highlights:
On the boys’ side, Benjamin De Santiago made a strong statement in the sprints, placing 19th in the 200m (23.94) and an impressive 9th in the 400m with a time of 52.27. Aydon Veloz also ran well in the 400m, finishing 21st (54.98).
In the distance events, Antonio Veloz placed 7th in the 800m (2:05.58) and 25th in the 3200m (12:13.92), while Joaquin Flores ran a solid 5:04.78 in the 1600m for 20th place and 11:28.88 in the 3200m for 19th place.
Jayden Crisler had a strong meet, placing 11th in the 110m hurdles (18.97) and excelling in the triple jump with a 5th-place finish (41’1.5″). He also tied for 9th in long jump (18’8″). Joshua Slusher also contributed to the Trojans’ field success, finishing 25th in long jump with a mark of 15’1.5″ and 20th in triple jump with a distance of 30’7.5″.
PVHS also had a strong showing in the high jump, with Aydon Veloz clearing 5’8″ to take 4th place, while Randall Murray finished 13th at 5’2″.
In the throws, Hunter Mellinger led the team in shot put placing 15th with a throw of 38’5″. Sonny Skinner finished 28th with a throw of 33’4″, Anthony Hunt finished 33rd with a throw of 31’3″, Brenden Thorn finished 36th with a throw of 27’3″. Sonny Skinner led the discus squad, finishing 12th (106’1″), followed by Mellinger in 16th (88’11”) and Anthony Hunt in 22nd place (79′).
As the season gets underway, the Trojans have set the tone for another successful year. Competing against larger schools, PVHS athletes held their own and proved they belong among the best. With continued training and determination, the team looks forward to even greater accomplishments in the weeks ahead.
