LAKE MEAD INVITE: Centennial’s Hartle comes close to course record, blows away field

As Centennial junior Nick Hartle crossed the finish line first at Saturday’s Lake Mead Invitational, one question stood out in his mind.

“What did Brewer run?” asked Hartle, referring to Rancho Buena Vista’s (Calif.) Chris Brewer, who ran a course-record 16 minutes, 9 seconds last month at Veterans Memorial Park in the Las Vegas Invitational last month while beating Hartle by 23 seconds.

Hartle almost took Brewer’s record away Saturday, running away from the field to post a winning time of 16:10 — nearly a minute ahead of the second-place runner — and leading the Bulldogs to a convincing win in the large-school boys race.

Centennial five of the top seven spots for 20 team points, easily defeating second-place Shadow Ridge (51). Green Valley was third with 75.

Hartle held a 25-second lead over Shadow Ridge senior Kyle Wilson at the mile mark and pulled away steadily down the stretch for a “pretty easy” victory, he said.

Wilson finished second in 17:04, followed by three Bulldog seniors: Kyle Merritt (17:24), Dominic Lopez (17:31) and Bryce Fessler (17:33).

“It was a great race,” Centennial coach Mike McGuire said. “The guys are starting to come together as a team. It was the first time this year that we’ve run all our top runners in the same race. Jackson Carter, a freshman, had a huge race today as our fifth man.

“The competition on this team is 15-deep — they’re all fighting to make the top seven. It’s a great situation for a coach.”

Centennial was runner-up at state in 2009 and seem determined to improve on that finish next month when Veterans Memorial Park hosts the state meet.

The large-school girls race was a narrow, four-way battle between Shadow Ridge senior Mallory Reese, Green Valley freshman Lindy Eskin, Arbor View sophomore Amberly Halstead and Centennial freshman Sidney Badger.

Badger, who appeared to be suffering from dehydration, dropped out with 600 meters to go, leaving the race to the other three.

Reese nosed ahead to win in 21:09, four seconds ahead of Eskin. Halstead was third in 21:19.

The large school girls race was the fourth race of the day, which saw temperatures rise to the mid 80s. Eskin, Halstead and Badger each raced Tuesday at the Freshman-Sophomore Championships.

“I had fun. It was a nice experience,” said a fresh Reese, the Mustangs’ lone returner from the 2009 state meet squad . “I want to be the best. We’re putting together a good team.”

Green Valley won the team competiton with 37 points. Shadow Ridge finished second with 57, followed by Arbor View’s 72.

“We ran well, considering we were missing three runners who were taking their SATs today,” Green Valley coach Blaine Thompson said. “We were missing our number one, (a girl who is) our number two to six — depending on the day — and our number seven. Summer (Holloway) ran really well today.”

Holloway — who routinely finishes No. 3 for Green Valley — was fourth in 21:30.

Green Valley wasn’t the only team missing key runners because of the SAT.

Arbor View girls coach Tyrel Cooper said he was missing five of his top eight, which contributed to the Aggies’ modest showing Saturday after winning the Laughlin Invitational last week.

Moapa Valley’s Josh Thompson won the small school boys race in 17:32 to help the Pirates edge Laughlin, 26-30, for the team title.

Boulder City’s Stephanie Adams (21:31) and Jessica Tobler (22:09) finished 1-2 in the small school girls race, which Laughlin won over the Eagles, 25-35.

Lake Mead Invitational
At Veterans Memorial Park (3.1 miles)

Large-school Boys team scores: Centennial 20, Shadow Ridge 51, Green Valley 75, Arbor View 118, Cimarron-Memorial 166, Valley 176, Desert Oasis 225, Las Vegas 239, Liberty 250, Pahrump Valley 257, Sunrise Mountain 295
Top 10 individuals: 1, Nick Hartle, Cen, 16:10; 2, Kyle Wilson, SR, 17:04; 3, Kyle Merritt, Cen, 17:24; 4, Dominic Lopez, Cen, 17:31; 5, Bryce Essler, Cen, 17:33; 6, Doug Harris, GV, 17:37; 7, Jackson Carter, Cen, 17:38; 8, Samuel Mayo, Cim, 17:39; 9, Anthony Ponticello, FL, 17:48; 10, Austin Tiner, SR, 17:49.

Small-school Boys team scores: Moapa Valley 26, Laughlin 30
Top 10 individuals: 1, Josh Thompson, MV, 17:32; 2, Matt Hampson, Adel, 18:58; 3, Brian Romero, Lau, 19:49; 4, Nick Maldonado, Lau, 20:11; 5, Milas Sendlein, MV, 20:26; 6, Harrison Brown, BC, 20:38; 7, Riley Murnane, BC, 20:41; 8, Chandler Harkins, BC, 20:42; 9, Javier Gonzalez, VV, 20:45; 10, London Stein, Lau, 20:46.

Large-school Girls team scores: Green Valley 37, Shadow Ridge 57, Arbor View 72, Las Vegas 130, Centennial 132, Faith Lutheran 187, Valley 195, Desert Pines 230, Cimarron-Memorial 232, Desert Oasis 234, Liberty 237
Top 10 individuals: 1, Mallory Reese, SR, 21:09; 2, Lindy Eskin, GV, 21:13; 3, Amberly Halstead, AV, 21:19; 4, Summer Holloway, GV, 21:30; 5, Randi Withoft, AV, 22:03; 6, Ciera Clayton, SR, 22:04; 7, Savanna Anas, Cen, 22:12; 8, Kailey Anderson, GV, 22:21; 9, Zanea Jones, AV, 22:27; 10, Bianca Vasilica, DO, 22:34.

Small-school Girls team scores: Laughlin 25, Boulder City 35
Top 10 individuals: 1, Stephanie Adams, BC, 21:30; 2, Jessica Tobler, BC, 22:09; 3, Megan Alexander, Mea, 22:22; 4, Kemberly Mejia, Lau, 23:38; 5, Christina Escarzaga, Lau, 25:03; 6, Amanda Fantaro, Lau, 25:04; 7, Hailey Bunker, VV, 25:06; 8, Vanessa Maldonado, Lau, 25:24; 9, Joslyn Rea, Lau, 26:17; 10, Jessany Mortensen, MV, 26:19.