REGION TRACK: Allgood retains Sunset discus title

Avione Allgood won the Sunset Region girls shot put on Wednesday throwing with her left hand.

On Friday, the Legacy senior used her stronger right arm to win the discus at Silverado.

Allgood, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, posted a mark of 132 feet, 2 inches to retain her region title.

“She’s back; she’s all healed up,” said Allgood’s mother, Gloria, who is also her coach. “She’s out of shape for throwing with her right hand, maybe 75 percent right now, but getting ready for state, the Great Southwest and college.”

Avione Allgood concurred with the assessment.

“My shoulder is sore, but it’s OK,” she added. “I’ll be ready by state in two weeks.”

Liberty’s Ashlie Blake won the Sunrise girls discus with a mark of 147-5, setting a Sunrise Region record and winning by 51 feet. The sophomore won the shot put Wednesday.

The second day of the region track meets started out with what turned out to be one of the most exciting races of the day, the Sunset girls 3,200-meter relay. Centennial sophomore Sydney Badger, running the anchor leg, went from fourth to first in the first 200 meters as the Bulldogs won in 9 minutes, 55.13 seconds.

“We worked really hard. We deserved it,” Badger said. “My teammates kept it close.”

Coronado won the Sunrise girls 3,200 relay in 9:59.93.

The other running final, the boys 3,200, also produced an exciting finish. In the Sunrise final, Eldorado sophomore Eddie Esquivel led for the first seven laps before being briefly overtaken on the bell lap by Foothill’s Brian Marshall. Marshall, who faded to fourth, was edged at the finish by Alan Ekanger of Coronado and Martin Ponce of Liberty, who both qualified for state.

Esquivel took the lead back with 200 meters to go and won in 9:57.47.

Centennial senior Nick Hartle won the Sunset 3,200 with ease in 9:35.13.

Bishop Gorman’s Demetris Morant, a UNLV basketball recruit who won the high jump on Wednesday, added a win in the Sunset boys triple jump with a mark of 45-0. Sunrise Mountain’s Fharhaad Zinnamon won the Sunrise triple jump with a mark of 45-4½.

Desert Oasis’ Jacob Benham won Sunset boys shot put with a throw of 54-3½ to go with his victory in the discus on Wednesday.

Las Vegas High’s Antonio Verdugo won the Sunrise shot put with a throw of 52-10. Liberty’s Jordan Kapeli and Reno Tuufuli finished second and third, giving Liberty five of the Sunrise’s six qualifying spots for state in the throws.

“They’re doing well. I always tell them to keep battling,” Liberty throws coach Tim Cagle said. “They’re all helping each other is what’s happening. One is fueling the other.”

Desert Oasis' Tanner Fulmer set a Sunset Region record in the boys pole vault, clearning 15 feet, 8 inches. Liberty’s Nate Creiger won the Sunrise boys pole vault with a leap of 13-3.

Green Valley’s Kaili Fisher won the Sunrise girls high jump at 5-0, with Bishop Gorman’s Francesca Manz edging Centennial’s Madison Johonnot for the Sunset title based on fewer misses. Both cleared 5-4.

In the girls long jump, Faith Lutheran's Kayla Nikodemus won in the Sunset with a mark of 17-1¼. Jasmyn Garcia of Silverado won the Sunrise event at 16-8½.

The rest of the running finals in both regions will be contested Friday at 3 p.m. at Silverado.