Local athletes to compete for Nevada in Great Southwest meet

Though its numbers might not be as high as neighboring states, Nevada should be sending its strongest team in years to the 34th annual Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in Albuquerque, N.M.

The decathlon and heptathlon begin Thursday, with most events starting Saturday.

The boys will be led by sprinters Joeal Hotchkins of Chaparral and Shaun Murray of Liberty.

Both will compete in the Elite 100- and 200-meter dashes. Hotchkins (10.43 seconds) and Murray (10.45) are ranked Nos. 3 and 4 in the Southwest, respectively, in the 100.

In the 200, they are Nos. 5 and 7 in the nation, with Hotchkins at 21.06 and Murray at 21.07.

Hotchkins, the team captain, is also entered in the long jump. He is ranked No. 2 in the Southwest at 23 feet, 5¾ inches.

Other notable boys include Cheyenne sprinter Marcus Sullivan, No. 4 in the Southwest in the 400 (47.92) and No. 7 in the 200 (21.32); Las Vegas High’s Aaron Adkins, whose 800 time of 1:53.23 ranks No. 4 in the Southwest; and Eldorado senior Charles White, who will compete in the triple jump (49-0) and high jump.

Green Valley’s Bryan Artmann (15-1) and Class 3A state champion Alex Dillon of Boulder City are slated to compete in the pole vault.

Along with Dillon are a number of 3A athletes, including Faith Lutheran sprinter John Cartier and Boulder City distance runner Matt Lundgren.

Nevada’s girls are led by team captain Tierra Tyler of Western, the 4A state 100 and 200 champion.

 

Tyler ranks No. 2 in the Southwest in the 100 (11.84) and No. 11 in the 200 (24.83).

Others include Centennial sprinter Ashley Mosley, whose time of 55.24 in the 400 ranks No. 2 in the Southwest, and 3A 100 and 200 state champion Joi Goynes of Faith Lutheran.

Centennial’s Karli Johonnot will compete in the heptathlon and 300 hurdles, high jump and pole vault.
Also entered in the pole vault are Coronado’s Emily Kashka and Green Valley’s Taylor Frampton.

Legacy freshman Avione Allgood, the 4A state shot put champion, will compete in all four throwing events. In the javelin, she was the 2008 USATF champion for her age group.

Also entered for Nevada in the shot put, discus, and hammer is Canyon Springs junior Destanae Howerton-Davis, whose mark of 139-11 in the discus ranks No. 3 in the Southwest.