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South Tahoe track battles cold temperatures at Big George Invitational, produces strong results

Anthony Gentile
agentile@tahoedailytribune.com
South Tahoe senior Quinn Ritter catches some air while competing in a jumping event at the Big George Invitational last Saturday, April 30, at Douglas High.
Courtesy Photo |

MINDEN, Nev. — The South Tahoe track and field team weathered cold temperatures and continued to take strides toward the postseason last Saturday, April 30. The Vikings competed at the Big George Invitational at Douglas High, their second-to-last meet prior to Div. I-A Northern League championships.

“It was absolutely frigid in the morning, but it did get a little nicer toward the end of the day,” Vikings coach Hannah Greenstreet said. “The energy pumped up at the end a lot.”

In the last event of the day at Big George, the South Tahoe boys’ 4×400 relay team concluded the meet on a strong note. The quartet of senior Carson Alexander, senior Alec Jobbins, senior Mario Mangiaracina and sophomore Cole Rhodes ran a 3:48.45 in the race to finish 10th — and produce the fourth-best Div. I-A Northern time.



“We got that team together, it clicked and everyone ran well,” Greenstreet said. “We’re trying to really push that for regionals.”

Alexander produced the Vikings’ top individual results at the invitational, again shining in hurdles. The senior finished second in the 110 hurdles (15.80) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (43.33).



“Carson had an amazing meet — he did awesome,” Greenstreet said.

In the distance ranks, senior Paul Mutz had company a week after becoming the first South Tahoe runner this season to break five minutes in the 1,600. Senior Mario Mangiaracina reached the milestone in the mile on Saturday, finishing 18th with a time of 4:58.12 — Mutz ran a 4:59.44 in the event to place 21st.

“The distance runners have been working really hard and pushing each other in a healthy way,” Greenstreet said.

Senior thrower Blair Binns advanced to the discus finals at Douglas, eventually finishing eighth. Binns threw a 128-4 in prelims and finals, setting a new personal record.

Senior Quinn Ritter took third in the triple jump Saturday with a mark of 40-11, his best of the season. Ritter also placed eighth in the long jump (19-9 1/2).

“Quinn is ready to start jumping really far and looking well,” Greenstreet said. “We’re really excited to see what he can do for regionals.”

On the girls’ side at Big George, sophomore Ally Sullivan produced South Tahoe’s top results. Sullivan placed fourth in the 3,200 (12:06.98) and 10th in the 800 (2:35.49).

Junior Maya Brosch hit the track in California’s capital Saturday, racing against high-level competition in the Sacramento Meet of Champions held at American River College. Brosch took eighth in both the 100 hurdles (15.69) and 300 hurdles (45.85), and placed fourth in the 400 with a personal-record time of 58.05.

“That’s not normally a race Maya runs,” Greenstreet said of the 400. “It shows her talent, her skill and her ability to just be an all-around athlete and a runner.”

At the Spanish Springs JV Invitational on Tuesday, May 3, South Tahoe athletes delivered three first-place finishes in Sparks, Nevada. Rhodes took first in both the 110 hurdles (16.2) and 300 hurdles (43.7) while sophomore Theresa Sandborn won 400 (67.1) — freshman distance runner Calvin Holmes also produced strong results in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

South Tahoe returned to action Friday, May 6, at the Fernley Invitational. The one-day meet is the Vikings’ last prior to regionals held May 13-14 in Yerington.

“It’s the last hurrah for athletes to push themselves and really see if they’re at that level,” Greenstreet said. “It’s a little bit of a do-or-die situation. There’s that pressure to put out their best performances of the season and see if they can get it to the caliber of what will make times for regionals.”


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