Centennial girls set tone early, roll to Resler title

If there was any doubt Centennial’s girls track and field team would win the Ron Resler Invitational at Boulder City, those concerns were eased fairly early Friday.

Tiana Bonds won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.0 seconds, with teammate Haileigh Willeford finishing second in 16.33, and the Bulldogs rolled to the team title with 153 points in a meet that featured more than 900 athletes, including 14 Class 4A schools.

Bonds also won the 300 hurdles in 47.34, and ran on the winning 800 relay squad as the Bulldogs cruised from the outset.

“I’m getting there,” Bonds said. “I like the highs better. I want to break 15 (for the high hurdles) and 45 (for the 300).”

Bonds’ teammate on the 800 relay, Tamera Williams, won the 100 in 12.31 seconds and the 200 in 25.76. Centennial freshman Holli Dunn finished second to Williams in the 200, and also claimed the 400 in 59.03.

Sophomore Sydney Badger set a meet and stadium record in winning the 1,600 in 5 minutes, 3.52 seconds.

“I was happy with how I did,” Badger said. “I know I dropped off on the third lap. I need to work hard in practice. I know I can get it (sub-5 minutes).”

Badger also took the 3,200 in 11:15.44 — another meet and stadium record.

“She’s running out of control this year,” Centennial coach Roy Sessions said of Badger. “She wants to run sub-5 (minutes). We’re building her up to run 4:50 this year. She’s excited. She’s in the best shape she’s ever been in; she’s healthy.”

Centennial’s Maddy Johonnot won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet.

The distance runners helped pace Centennial’s boys team to a first-place finish with 124 points.

Nick Hartle won the 1,600 and 3,200, and Jackson Carter took the 800 (1:58.87). Centennial also won the 3,200 relay (8:12.13), along with the 1600 relay (3:29.59). Hartle finished the 1,600 in a meet and stadium record time of 4:18.35, and lapped nearly the entire field in cruising to the 3,200 title in 9:25.

Centennial’s boys also showcased their depth, as George Espino finished second to Hartle in the 1,600 in 4:37.28, and Tyler Hilt was second to Carter in the 800 in 1:59.97.

Green Valleys’ Durrell McDonald cleared 6 feet, 10 inches in the high jump to set a meet and stadium record. The senior nearly cleared 7 feet on his first attempt, but barely clipped the bar on the way down to settle for the final mark.

“I felt great today because usually it’s too hot or too cold, and there wasn’t much wind,” McDonald said. “The first (attempt at 7 feet) I thought I cleared it at first. As I was coming down, I looked down and the bar was gone.”

McDonald’s mark tied for the sixth best high jump in the nation, according to track and field website dyestat.com.

Basic senior Gordan Bryson won the 110 hurdles in 15.46 and the 300 hurdles in 40.68.

Silverado’s Dominic Smallwood won the long jump in 20-5 3/4 and the triple jump in 43-2.

Pahrump Valley’s girls finished second to Centennial with 88 points, followed by Faith Lutheran (84) and Coronado (83).

Coronado’s boys were second with 80 points, with Arbor View (67) third and Green Valley (65) fourth.